by Steven Cutler–Morningside faced some challenges in the first half, but a quality second half gave the Mustangs a 42-10 win over the Doane Tigers.
The last time Morningside lost a Great Plains Athletic Conference game was in Crete to the Tigers in 2014. Since then, the Mustangs have won 40 straight conference contests, including Saturday’s.
Doane looked like they were going to give the NAIA’s top-ranked football team all they could handle in the first half. An opportunistic defense picjed off two interceptions leading to points in the second quarter; one came when Morningside was in the red zone.
Morningside was able to reach the endzone twice in the second quarter after being shutout in the first, but still went in to the half leading the Tigers 14-10.
Asked for a comment on the first half, head coach Steve Ryan simply said they needed to finish drives and take care of the ball.
Morningside did exactly that in the second half. The Mustangs put up 28 unanswered second half points, winning the game 42-10 to improve their record to 8-0 in the season.
Despite the slow start, the NAIA’s top team in offensive yards per game totaled 567 yards: 251 on the ground, and 316 through the air.
Morningside’s defense continued to dominate, holding the Tigers to negative yards in rushing. This is the second week in a row the Mustang defense has done so. Coach Ryan gave credit to the defense’s pass rush during the post-game interview.
Doane now falls to 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the conference. The Tigers will travel to Fremont, Nebraska, next to take on the Midland Warriors to close out the season.
Morningisde advances to 8-0 on the season and 7-0 in the GPAC. Morningside will welcome the Concordia Bulldogs to Sioux City this weekend. A matchup with conference rival, #5 Northwestern, still looms in the distance for the #1 Morningside Mustangs.
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