The Northwestern football team visits Dakota Wesleyan in a GPAC conference matchup of ranked teams on Saturday. Northwestern coach Kyle Achterhoff says it will be a tough challenge.

Dakota Wesleyan is ranked 15th in the latest NAIA Poll while Northwestern is ranked 18th. The Northwestern defense will try to slow down Dakota Wesleyan running back Francois Barnaud, who has more than 400 yards in two games.

Achterhoff says the Red Raider offense will need to be balanced against the Dakota Wesleyan defense.Dakota Wesleyan coach Ross Cimpl says even though it is early it is a big conference game. Both teams opened league play with a victory. Dakota Wesleyan is 2-0 overall. Northwestern is 1-1.

(Reporting by Doug Broek, KSOU, Sioux Center)