No. 6 Mustangs advance to semis with comeback victory

DILLON, Mont. – The Morningside University football team turned the tides on Saturday en route to a quarterfinal victory.

Down 14 in the first half, the sixth-seeded Mustangs (12-1) bolstered a 21-point run that helped them defeat No. 4 Montana Western, 31-24, on the road. The win marked the first win in the state of Montana in Morningside football history.

The Mustangs were down 24-10 at the half, and had committed two turnovers in the first two quarters. But, on the first defensive stand of the second half, senior Isaac Pingel forced a fumble just 1 minute, 46 seconds into the stanza.

Pingel also recovered that fumble, and the Mustangs turned the game from there.

On the third play of the following offensive drive, quarterback Zack Chevalier found Zach Norton from 21 yards out. That made the score 24-17 with 12:10 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Chevalier found Sellon two more times for scores. The first one came on the first play of the fourth quarter, as the Santa Clarita, Calif., native found Sellon for 25 yards, and that tied the game at 24-24.

The go-ahead TD came with 9:50 left in the game, as Sellon earned a 63-yard touchdown reception. Most of those yards came after the catch after getting a step ahead of the Bulldogs' secondary.

Both fourth-quarter scoring drives lasted less than 90 seconds. Morningside's defense then held Montana Western to 28 yards on 10 plays for the duration of the contest.

Chevalier was 23-for-35 for 347 yards to go with the four passing TDs. Sellon and Norton eclipsed the 100-yard mark as receivers. Sellon collected 182, while Norton gathered 120.

Max Hough had 15 carries for 62 yards.

Pingel led the Morningside defense with seven total tackles. Cade Harriman, My'kell Barnett, and Dijion Walls each had five total tackles.

Haden Mendel, Austin Jurgens, and Chase Harden each had one total sack. Cale Pittenger and Jack Brickhouse earned a half sack.

With the win, Morningside faces Grand View on Saturday, Dec. 14.