Mustang
FOOTBALL SATURDAY, SEPT. 3
Morningside football looks to repeat last year’s Great Plains Athletic Conference championship and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship in 2022, but even with returning NAIA Player of the Year, Joe Dolincheck, back under center, the Mustangs have a long road ahead of them in order to repeat. Keys for Morningside to repeat include being able to run the ball on offense and getting to the quarterback on defense. Coach Steve Ryan explained at Morningside’s fall sports media day, “Running back is going to take a little more time to figure out. Ryan Cole will be ready to go, but KJ Williams and Bryson Freeberg have both had great offseasons.” Ryan continued to acknowledge that Cole has big shoes to fill, following the likes of Sims, AP Ponder, Tyler Kavan, and Brandon Wegher, to name a few. “He’s a young back and he’s never been put in that situation,” explained the Mustangs’ veteran head coach. “Ryan Cole can do everything. He doesn’t necessarily have the speed that those other guys had, but he’ll do a good job.” A traditionally stout Morningside defense might be where rebuilding will be needed the most. “Statistically, Tyler Wingert had the greatest single season we’ve ever seen at linebacker,” digested Ryan. “One person that is going to help fill that hole is Josh Miller.” Miller, who missed last year due to injury, is a transplant from the safety position, and looks to be part of a speedier Mustang defense than has been fielded in the past. “We’ve been moving to being smaller and faster on defense for quite a few years now. I think part of it is just that our linebackers and safeties are fast. You’re talking about an outstanding safety that is now playing Mike linebacker, alongside experienced guys on the edge.”
THE SERIES The Morningside-Northwestern rivalry is one that is no stranger to both sets of fans, with the teams’ annual matchups coming with their share of nail biting, lead swapping, big plays, and high stakes. Morningside is 12-2 against the Sioux County rival since 2010, holding an 11-1 record in the regular season and 1-1 record in the NAIA Football Championship Series. The teams last met when Morningside punched its ticket to the NAIA FCS national championship last December in a 28-19 decision at Elwood Olsen Stadium. Northwestern was last victorious over Morningside on May 1, 2021, as it headed to the 2020 title game courtesy of a 44-41 victory.
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