Northwestern College opens the N-A-I-A football playoffs at home Saturday against Ottawa University of Kansas. The Red Raiders finished the regular season 9-1 and were the runners-up in the Great Plains Conference race. Northwestern coach Orv Otten says the tough Great Plains schedule is good preparation for the playoffs as they’ve played the last few games as a marked team and the team responded.Northwestern’s run defense yields just 82-yards per game but will be tested against Ottawa, as he says they have the leading rusher in the division.