Wintry Wealth - Morningside closes out perfect league, regular season

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Snow, sub-freezing temperatures, strong winds and a determined Jamestown College Jimmies' squad couldn't thwart the top-ranked ranked team in the land of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Saturday, Nov. 10.

Even with, at times, difficult conditions for any offense, head coach Steve Ryan's crew methodically churned out 538 yards that led to seven touchdowns and the veritable icing on a perfect 2018 Great Plains Athletic Conference and regular season due to a 49-13 victory. The Mustangs, improving to 11-0 overall and 9-0 in the league, upped their impressive win skeins to 34 consecutive conference and 29 straight regular season decisions.

Senior quarterback Trent Solsma (SR/Dakota Dunes, SD) (Dakota Dunes, S.D.), as has been the case throughout an amazing four seasons in the Maroon, stepped to the forefront. He passed for 255 yards and four touchdowns, tying a national and school record for scoring strikes (55) in the process. Solsma's aerial attack found seven different receivers on the Rollie Greeno Field and Taylor Stadium winter wonderland scene with classmate Connor Niles (SR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa) hauling in six catches for 107 yards and one touchdown, and sophomore wide receiver Reid Jurgensmeier (SO/Wahoo, NE) (Wahoo, Neb.) and sophomore running back Arnijae "AP" Ponder (Omaha, Neb.) collecting three receptions each and also earning pay dirt strikes of their own. Ponder's story didn't end there, as he also rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown, and fellow sophomore backfield teammate Anthony Sims (SO/Fort Lauderdale, FL) (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) gained a single-game career best 136 on nine carries with a score included.

Those numbers helped the Mustangs jump out to a 21-0 lead and not look back. Mside's defense proved stingy, surrendering only 67 yards on the ground and 209 total with just one offensive touchdown on the board, as the other occurred on an interception return. Morningside was opportunistic again, as junior defensive back Deion Clayborne (JR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa) registered an interception, and the entire group tallied five tackles for losses and three break-ups. The Katzer linebacker connection of juniors Jacob and Joel from Wellsville, Kan., were first in tackles with 10 each.