A History of Morningside University Football
The Morningside Mustangs football program boasts a rich history, representing Morningside University in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), a division of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Since its inaugural recorded game in 1898, the team has been guided by 23 head coaches, each contributing to the program's evolution and legacy.
Early Coaching Era
The early years of Morningside football saw a succession of coaches laying the foundation for the program. Among these were figures like Charles G., Everett M., Eli F., John L., John W., Harry W., Jason M., and George H. These coaches navigated the challenges of establishing a football program, setting the stage for future success.
Steve Ryan Era: A Period of Sustained Excellence
The Steve Ryan coaching era marked a period of remarkable consistency and achievement for the Morningside Mustangs. During this time, the team achieved 14 consecutive winning seasons, showcasing a sustained level of excellence. The Mustangs also secured seven consecutive Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) championships with a perfect 8-0 league record. Their dominance extended to the national stage, with 14 consecutive post-season appearances in the NAIA Football Championship Series, marking the nation’s longest active streak.
Under Ryan's leadership, the Mustangs became known for their explosive offensive attack, leading the nation in total offense for four consecutive years, averaging 575.6 yards per game. Their success translated into an impressive record of 147-28 since the start of the 2004 season, boasting an .840 winning percentage.
Record-Breaking Season
The football team broke six team school records during the season. The Mustangs established new single-game records with 606 yards passing and 41 pass completions in a 65-14 victory against Tabor College to break their former records of 520 yards against Hastings College in 2104 and 39 completions against Saint Xavier in 2015. The Mustangs finished the campaign with 42 quarterback sacks to break their former record of 37 sacks in 2014.
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Individual Standout Performances
Several individual players left an indelible mark on the Morningside football program during the season:
Trent Solsma: The junior quarterback from Dakota Dunes, S.D., had a remarkable season, breaking three school records and tying a NAIA national record with 55 touchdown passes. Solsma completed 309 of 454 pass attempts (68.1 percent) for 4406 yards and 55 touchdowns with only six interceptions to lead the nation in pass efficiency with a rating of 186.9. He set school records with 309 completions and 55 touchdown passes to break the former Morningside standards of 300 completions by Craig Fobbe in 2005 and 49 touchdown passes by Joel Nixon in 2012. Solsma’s 4406 yards passing was the second highest single-season total in Morningside history.
Bubba Jenkins: The senior running back from Springfield, Mo., led the NAIA in rushing with 2160 yards and an average of 154.3 yards rushing per game. Jenkins averaged 6.2 yards per carry, ran for 28 touchdowns and set a school record with 350 rushing attempts to break the Mustangs’ former single-season record of 327 attempts by Brandon Wegher in 2014. Jenkins had 12 100-yard rushing performances to break Wegher’s former record of 11 100-yard rushing games in a season in 2014.
Connor Niles: The junior wide receiver from Sioux City, was the Mustangs top pass receiver with a school-record 96 receptions that went for 1449 yards and 17 touchdowns for an average of 15.1 yards per catch. Niles broke the former Morningside record of 93 receptions in a season by Antuan Bloom in 2007. His 1449 reception yards was the third highest total in Morningside history. Niles became the Mustangs’ all-time leader with 3700 career reception yards to shatter the former Morningside record of 3277 career reception yards by Beau Kildow from 2006-09. Aside from his pass catching exploits, Niles was the Mustangs’ top return specialist with six punt returns for 175 yards and one touchdown for an average of 29.2 yards per return and 17 kickoff returns for 420 yards for an average of 24.7 yards per return. Niles set a school record with an average of 43.5 yards per punt return in the Mustangs’ 41-24 win against St.
Jared Amundson: The junior kicker from Sioux City, made 84 of 89 PAT attempts and finished the season with a streak of 50 consecutive made PATs. Amundson’s 84 PATs broke the former Morningside record of 80 PATs in a season by Zach Decker in 2014. Amundson made four of six field goal attempts with a long of 39 yards.
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Tanner Ver Steeg: amassed 118 receptions for 2258 yards and 20 touchdowns during his Morningside career to set a school record with an average of 19.1 yards per catch. He broke the former Morningside record of 18.1 yards per catch by Stephon Pearson from 1989-91.
Xavier Spann: The junior defensive back from Lakeland, Fla., tied a school record for most interceptions in a game when he picked off three passes in the Mustangs’ 35-0 shutout of Concordia University. Spann tied a record that had achieved nine times before.
Chase Reis: The junior defensive lineman from Grand Island, Neb., had three quarterback sacks in the Mustangs’ 52-7 blowout victory against Saint Xavier in the NAIA Championship Series Quarterfinals to tie a school record for sacks in a game. Reis tied a record first set by E.J. Reis led the Mustangs with 7.5 quarterback sacks in the season to top the team in sacks for the second time in the last three years.
Caden McDonald: The senior linebacker from Logan, Iowa, was the Mustangs’ leading tackler with 57 solos and 45 assists for 102 total tackles to top the Mustangs’ tackle chart for the second year in a row. McDonald also led the Mustangs with 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 54 yards, five interceptions he returned for 196 yards and two touchdowns, and two blocked kicks. He ranked second on the team with eight quarterback hurries and third with 4.5 quarterback sacks.
Deion Clayborne: The sophomore defensive back from Sioux City, led the Mustangs with 15 pass breakups and ranked second on the team with four interceptions he returned for 119 yards.
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Jason Lupkes: The senior defensive lineman from Dakota Dunes, S.D., was one of the top performers for the Mustangs’ school-record breaking pass rush.
Spencer Wyant: The junior punter from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, ranked third in the nation with an average of 42.8 yards per punt with a long kick of 66 yards.
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