CRETE, NEB. – The arms of sophomore Kaden Ladwig (Ida Grove, Iowa) and senior Joe Dolincheck (Bellevue, Neb.) provided more than enough cushion for Morningside University’s Great Plains Athletic Conference road opener Saturday, Sept. 11.
Ladwig, in his first collegiate start, and Dolincheck lit up the skies around Doane University’s Al Papik Field to the tune of 416 yards and four touchdowns. Ladwig proved poised in his inaugural starting opportunity, going nine-of-13 for 218 yards and a score. Dolincheck’s reliability was once on display, as he hit on three paydirt strikes and 198 yards during an 11-of-14 effort.
Senior wide receiver Austin Johnson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was one of six beneficiaries of the Mustangs passing attack. He gathered in eight catches for 261 yards and two touchdowns, as his yardage total ranked ninth on the highest single-game efforts in program history. Fellow senior Reid Jurgensmeier (Wahoo, Neb.) wasn’t too far off triple digits, either, catching five balls for 91 yards.
Johnson got his splendid Saturday going early, hauling in a 61-yard toss from Ladwig midway through the opening frame for a 7-0 Morningside lead. DU responded on the ensuing possession behind their running attack for a scoring march and a 7-7 tie. The home team appeared on the verge of a potential lead after a visitor’s fumble. Still, a stout defensive stand coupled with a shanked punt led to a short field touchdown drive which opened up a 35-point run for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ No. 3-ranked team, leading to a 56-14 win.
Head coach Steve Ryan’s squad, improving to 2-0 overall and in the conference, had a solid defensive outing to go with its passing headlines. Two standouts were senior linebacker Tyler Wingert (Holstein, Iowa) and junior defensive back Lonell Boyd, Jr. (St. Louis, Mo.). Wingert made himself seemingly at home in the Doane backfield with 11 tackles, a sack and a half, and an interception. Boyd, Jr., charted six unassisted and four assisted hits for ten total tackles. They were just part of the story, though, as the entire group turned in five sacks, nine tackles for losses, and the turnover.
The Mustangs return to Elwood Olsen Stadium Saturday, Sept. 18, hosting Mount Marty University. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
