No. 4 Mustangs contain Warriors late in home win

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Two big second-half takeaways powered the Morningside football team to a 55-37 win over Midland in its home opener Saturday at Elwood Olsen Stadium.

The first came late in the third quarter. With 57 seconds left, Jack Brickhouse jumped a route for an interception and returned it 36 yards to the Warriors' 36-yard line. The fourth-ranked Mustangs (2-1, 2-0 GPAC) cashed in with points on the ensuing drive.

"I was just eyeing it all game," Brickhouse said. "When I saw him pass it, I took my angle low, took it outside and picked it off and went. I made the play, and that's what we needed to turn it around. I think that play gave us so much momentum."

Less than five minutes into the fourth, Cale Pittenger stripped Midland quarterback Brodey Johnson. Teyel Lowe scooped up the fumble in front of the Mustangs' sideline and returned it nine yards, setting up another Morningside score.

Pittenger finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Laytin Koch and Blake Bellamy led the defense with nine tackles each.

"We moved (Laytin) to cornerback in the bye week, and I thought he played really well," head coach Steve Ryan said. "Our defensive linemen stayed with it, played hard and got some pressure on the quarterback."

Morningside erupted for 21 points in the fourth quarter, building on a 27-17 halftime lead.

Quarterback Zack Chevalier paced the offense with 274 passing yards and five touchdowns. Drew Sellon hauled in 10 catches for 130 yards and three scores, while Max Hough rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown.

"The amount of time I had from the offensive linemen back there was ridiculous, and they opened everything up the way we ran the ball," Chevalier said. "The playmakers, they speak for themselves."

Saturday was the Mustangs' first home game in the newly refurbished Elwood Olsen Stadium. After two road contests and a bye week, Chevalier said the pressure to perform at home was real.

"We didn't want to lay an egg," the senior quarterback said. "We wanted to come out and make a statement, and I believe we did that today. We waited for so long to play at Olsen. It was a blessing to be out here, the crowd was great today, and it was so much fun."

The Mustangs (2-1) head back on the road next week, traveling to Hastings for a 1 p.m. kickoff.