Mustangs clinch GPAC title after convincing win

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Ten touchdowns were scored on Saturday by seven different members of the Morningside University football team.

Sixth-nationally-ranked Morningside defeated Waldorf 70-7. With the win and a 3-0 Northwestern victory over Dordt, the Mustangs clinched their 14th Great Plains Athletic Conference championship in program history.

"They came out and responded after two solid wins of the Sioux County schools," said Mustangs coach Steve Ryan on the KMNS-AM postgame show. "They came out and played hard after a week of great practices."

Morningside scored twice in the first quarter. The first score came with 6 minutes, 3 seconds left in the opening quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Zack Chevalier to Drew Sellon. Then, Chevalier connected with Zach Norton from the Warriors' 29-yard line.

After a Waldorf kickoff return for a TD, the Mustangs followed with 56 unanswered points, including 42 in the second.

Among the six TDs in the second quarter: Three rushing, two passing and a punt return.

Nolan Feller scored twice on the ground – from seven and 11 yards – and Max Hough scored from five yards.

Both of Chevalier's second-quarter TD passes went to Sellon for 29 and 30 yards.

Laken Harnly also returned a Warrior punt for 72 yards to the end zone, and he became the first Mustang in program history to have three punt returns in a season.
Cash Parker got some snaps at quarterback in the third quarter, and he found Kelynn Jacobsen from the Waldorf 14.

Trent Lane put a bow on the Mustangs' scoring with a three-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Chevalier was 17-for-24 for 247 yards and four TDs. Parker completed four of his five attempts, and Dallas Kluender completed his lone attempt.

Sellon caught 10 passes for 159 yards and the three TDs.

Feller led the rushing attack with 116 yards, while Lane had 115 and Hough had 101.

"The offensive line played well and opened things up front," Ryan said. "Our running backs are talented and getting better every week."

Isaac Pingel led the Morningside defense with 10 total tackles, and eight of those were solo. Cade Harriman had five, while Austin Jensen had three.

The Mustangs defense had eight total tackles for loss for 34 yards. Colton Dreith and Cale Pittenger each had a TFL for eight yards.

"The defense limited big plays today," Ryan said. "They did a great job on third downs."

Morningside returns home next Saturday for the regular-season finale against Dakota Wesleyan.