All three phases get in on the scoring in 48-17 win over Midland

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Morningside's defense gave up a field goal on the opening possession, but four Lennx brown touchdowns and two interception returns for scores gave Morningside a convincing 48-17 win over Midland Saturday night at Elwood Olsen Stadium.

After the Warriors field goal, Morningside was forced to punt, but a roughing the punter gave the Mustangs new life and Brown connected with Joshua Simmons for a 29-yard score to take the lead.

A fourth down stop gave Morningside the ball in Midland territory. Three minutes after his first touchdown pass of the night, Brown connected with Zach Norton for an eight-yard score to give Morningside a 14-3 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter. 

Brown's third touchdown of the game came on the ground, as he punched his way in on a three-yard run. The extra point was no good, but Morningside led 20-10. Brown's fourth score was a 74-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 41-17. 

The first non-Lennx Brown touchdown of the game for Morningside came on the kickoff following his third score. With the Mustangs up 20-10, Blake Brown recovered a fumble on the kickoff and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. 

The first score of the second half was a Lonell Boyd Jr. pick-six. Boyd Jr. returned the interception 59 yards to give the Mustangs a 34-10 lead. The possession following Brown's 74-yard scamper for a score, Isaac Pingel, who had two other bass break-ups in the game, recorded an interception and returned it 53-yards for the score. It would be the final score of the game to make it 48-17.

The Mustangs drained the remainder of the clock with a 13-play drive taking 9:20 off the game clock. The Mustangs led the time of possession battle by holding the ball for 33:45 of game time.

Morningside continued to split snaps at quarterback, but it was Brown who received a majority of the time under center. He attempted 20 passes with 12 completions for 129 yards and two passing scores. As a runner, he added 129 yards and two scores, averaging 8.1 yards per carry.

K.J. Williams rushed 12 times for 75 yards. Both Drew Sellon and Norton caught five passes for the Mustangs. Sellon had 54 receiving yards and Norton 44 with the score. 

Pingel led the defensive in solo tackles (seven) and total tackles (10) to go with his interception and two pass break-ups. Boyd Jr. added seven total tackles (five solo), one for a loss. Malik Hampton added six tackles and an interception. Colton Dreith put the pressure on the quarterback, totaling three quarterback hits, a sack and two tackles-for-loss.

Head coach Steve Ryan picked up career win number 223 Saturday night, moving him into sixth all-time in the NAIA.

The Mustangs are back on the road next Saturday, Sept. 30, taking on Doane in Crete, Nebraska.