Mustangs drop heartbreaker at Northwestern

ORANGE CITY, Iowa — On Saturday, the No. 4-ranked Morningside football team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end with a 14-13 defeat to Northwestern.

Quarterback Zack Chevalier threw for 219 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jaylen Burch rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries to lead the Mustangs (5-2, 5-1 GPAC).

"We had it in us, we could move the ball, but we made too many mistakes today," said head coach Steve Ryan on the KMNS-AM postgame show. "We fought to the end. The kids played hard, and they're tough guys. They never let up."

Morningside responded after being down early in the first quarter with a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 1-yard scoring run from Lennx Brown.

The Mustangs closed the gap late in the fourth when Chevalier found Brown for a 10-yard touchdown with 4:41 remaining, but the extra-point attempt was blocked — leaving Morningside one point shy.

Chevalier completed 22 of 41 passes, connecting with Brown five times for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Drew Sellon also had six catches for 61 yards, and Kyle Sisler added five receptions for 59 yards.

Morningside outgained the Red Raiders 359-257 in total yards, despite the Mustangs having the ball for eight-plus fewer minutes in time of possession. The Mustangs also had 23 first downs, while holding Northwestern to 15.

Morningside's defense held Northwestern scoreless in the fourth quarter and limited the Red Raiders to 14 rushing yards on 25 attempts. Linebackers Cole Reilly and Cade Harriman each had seven tackles, with Reilly adding a sack. Blake Bellamy and Teyel Lowe also recorded sacks.

Harriman also picked off a pass, and he returned it for 27 yards.

Moringside returns home next Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff against Concordia.