Five passing touchdowns guide Morningside to a homecoming victory

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – A fumble on Concordia's first possession put the Mustangs ahead 7-0, and Morningside rolled from there to take home a 62-6 homecoming victory over the Bulldogs at Elwood Olsen Stadium in Sioux City Saturday.

Concordia's defense forced a punt on Morningside's first possession, but a fumble recovered by Landry Phipps that he took into the endzone gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. On the next Bulldogs play, Phipps recovered another fumble. Morningside kicked a field goal on the following possession and it was 10-0 Mustangs early on.

Morningside added two more touchdowns in the first quarter. First, Cash Parker connected with Zach Norton for a 28-yard score. On the next Mustang possession, Parker and Norton connected for a second time, this time it was from 34 yards out. Morningside led 24-0 after one quarter of play.

It was much of the same for Morningside in the second quarter, as Parker threw two more touchdown passes to bring his total to four before halftime. Parker's first touchdown of the second quarter went to Joshua Simmons and his second went back to Norton for a third time. The final touchdown of the first half was a Blake Brown reverse that he ran, juked, and broke tackles for 55 yards and a score. Morningside had a 45-0 lead at the half.

Parker wasn't able to find the endzone for a fifth time, but the offense continued its roll in the third quarter. A Bryson Wilke field goal made it 48-0, and Lennx Brown rushed for a score and threw a touchdown to Simmons to add to the lead. 

Morningside totaled 594 yards of total offense in the game. Parker completed 20-of-27 passes for 284 yards and four scores and Lennx Brown completed 5-of-7 passes for 38 yards and a score. Norton seemed to be the favorite target Saturday, compiling nine catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Drew Sellon added six grabs for 81 yards and Simmons four catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

On the ground, Jaylen Burch was the star, totaling 133 yards on 11 carries. Blake Brown only had one carry, but it went for 55 yards and a score.

On defense, Lonell Boyd Jr. totaled 11 tackles, three for a loss in the win. Haden Mendel added nine tackles and Landry Phipps had six tackles, two for a loss and two fumble recoveries. Boyd and Colton Dreith forced fumbles that Phipps recovered.

The Mustangs hit the road next week, as Morningside takes on Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell at 1 p.m.