Raiders aiming to finish off first undefeated regular season in nearly 10 years

MIDDLEBURY, Ind. -- To say Luke Amstutz is having a solid first year as Northridge head coach is probably an understatement. This week against Warsaw, he and the Raiders have a chance to end their regular season undefeated for the first time since 2017. 

A matchup of undefeated teams to finish off Indiana's regular season schedule; hard to not be excited.

For Luke Amstutz and his Raiders, it's not just a chance at an unblemished record. A win Friday would secure a Northern Lakes Championship for Northridge.

"We're playing for a conference championship, we've told our kids that every game from here on out, we're playing for a championship, which is awesome, but realistically, as we look back from the beginning of the year, we haven't changed anything this week from what we were doing in the summer, we're practicing the same way, we have the same mentality, just focusing on what we need to be good at right now," said Amstutz.

"We haven't beaten Warsaw in the last 9 years, and go undefeated in a while, I think it's like a miracle, everyone's expecting it, and we're all excited," said Keivontre Copeland, Northridge senior wide receiver. 

The Raiders would love nothing more than to take care of business against Warsaw, and Coach Amstutz loves the fact that a game of this magnitude is how his Raiders squad is going to end the regular season.

"A lot of coaches like to have their big game early and some rest games at the end of the year and stuff like that but I think this keeps us mentally sharp, and recognizing that every play is important, every play could be your last," said Amstutz.

Northridge knows they're going up against a juggernaut in Warsaw, but rest assured, confidence is not in short supply.

"Last year, at the end of the season, I don't think we were that motivated, but after everything we've been doing this year, everyone's more motivated. We know that we will win this game tomorrow, everyone's going to be hyped in the locker room," said Copeland.

The Raiders and Tigers will square off at Interra Field in Middlebury at 7 p.m.