Playoff Prep - Mside faces Frontier Conference challenge

Morningside College makes its 15thstraight National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' playoff appearance Saturday, Nov. 17. Rocky Mountain College of Montana from the Frontier Conference is the Mustangs' guest.

Game details: Kickoff is 12 p.m. at Elwood Olsen Stadium … Tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for students and children … Live audio, stats and video are accessible via links at www.msidemustangs.com, the Internet home of Morningside College athletics … It's the second postseason match-up between the two schools, as Mside won the first, by a 40-21 count, in 2013.

Mustang Marks: Head coach Steve Ryan's program has reeled off six straight opening round playoff victories including a 63-7 win over Sterling College of Kansas a year ago … A high-flying offense has been a big part of an 11-0 record. Morningside leads the nation in 10 different categories including passing offense (4, 313 yards); first downs per game (29.5); total offensive yards per game (600.6); and scoring (620 total points/56.4 per contest). The defense hasn't been fun to deal with, either, registering three shutouts and another outing in which they only allowed seven points. They're among the first 10 nationally in fewest passing yards per game (No. 2 – 118.2); points allowed (No. 4 – 13.4 ppg); and rushing yards surrendered (No. 7 – 104.6 pg) … Individually, senior quarterback Trent Solsma (SR/Dakota Dunes, SD) (Dakota Dunes, S.D.); senior wide receiver Connor Niles (SR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa); and sophomore running back Arnijae "AP" Ponder (Omaha, Neb.) kickstart the offense. Solsma tied his single-season school, Great Plains Athletic Conference and national single-season touchdown pass record hitting 55 during the regular season finale win at Jamestown College of North Dakota Nov. 10. Niles set new school single-season and national career touchdown reception marks earlier this fall, as he now stands at 23 and 62, respectively. Ponder has totaled seven 100-yard-plus rushing efforts, while his sophomore backfield mate Anthony Sims (SO/Fort Lauderdale, FL) (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)turned heads in the regular season closer with 126 yards against Jamestown good for a personal single-game career high. Defensively, the Katzer linebacking connection of juniors Jacob and Joel of Wellsville, Kan., have led the way in several categories. They're one-two in tackles (Jacob – 83/Joel – 78) and are among the leaders in tackles for losses (12.5 – Joel/12 – Jacob). Other strong marks go to senior defensive backXavier Spann (SR/Lakeland, Florida) (Lakeland, Fla.)(five interceptions) and junior linebacker Chase Nelson (JR/Beatrice, NE) (Beatrice, Neb.)(five sacks).

To The Winner: A trip to the national quarterfinals goes to Saturday's victor. The next round is set for Saturday, Nov. 24, at a site and time to be determined.