2021 Morningside Mustangs football team

The 2021 Morningside Mustangs football team was an American football team that represented Morningside University as a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) during the 2021 NAIA football season. In their 20th season under head coach Steve Ryan, the Mustangs compiled a perfect 14–0 record (10–0 against GPAC opponents) and won the NAIA national championship, defeating Grand View, 38–28, in the NAIA National Championship Game.[1][2]

2021 Morningside Mustangs football
NAIA national champion
GPAC champion
ConferenceGreat Plains Athletic Conference
Record14–0 (10–0 GPAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumElwood Olsen Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Morningside $^   10 0     14 0  
No. 4 Northwestern (IA) ^   9 1     12 2  
Concordia (NE)   7 3     7 3  
No. 23 Dordt   7 3     7 3  
Midland   6 4     6 5  
Doane   5 5     5 5  
Dakota Wesleyan   4 6     4 7  
Briar Cliff   3 7     3 8  
Hastings   2 8     2 8  
Jamestown   2 8     2 9  
Mount Marty   0 10     0 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

Senior running back Anthony Sims led the team with 1,653 rushing yards (127.2 yards per game) and 32 touchdowns.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 4Concordia (NE)
W 63–7
September 11at Doane
W 56–14
September 18Mount Marty
  • Elwood Olsen Stadium
  • Sioux City, IA
W 56–7
October 2Midland 
  • Elwood Olsen Stadium
  • Sioux City, IA
W 59–14[4]
October 9at Hastings
W 62–7
October 16at Briar CliffSioux City, IAW 84–7[5]
October 23Dordt
  • Elwood Olsen Stadium
  • Sioux City, IA
W 34–28
October 30Jamestown
  • Elwood Olsen Stadium
  • Sioux City, IA
W 70–7[6]
November 6at Northwestern (IA)
  • De Valois Stadium
  • Orange City, IA
W 55–49[7]
November 13at Dakota WesleyanMitchell, SDW 52–7[8]
November 20Ottawa (AZ)*
W 63–39[9]
November 27Kansas Wesleyan*
  • Elwood Olsen Stadium
  • Sioux City, IA (NAIA Quarterfinal)
W 58–21[10]
December 4Northwestern (IA)*
  • Elwood Olsen Stadium
  • Sioux City, IA (NAIA Semifinal)
W 28–19[11]
December 18vs. Grand View*Durham, NC (NAIA Championship Game)W 38–28[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  •  Homecoming

References

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  1. ^ "2021 Football Schedule". Morningside Mustangs. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Shane Lantz (December 19, 2021). "Returning To Glory: Morningside wins 3rd national title". The Sioux City Journal. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Shane Lantz (December 21, 2021). "'He's the best back': Sims pushes through during title game". The Sioux City Journal. pp. B1, B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Shane Lantz (October 3, 2021). "Mustangs keep clicking: Morningside crushes Midland in homecoming". The Sioux City Journal. pp. B1, B5 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Barry Poe (October 17, 2021). "Morningside crushes Briar Cliff: Steve Ryan earns 200th win". The Sioux City Journal. pp. B1, B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Mustangs surpass 50 points again". The Sioux City Journal. October 31, 2021. p. B5 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Haggerty lifts Red Raiders". The Sioux City Journal. November 8, 2021. p. B2.
  8. ^ "Mustangs complete 10-0 regular season". The Sioux City Journal. November 14, 2021. pp. B1, B3 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Shane Lantz (November 21, 2021). "Schweigart turns the tide". The Sioux City Journal. pp. B1, B5 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Zach James (November 28, 2021). "A healthy reassurance: Johnson breaks out with 153-yard game". The Sioux City Journal. pp. B1, B6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Barry Poe (December 5, 2021). "Fight to the finish: Morningside defense stymies Red Raiders". The Sioux City Journal. pp. B1, B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Alyssa Hertel (December 18, 2021). "It'll be Grand View vs. Morningside – Iowa vs. Iowa – for NAIA title". The Des Moines Register. p. B3 – via Newspapers.com.