Broncos Outgain #4 Morningside in 41-31 Loss
(Hastings, NE) – The Hastings Broncos fought valiantly versus #3 Morningside, but the Mustangs ultimately prevailed, 41-31. The Broncos had 344 rushing yards and outgained Morningside in total offensive yards, 490-489.
Hastings began with the opening drive and on the third play from scrimmage, junior Dalton Armbruster found a seam and burst upfield for a 59 yard gain to the nine yard line. Junior Kaiden Merryman scored on the next play on a nine-yard run up the middle to make it 7-0.
The Mustangs answered back with a 25-yard touchdown pass, but missed the extra point, to keep Hastings in the lead at 7-6. Following a Hastings punt, Morningside scored on a 52-yard pass to take a 13-7 lead at the 5:33 mark of the first quarter.
Morningside scored on a one-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to go up 20-6, then after a Bronco punt, senior defensive lineman EJ Hernandez stuffed the Mustangs on a fourth-and-three play from the Hastings 18-yard line.
With new life after the defensive stop, Hastings marched down the field, with a couple of big passing plays from junior quarterback Carson Kudlacek to senior Jake Bargen and sophomore Josh Levine. The Broncos trimmed the deficit to 10 at 20-10 on a 26-yard field goal by freshman Colton Willmott. They had a chance to get it to a one-score game before halftime, but Morningside blocked Hastings' field goal attempt.
Morningside opened the second half with a 34-yard touchdown pass, but Armbruster took the opening play after the kickoff for a 75-yard touchdown run, keeping the game close at 27-17. The Mustangs went on an 11-play, 75-yard drive and scored on a five-yard touchdown pass.
Just like Hastings' last drive, they scored on their first play, Merryman took it the distance on a 72-yard run, bringing it back to 34-24 at the 6:56 mark in the third quarter. Sophomore Justyce Hostetler made a big play on third down to get the Broncos the ball back and Hastings got a first down on their first set of downs, but were forced to punt shortly after. The Mustangs blocked the punt and took it back for a score to go up 41-24.
Kudlaceck scrambled for a 57-yard gain early in their next drive to set the Broncos up inside the 10. On third-and-goal, Kudlaceck found sophomore Cooper Butler in the back of the endzone for a touchdown, getting back in the game at 41-31 at the end of the third.
After a three-and-out by Morningside, Hastings got pinned deep and was forced to punt. The Mustangs drove the ball deep downfield to the Hastings nine yard line, but junior Tywan January got a 15-yard sack on the fourth-and-two play. The Broncos put together a long drive of 14 plays and over five minutes, but turned it over on downs at the Morningside 41 with 2:43 left.
Hastings got the ball back one more time before the end of the game, but threw four straight incompletions, sealing the Mustang win at 41-31.
Armbruster had 20 carries for 182 yards and a touchdown, while Merryman had nine carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Kudlacek was 16-33 passing for 146 yards and a touchdown, also adding 63 yards rushing on nine attempts. Butler had four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown, along with Bargen having four catches for 28 yards. Senior defensive back Sam Ahl had a team-high 11 tackles and sophomore Justyce Hostetler had nine tackles.
Up next, Hastings will play at Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:30pm.