The Morningside Mustangs football team again took the top spot in the NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the week of Oct. 8, and quarterback Trent Solsma was named the NAIA Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

Following an impressive day of offense on Saturday vs. Midland, the Morningside Mustangs football team once again took the top spot in the NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the week of Oct. 8.

The Mustangs victory in Fremont, Neb. improved their record to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Morningside ranks first in the nation in total offense, accumulating 3,602 yards in six contests for an average of 600.3 yards per game. They are also first in the nation for passing offense, averaging 431.3 yards per game. The Mustangs rank second behind Kansas Wesleyan in scoring offense (58.0), fifth in the nation for total defense (240.5), and sixth in scoring defense (12.0). The team’s victories have come by scores of 77-21 over Midland, 65-0 over Hastings, 56-O over Briar Cliff, 66-13 over Dakota Wesleyan, 35-17 over Truman State, and 49-21 over William Penn.

Morningside and Northwestern are the only two teams from the GPAC ranked in the poll. The Red Raiders, who will host the Mustangs on Oct. 20, improved from No. 4 to No. 3.

In addition to the Mustangs continuing their run at No. 1, Morningside quarterback Trent Solsma was named the NAIA Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Solsma ranks first in the nation for passing offense with 412.2 yards per game, as well as total offense with 403 yards per game. In total, Solsma has passed for 2,473 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. Last Saturday, he smashed the Morningside record for most career touchdown passes, bringing his tally to 125 and counting. Solsma also tied Morningside records for touchdown passes in a game (7) and tied his own record for passing yards in a game (528).

The Mustangs will be back in action for their homecoming matchup vs. Doane at Elwood Olsen Stadium in Sioux City this Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1:30 p.m.