New cast, same play: Morningside looks to repeat as national champions
GRAMBLING, La. — There were new faces for Morningside (Iowa) football this season, but the destination was the same:
A December date in the NAIA Football Championship game, with kick-off set for 6:05 p.m. CT Saturday in Grambling, La.
A year ago, the Mustangs marched to a national title with a record-setting offense, the NAIA Player of the Year and one of the most prolific seasons by any receiver, ever, at any division of college football. Trent Solsma threw for 5,391 yards, 72 touchdowns and just eight interceptions; Connor Niles — the championship’s game most outstanding player — caught 153 of Solsma’s passes for 2,639 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Those two players, amongst other seniors, left the field for the final time in Daytona Beach, Fla., a year ago. There would be a changing of the guard for the Mustangs.
“One of the things that happens when you lose some outstanding offensive weapons like we did in Trent and Connor is everyone’s got new roles,” Morningside coach Steve Ryan said. “There’s more that’s expected of everyone as we go through the year.”
New roles, but the same goal.
One of those new roles came for running back Arnijae “A.P.” Ponder. It’s rare to say a 1,683 yard season could be overshadowed, but that’s exactly what happened to Ponder in 2018 as he played alongside his video-game teammates in Solsma and Niles.
Ponder’s new role became the hub of Morningside’s new offensive wheel, with first-year quarterback starter Joe Dolincheck as guide. All Ponder has done is put up an even more prolific season, running for 1,734 yards and 23 touchdowns.
“I think we’ve been able to lean on our running game a little bit more,” Ryan said, “and I think we’ve asked a little more of AP this year. We’ve always known we’ve had a great back, but there’s just been a little more expected of him.”
It was a team effort to replace the hole Niles left in the offense, as Bo Els and Reid Jurgensmeier each went over 1,000 yards this year; Austin Johnson is right on the doorstep with 926 yards.
“One of the things that made last year great was Connor was a feature, and yet no one complained,” Ryan said. “Everyone accepted their role very well. And so then this year, they saw that opportunity and they’ve all taken their piece with it.
“They’ve all relished their role, they’ve all been great at the role and they’ve all chosen to do their part.”
It’s that depth of playmakers that’s allowed Morningside to remain the most prolific offense in the nation.
“Whatever strategies defenses throw at us, we always have another that’s ready to step up,” Els said. “If they take one guy away, we have a running back and other receivers that can step up.”
So much of the narrative about Morningside’s two-year run to the national title has centered around the offense — and for good reason, when you go nearly 500 words into a preview and not even touch on the quarterback play (Dolincheck has thrown for 3,992 yards and 43 touchdowns — but the defense gets overshadowed.
When you have the nation’s No. 1 offense, it’s No. 2-ranked defense gets ignored.
“The reality is our gaudy numbers on offense are really enhanced by the fact that our defense continually puts them in good field position and allows them to be successful,” Ryan said.
The turnover on offense wasn’t the same on a defense that returned nine starters; while the offense had to replace stars, the defense had to repeat its performance from the 2018 championship season as well.
So they got to work.
“Last year, they had an outstanding year, it’s loaded down with seniors,” Ryan said. “So often when you have seniors, it can be their best year ever or it can be kind of a step back. That was a concern for me after they had just won a national championship in 2018 and they’re going into, for some of them their fifth year, most of them their fourth year."
“I can’t say how proud I am of them and the coaching staff. They had a great summer. At no point have they showed signs of fatigue in terms of their focus and effort and to get better, and that speaks to their character, their work effort, it speaks volumes about them about who they are and what they’re going to do with the rest of their life.”
The defense will get a big test on Saturday in the form of NAIA Player of the Year Charles Salary.
Safety Deion Clayborne said they’re ready.
“It’s a great challenge,” Clayborne said. “We never back down from any challenge. He’s a great running back, they have a great offensive line. We’re going to have to execute well, take care of our game plan and do what we do well to win this game.”