Balanced Mustangs begin playoff journey in Idaho

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Morningside's nine football wins this season have come in all kinds of ways.

Some weeks, the defense has taken charge. The Mustangs have generated 18 takeaways over the last six games, including six against Mount Marty on Nov. 8.

Other weeks, the No. 1 offense in the NAIA has carried the load, piling up yards through both the air and ground. Special teams has also played a major role — especially in the Dordt win two weeks ago, when Austin Jensen blocked a field goal in overtime.

GPAC co-champion Morningside (9-2) knows it will need all three phases Saturday when it travels to No. 8 College of Idaho for a 2 p.m. Iowa time (1 p.m. MT) kickoff in the Football Championship Series Second Round.

"We've got great focus from our players right now," head coach Steve Ryan said. "Practices have had really good energy. Anytime you have direction and focus on where you're going, your energy increases, your focus increases, your enthusiasm increases."

Ryan said that energy begins with the ground game.

"Our offensive line's done really well and we've never really been in a game this year where we haven't run the ball," Ryan said. "They play very well together and fortunately we've been able to stay healthy and keep that same group on the field and that's been very important. These guys are outstanding against the run."

Three members of that offensive line earned All-GPAC recognition last week — Brody Cutrer on the first team, while Jack James and Mason Scott were named on the second team.

The Mustangs own the ninth-best rushing offense in the NAIA, producing 2,322 yards on the ground. They are one of 19 teams nationally with more than 2,000 rushing yards, led by Jaylen Burch, who has stepped up with 727 yards and 10 touchdowns while Max Hough has missed five games due to injury.

"One guy steps up, and we don't miss a beat, and Jaylen has embodied what that means for our team," Chevalier said. "We trust every single guy on this roster."

Morningside enters postseason play with 6,053 total offensive yards, the most in the NAIA — and more than any FBS, FCS, or NCAA Division III program. Only Ferris State (6,257) and the University of Indianapolis (6,112) — both D-II programs — have more among all four-year schools.

The Mustangs also rank second nationally in passing yards at 3,731, most generated by Chevalier, who is embracing his final postseason run. 

"This time around, I have the experience," Chevalier said. "I know exactly what it's going to take. Playoff football, it's about which team is going to break first. We need to handle the emotions, no matter what the score is. We have a great game plan for the week, and we have to go out there and execute it."

Drew Sellon's receiving yards per game (122.8) is the highest in NAIA, and his 17 receiving touchdowns ties a national high. He earned the GPAC's Offensive Player of the Year award last week.

Defensively, Morningside is looking to force a takeaway for the seventh straight week. College of Idaho has turned the ball over 14 times, most of them through the air.

Defensive lineman Teyel Lowe, who recently had a hand in two takeaways, said the defense understands how much momentum comes from getting the ball back.

"Especially, early in the game, the offense feeds off of that and gives them a spark," Lowe said. "Later on in the season, we've been playing our best football. We changed our defense halfway through the season, and we learned how we play best as a team."

During last week's bye, the Mustangs focused on recovery and internal competition, using the time to rest players and match the first-team offense against the first-team defense — something more common in fall camp.

"We had an early bye in the season, so it's been a while since we've had a week off," Chevalier said. "That iron-sharpens-iron feeling really shows how competitive this team is."

Linebacker Blake Bellamy echoed that sentiment.

"Practices have been great, and everyone has been on top of their assignments," Bellamy said. "I can say that our team has been extremely focused. Going against the No. 1 offense is always fun. It helped us get better, it helped them get better. I'm not going to take this week for granted, and I'm going to give it everything I have."