Second quarter blitzkrieg leads to happy Homecoming 2021

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – A heaping helping of offense and an opportunistic defense proved to be a successful recipe for National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 3-ranked Morningside University Saturday, Oct. 2.

Head coach Steve Ryan's Mustangs didn't allow visiting Midland University much wiggle room throughout a powerhouse 2021 Homecoming game effort. A partisan Mside crowd was treated to more than 700 yards of offense, a ninth straight contest of 40-points-plus on the scoreboard, and three defensive takeaways en route to a 59-14 Great Plains Athletic Conference victory. 

The road to a 4-0 overall and league record had some early bumps. After a 76-yard march off the opening kickoff put the home team up 7-0, a punt, back-to-back turnovers, and a missed field goal kept the score at that level deep into the opening frame. Morningside finally got on track after senior defensive back Drew Bessey's (Palmyra, Neb.) first of two picks, going 57 yards for a 14-0 advantage which started eight consecutive scoring drives to put the outcome in the Mustangs' favor.

Senior running back Anthony Sims (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), senior wide receiver Reid Jurgensmeier (Wahoo, Neb.), senior quarterback Joe Dolincheck (Bellevue, Neb.), and sophomore wide receiver Zach Norton (Sioux Falls, S.D.) provided most of the offensive fuel. Sims rushed for four touchdowns, all in the first half, to put himself in a tie for third for the most rushing scores in a game in program history as part of 153 yards on 19 attempts; Jurgensmeier added some history, too, becoming just the second Morningside receiver with 60 touchdown receptions due to eight catches for 131 yards and three scores; Norton added to a lethal wide receiver combination with 197 yards and seven receptions, and Dolincheck hit the 3,000-yard passing total for a third straight season with 369 yards to highlight a three-touchdown strike day.

The defense had a similar menu of heroes. Bessey's two interceptions were part of a strong five-tackle, one pass break-up afternoon; junior linebacker Garrett Hoagland (Lincoln, Neb.) produced seven tackles; and senior linebacker Cooper Von Seggern (Wisner, Neb.) tallied a sack among five total hits to headline the unit's marks. 

Morningside begins two in a row on the road Saturday, Oct. 9. They travel to Hastings College for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Lloyd Wilson Field.