The Dordt Defenders lost a 49-21 contest with the no. 1 rated Morningside Mustangs on Saturday night in Sioux Center, Iowa. The Defenders entered the game as the no. 21 team in the nation and both teams were 1-0 entering the game after season opening wins last week.

Morningside scored on passes of 30 and 41 yards respectively at the 10:33 and 5:04 marks to take a 14-0 lead. A short scoring pass to Sione Tuifua of 11 yards made it 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and was Morningside's third scoring strike to a different player.

Zach Norton caught his second touchdown pass of the game as he was on the receiving end of a 52 yard pass and the score stood 28-0 going to halftime. A pair of Dordt interceptions, one at the Morningside 21 and another at the goal line kept Dordt from hitting paydirt in the first half.

Morningside scored again to start the third quarter but Dordt answered with a Kade McDaniel to Hayden Large pass for 46 yards and a score with 10:03 left in the quarter.

Morningside blocked a punt and fell on it in the end zone for another score but Dordt wouldn't go quietly as McDaniel scored on a one yard run and Brendan Pieper scored on a 71 yard run to make the final 49-21.

THE NUMBERS

Dordt had a 21-20 first downs advantage.

Morningside passed for 343 yards to 112 for the Defenders but Dordt ran for 281 yards to 136 for Morningside.

Anthony Trojahn ran 11 times for 69 yards and Chase Tompkins had eight carries for 56 yards.

Pieper got all 71 of his yards with his touchdown run.

Kade McDaniel was 8-18 passing for 112 yards and completed two passes each to Hayden Large, Ethan Thomas and Eli Boldan for 53, 25 and 18 yards each.

Ian MacDonald had six solo and six assisted tackle.

Abe Stoesz and Daniel Jungling had five solo and two assisted tackles each.

Drew Daum and Jessup Leakey both had quarterback sacks.

Dordt is 1-1 and will travel to Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, September 18 for a 1:00 kickoff.

Morningside is 2-0.