Aerial attack overwhelms Dordt in top 25 matchup.

SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – The Mustangs faced their second ranked opponent of the football season today, soundly defeating no. 21 Dordt on the road, 49-21. Morningside held the Defenders scoreless into the second half of the contest.

While the Defenders had the first shot on offense, it was Morningside that struck first, scoring on a 30-yard shot from Joe Dolincheck to Zach Norton. 

A three-and-out for the Mustangs on the next guest possession was followed by more aerial antics, with Dolincheck finding Austin Johnson for a 41-yard strike to give the visitors on the board a 14-0 lead.

Sione Tuifua was the next scoring target, as Dolincheck unleashed an 11-yard pass for a touchdown just before the conclusion of the first quarter. Chase Carter was good for his third extra point, giving Morningside a 21-0 advantage.

Morningside struck again early in the second quarter, as Dolincheck found Norton again, this time for 52 yards and another quick six.

Dordt's ensuing drive was cut short, as Dijion Walls picked off a pass from Defender quarterback Kade McDaniel. Walls returned the grab 25 yards before stepping out of bounds near midfield. The play was called back to the Morningside 30 yard line on a penalty.

The Mustangs took advantage of Walls' pick, working six minutes off the clock. The drive ended in a missed field goal attempt from Carter.

The Defenders were threatening, marching down the field to the Morningside 11, as Isaac Pingel picked off McDaniel on the goal line, taking it back to the 20 yard line. The Mustangs' offense stalled, forcing a punt before halftime.

Morningside received the ball to start the second half, capping the opening drive with a 35-yard run by Ryan Cole, opening up a 35-0 lead.

Several series later, the Mustang defense forced another three-and-out, backing Dordt up into the shadow of its goal post. On fourth down, Joshua Miller blocked a punt, sending it careening into the endzone, where Morningside recovered it for a touchdown.

The Dolincheck-Norton duo struck again for 37 yards, recording Morningside's final score with nearly eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Dordt would follow with a final score of its own to reach 49-21.

Dolincheck recorded 343 yards for five touchdowns, going 23-of-35 on the day.Norton was his top receiver, with nine catches for three scores and 176 of those yards. Johnson, who broke his way into the top-10 list for career receptions, had 51 yards and one score.

Cole was the primary back for Morningside, gaining 92 yards on 19 carries. Bryson Freeberg saw time in the backfield, with eight carries for 37 yards, and Blake Brown had three carries for nine yards.

Drew Bessey and Pingel led the tackle count with nine each. Bessey had five solo tackles and four assists, while Pingel had three solo tackles. Weston Schultz had eight and Lonell Boyd Jr. and Brody Nelson each had seven.

Walls and Pingel's aforementioned interception returns were flanked by kickoff and punt returns for Michael Payne and Caleb Schweigart totaling more than 100 yards. 

Justin McElligot had five punts for 185 yards, pinning three inside the 20-yard line. 

Morningside returns to the gridiron on Saturday, Sept. 17, when it hosts Briar Cliff at Elwood Olsen Stadium.