November 30, 2018

Semifinal Showdown - Mustangs, Cougars meet Saturday

A clash of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic Conference perennial powers is set at Elwood Olsen Stadium Saturday, Dec. 1.

Game details: Kickoff between the top-ranked Morningside College Mustangs (13-0) and the No. 8-ranked University of St. Francis of Indiana Cougars (10-2) is 12 p.m. It's one of two match-ups in semifinal round playoff competition, as Kansas Wesleyan University and Benedictine College of Kansas face off in the other game with the two winners moving on to the NAIA ultimate stage, the 2018 national championship, set for Saturday, Dec. 15, at Daytona Beach, Fla. … Live audio, statistics, and video are accessible via links at www.msidemustangs.com, the Internet home of Morningside College athletics … Morningside College, as a thank you to the Siouxland community and its support, is announcing the game is free of charge for all fans … The two schools are no strangers on the gridiron, especially in the postseason. It's the second time they've met in the semifinals and third time overall with the last two decisions going to the University of St. Francis on their home field by way of seven-point thrillers in 2017 and 2016.

Mustang Marks: Head coach Steve Ryan's program, making its 15th successive national playoff appearance, has advanced to the Final Four for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. Morningside College is one of nine schools with 20-or-more postseason victories … The Maroon enter the weekend ranked number one nationally in 11 team and 10 individual statistical categories. Among the top team numbers are total offense (5,507 yards); total offense per appearance (584.7); scoring offense per outing (55.4 ppg); passing yards per game (389); third down conversion rate (52 percent); first downs per game (28.7); field goal conversion percentage (100 percent); fewest rushing yards allowed per contest (94.8); and fewest total offensive yards allowed per game (244.5). Along individual lines, senior placekicker Jared Amundson (SR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa) leads the country in field goal accuracy (four-for-four – 100) and kicker scoring (105 points); senior quarterback Trent Solsma (SR/Dakota Dunes, SD) (Dakota Dunes, S.D.) is first in pass efficiency (211.1), passing yards per game (368.7), total offense (4,761 yards) and passing yardage (4,793); and senior wide receiver Connor Niles (SR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa) tops the charts in receiving yards per game (178), receptions (135), and receiving yardage (2,314) … The standout efforts individual efforts don't end with the senior trio. Sophomore running back Arnijae "AP" Ponder (Omaha, Neb.) is among the national first five in total scoring (144 points – No. 3) and scoring per game (12 ppg – No. 14) while sitting just outside the area in total rushing yardage (1,413 – No. 6). On the defensive side, senior Xavier Spann (SR/Lakeland, Florida) (Lakeland, Fla.), manning one of the Mustangs' backfield slots, is eighth in interceptions (six), and junior linebacker Chase Nelson (JR/Beatrice, NE) (Beatrice, Neb.) is 10th in forced fumbles per contest (.3) …The national single-season and career record book has had a Maroon colored eraser taken to it this year. Solsma now holds the career (157) and single season (64) touchdown pass marks, and Niles has marks for single-season (28) and career (67) touchdown catches along with single-season receiving yardage (2,314). He's tracking close to gaining the career receiving yardage record, too, as he trails current holder Chris George of Glennville State of West Virginia (1991-94) by 163 (6177-6014) … Morningside's road to the semifinal has been paved with victories over Rocky Mountain College of Montana (49-20 – Nov. 17) and St. Xavier University of Illinois (51-14 – Nov. 24). Solsma's aerial assault didn't allow many opportunities for the visiting Cougars to stay in step last weekend, as he hit on 31 of 39 attempts for 374 yards and five touchdowns, helping him surpass former standout Austin Dodge of the University of Southern Oregon in career touchdown strikes. Niles was again a favorite selection to the tune of 13 catches for 181 yards and two scores. Along the way, his season receiving yardage total (2314) bypassed George's 2221 in 1994. Ponder reeled off his 10th 100-yard-plus effort, rushing 24 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors. Morningside's defense was also a big part of the equation, sacking St. Xavier quarterbacks five times and turning over the visitors once. Junior defensive back Klayton Nordeen (JR/Alliance, NE) (Alliance, Neb.) turned in nine tackles, three breakups, and an interception to be named Defensive Player of the Game, while junior linebackers Jacob Katzer (JR/Wellsville, KS) (Wellsville, Kan.) and Nelson made themselves familiar with the opposing offense, ending with 13 and 10 tackles, respectively.