Morningside broke nine school records and posted an 11-2 record during the 2013 campaign for its 10th consecutive winning season.

Morningside College’s football team enjoyed a 10th consecutive winning season when the Mustangs posted an 11-2 record during the 2013 campaign. Morningside, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the NAIA through its first nine games, had an 8-1 record in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) to win its third consecutive conference championship and made its 10th consecutive post-season appearance in the NAIA Championship Series, where it lost 35-0 against eventual NAIA National Champion Grand View University in the semifinals.

The Mustangs are one of the nation’s most successful football teams since the start of the 2004 season with a record of 101-21 for a .828 winning percentage. Morningside has advanced to at least the quarterfinals of the NAIA Championship Series eight times in the last 10 years.

Record Breaking Performances
Morningside had one of its most potent offensive attacks in school history during the 2013 season. The Mustangs piled up a school-record 7,165 yards total offense and set another record with an average of 551.2 yards total offense per game to break their former standards of 6,929 yards total offense in a season and 533.0 yards total offense per game, both set in 2005. The Mustangs amassed a school-record 712 yards total offense in a 67-0 shutout victory against city rival Briar Cliff University on Oct. 26 to break their former mark of 695 yards total offense against Dana College in 2005.

The Mustangs had their most prolific ground attack in school history with a school-record 3,407 yards rushing for a school-record average of 262.1 yards rushing per game. They shattered their former records of 2,744 yards rushing in 2012 and 209.8 yards rushing per game in 2009.

Morningside tied a single-game record with 11 touchdowns in a 79-14 win against Dordt College on Sept. 21 and tied a season record with two punt return touchdowns.

Schuck Becomes All-Time Touchdown Leader
Kyle Schuck, a 6-2, 180 lb. senior wide receiver from Cherokee, Iowa, finished his career with a school-record 47 touchdowns and 47 touchdown pass receptions to break the former Morningside standards of 36 career touchdowns and 34 career  touchdown receptions set by Beau Kildow from 2006-09.

Schuck, the 2013 Rawlings-NAIA Football National Player of the Year, was the Mustangs’ leading pass receiver with 75 receptions for 1,419 yards and 21 touchdowns for an average of 18.9 yards per catch. His 21 touchdown receptions tied a school record previously set by Trae Johnson in 2005. Schuck also tied the Mustangs’ single-game touchdown reception record when he caught four scoring passes in the Mustangs’ 67-0 victory against Briar Cliff. Schuck was the NAIA national leader with his 1,419 pass reception yards and was the Mustangs’ leading scorer with 126 points. His 1,419 reception yards was the second highest single-season total in Morningside history, while his 75 receptions ranked seventh among the Mustangs’ all-time single-season bests.

He had 173 pass receptions for 3,008 yards and 47 touchdowns for an average of 17.4 yards per catch during his Morningside career for the second highest reception yardage and fifth highest reception totals in school history.

Kasdorf Breaks Passing Accuracy Mark

Ryan Kasdorf, a 6-1, 210 lb. junior quarterback from Newhall, Calif., set a school record for passing accuracy with 223 completions in 324 attempts for 68.8 percent to break the former Morningside record of 67.6 percent by Ian Gilworth in 2008. Kasdorf passed for 3,335 yards and 42 touchdowns for the fourth highest single-season passing yardage total in Morningside history. He was the NAIA national leader in pass efficiency with a rating of 192.5.

Kasdorf, who joined the Mustangs this season as a transfer from College of the Canyons, already ranks eighth in the Morningside record book with his 3,335 career yards passing.

Sitzmann Sets Single-Game Punting Average Record

Jordan Sitzmann, a 6-1, 175 lb. senior punter from Le Mars, Iowa, set a Morningside record for punting average in a game when he punted two times for a 51.0-yard average in the Mustangs’ 48-31 victory against Concordia University on Nov. 2. He broke the previous Morningside standard of 49.8 yards per punt by Mike Borrall against St. Cloud State University during the 1999 season.

Sitzmann punted 36 times for 1,390 yards for an average of 38.6 yards per punt with a long of 60 yards during the 2013 season.

Hicks Ties Interception Record

Darius Hicks, a 5-9, 190 lb. junior defensive back from Kansas City, Mo., intercepted three passes in the Mustangs’ 48-31 win against Concordia on Nov. 2 to tie a school record that had been achieved eight previous times. Hicks was the Mustangs’ season leader with four interceptions to go along with 21 tackles and four pass breakups.

