Sims sizzles, leads Morningside to league road victory

HASTINGS, NEB. – Anthony Sims met just a few personal milestones Saturday, Oct. 9. 

Morningside University's senior running back from Fort Lauderdale's recent roll of multiple-score contests continued but on an even more significant level at Hastings College's Lloyd Wilson Field. He found the end zone five times in the first 30 minutes and added another early in the second half to set a new single-game program record of six rushing touchdowns, surpassing former standout Brandon Wegher's old mark of five.

The six touchdowns were remarkably just part of the story in Sims's juggernaut afternoon, which helped lead the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 3-ranked Mustangs to a 62-7 win. He also became just the third Mside back to hit the 50 rushing touchdown mark in his career and moved within 61 yards of 3,000.

Sims' flurry of scores allowed Morningside to overcome an early 7-0 deficit that the Broncos put on the board on their opening drive. After that 75-yard march, the Mustang's defense proved almost impenetrable, giving up only 59 total yards over the remainder. Senior linebacker Tyler Wingert (Holstein, Iowa) registered his third 10-plus tackle total with 15, while the entire unit tallied four sacks, 17 tackles for losses, and a fumble recovery for a stout resume.

Beyond Sims' 203-yard day, the most Mside individual ground gaining since the final game of 2021, there were plenty of other offensive headlines for head coach Steve Ryan's squad. Senior quarterback Joe Dolincheck (Bellevue, Neb.) threw for three touchdowns and 352 yards to mark the 29^th multiple touchdown pass game in his career as he closed within 59 yards of the 10,000 mark. The senior wide receiving trio of Caleb Schweigart (Omaha, Neb.), Reid Jurgensmeier (Wahoo, Neb.), and Austin Johnson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) benefitted from the aerial fireworks. Jurgensmeier and Schweigart tallied 127 yards and a touchdown, and Johnson finished with 92 yards and a score.

Morningside (5-0 overall, 5-0 Great Plains Athletic Conference) wraps up a brief two-game road trip Saturday, Oct. 16. They make the crosstown trip to Briar Cliff University's Memorial Stadium for the Battle for the Saddle contest.