By james art 
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (Dakota News Now) – Without a doubt, the biggest local college football rivalry game will be in Sioux Falls next week between Augustana and first-place NCAA Division Two University of Sioux Falls in the statke.
Still, don’t sleep on a new emerging rivalry next week between GPAC teams separated by just 11 miles, Dordt and Northwestern.
The Defenders are ranked tenth in the NAIA and took care of Briar Cliff yesterday 55-7 to improve to 7-1.
The ninth-ranked Red Raiders, meanwhile, lost a hard-fought 13-7 at Morningside to fall to 6-2.
Aside from the high stakes of this year’s postseason, one could argue that for it to truly be a rivalry, the defense needs to actually WIN a game in the series.
Although the schools are archrivals in nearly every other sport, Dordt has lost all 17 of its meetings with Northwestern since the Defender football program began in 2008, none more painful than last November’s 7-0 loss at Orange City in the second round of the playoffs. It was a game played shortly after a snowstorm and in cold conditions where the defenders missed several chances, including in the north-west line, to tie the game.
Something they haven’t forgotten over the past year.
“We talk a lot about six inches here. Let’s just say it. It’s a game of inches and we feel like we’re really close. But like I said, the number one thing, it’s not about any opponent, it’s not about a notch in our belt, it’s about who is our best football.” Dordt head coach Joel Penner says.
The Defenders and Red Raiders kick off next Saturday from the Sioux Center at 1 p.m.
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