McCabe Ranks Among All-Time Receiving Leaders

Joel McCabe, a 6-1, 225 lb. senior J-back from Jefferson, S.D., was the Mustangs’ second leading pass receiver with 63 receptions for 866 yards and 12 touchdowns for an average of 13.7 yards per catch.

McCabe ranks as one of the most prolific pass catchers in Morningside history with career totals of 193 receptions for 2,508 yards and 33 touchdowns for an average of 13.0 yards per catch. He ranks fourth in Morningside history with 193 career receptions and fifth with 2,508 reception yards.

Leading Rusher

Brandon Wegher, a 5-11, 210 lb. sophomore running back from Dakota Dunes, S.D., led the Mustangs in rushing with 1,205 yards and nine touchdowns in 208 attempts for an average of 5.8 yards per carry. Wegher’s 1,205 yards was the fifth highest single-season total in Morningside history. Wegher rushed for a season’s high 277 yards in the Mustangs’ 40-21 victory against Rocky Mountain College in the first round of the NAIA Championship Series for the second highest single-game rushing yardage total in Morningside history.

Schleuger Tops Tackle Chart

Zac Schleuger, a 6-2, 220 lb. sophomore linebacker from Wesley, Iowa, topped the Mustangs’ tackle chart with 40 solos and a team-high 64 assists for 104 total tackles. He was the Mustangs’ co-leader with four quarterback hurries and 15 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 37 yards. He also had five pass breakups, two blocked kicks, 1.5 quarterback sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery.

Quarterback Sack Leader

Logan Gibbs, a 6-0, 200 lb. junior linebacker from Maxwell, Iowa, was the Mustangs’ top pass rusher with a team-high 4.5 quarterback sacks and four quarterback hurries. Gibbs was also the Mustangs’ co-leader with 15 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses of 58 yards and was the Mustangs’ third leading tackler with 42 solos and 48 assists for 90 total tackles.

Roberg Tops 100-Tackle Mark

Aaron Roberg, a 6-0, 215 lb. senior linebacker from Grand Island, Neb., led the Mustangs with 47 solo tackles to go along with 55 assists to rank second on the team’s tackle chart with 102 total tackles.

Roberg, a three-year starter, amassed 116 solos and 173 assists for 289 total tackles, including 24 tackles for a loss, to go along with 10 quarterback sacks, four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups during his Morningside career.

Pass Breakup Artist

Chris Frierson, a 6-1, 180 lb. senior defensive back from Tampa, Fla., led the Mustangs with 15 pass breakups and three blocked kicks to go along with 37 tackles. His 15 pass breakups were two shy of Morningside’s single-season record.

Frierson was also the Mustangs’ top kickoff return specialist with 13 returns for 330 yards for an average of 25.4 yards per return.

Punt Return Leader

Devin Thomas, a 5-10, 190 lb. junior wide receiver from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was the Mustangs’ leading punt return specialist with 22 returns for 237 yards and one touchdown for an average of 10.8 yards per return.

Thomas was also the Mustangs third leading pass receiver with 50 receptions for 813 yards and seven touchdowns for an average of 16.3 yards per catch.

Halvorson Climbs Career Rushing Chart

Jon Halvorson, a 5-11, 190 lb. junior running back from Sioux Falls, S.D., rushed for 851 yards and 10 touchdowns in 180 attempts for an average of 4.7 yards per carry. His 851 yards rushing was the 10th highest single-season total in Morningside history.

Halvorson has rushed for 1,437 yards and 19 touchdowns in 303 attempts for an average of 4.7 yards per carry over the past two seasons for the 12th highest career rushing yardage total in Morningside history.

School Records In 2013
Individual
Punting Average In A Game – 51.0, Jordan Sitzmann vs. Concordia, 11-2-13
Touchdown Pass Receptions In A Game (Tie) – 4, Kyle Schuck vs. Briar Cliff, 10-26-13
Interceptions In A Game (Tie) – 3, Darius Hicks vs. Concordia, 11-2-13
Pass Completion Percentage In A Season – 68.8, Ryan Kasdorf
Touchdown Pass Receptions In A Season (Tie) – 21, Kyle Schuck
Touchdowns In A Career – 47, Kyle Schuck
Touchdown Pass Receptions In A Career – 47, Kyle Schuck

Team
Total Offense Yards In A Game – 712 vs. Briar Cliff, 10-26-13
Touchdowns In A Game (Tie) – 11 vs. Dordt, 9-21-13
Rushing Yards In A Season – 3407
Yards Rushing Per Game In A Season – 262.1
Total Offense Yards In A Season – 7165
Yards Total Offense Per Game In A Season – 551.2
Punt Return Touchdowns In A Season (Tie) – 2