Defensive effort stifles Lancers

YANKTON, S.D. – The Mustangs trampled another Great Plains Athletic Conference opponent on the gridiron this week, traveling to Mount Marty and shutting them out, 77-0. 

Morningside's defense made its stance on the game known on the opening drive, as Dijion Walls picked off the Mount Marty quarterback at the 50-yard line to give the Mustangs favorable field position in their first possession. Walls also returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

The defense was stingy, giving up only 271 yards of total offense and keeping the Lancers from advancing the ball in the red zone until the final drive of the game, which ran out of time on the Morningside five-yard line. Mount Marty previously had turned the ball over on downs on the Morningside 20-yard line.

Lonell Boyd Jr. recorded a team-high nine tackles, followed by Caden Ochsendorf and Logan Macubmer with seven each. Zach McKee, Weston Schultz, and Brody Nelson each recorded a sack in the game.

Morningside's offense was electric, scoring the first five times it had the ball and only coming up short of the first down marker and punting on two occasions. Joe Dolincheck threw for 21 completions, 246 yards, and four touchdowns, finding Austin Johnson and Zach Norton for scores. Johnson had 195 yards on seven catches while Norton had 66 on eight. Luke Johannsen connected with Michael Payne for his first passing touchdown of the season.

Ryan Cole was a force out of the backfield, recording 118 yards and scoring four times. K.J. Williams had eight carries for 59 yards, and Bryson Freeberg had nine for 43 and a touchdown. Cole's yardage total was more than Mount Marty gained on the ground as a team. 

The Mustangs, now 7-0, are back in Sioux City on Oct. 29, as the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers visit Elwood Olsen Stadium for a 1 p.m. contest.