By MATT PIKE
No. 7 Morningside University held off a comeback bid from No. 3 Benedictine, scoring the game-winning touchdown with just over two minutes remaining in the game handing the Ravens a 35-28 loss to open the 2026 season.
The first half was relatively quiet on the scoring side. The Mustangs scored the opening touchdown of the game with just over five minutes left in the first quarter on a 33 yard touchdown pass from Colin Gordon to Drew Sellon. Benedictine tied things up before the end of the first quarter though as Kaden Austin capped off a seven play, 75-yard drive with an eight yard touchdown run to even up the score 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Morningside took the lead back, scoring with just 42 seconds remaining in the first half, another passing touchdown from Gordon to Sellon from 13 yards out, giving the Mustangs a 14-7 lead going into the halftime break. Morningside kept the momentum through halftime, striking first in the third quarter on their third touchdown pass of the game, this time a five yard touchdown pass from Gordon to Caden Lester.
Benedictine blocked the extra point attempt however, and the Ravens answered with a 28-yard rushing touchdown by Xiomar Hernandez to cut the Mustangs lead to six. After forcing the Mustangs to punt, Benedictine drove down the field and Austin rushed in from one yard out to tie to score, before Austin Howard knocked through the point after attempt to give the Ravens their first lead of the game. Morningside answered to take the lead back midway through the fourth quarter with their only rushing touchdown of the game a three yard jaunt by Gordon.
With the Mustangs taking the lead back, Benedictine answered late in the final quarter on an 18-yard rush by Patrick Heitert with 3:51 left to play, but the Morningside answer just over a minute later, a 60 yard pass from Gordon to Jakob Nelson, proved to be the game-winning touchdown, giving the Mustangs the 35-28 lead. The Ravens finished with 291 yards rushing, led by Hernandez with 143 yards off 24 carries. Heitert added 114 yards off eight carries.
with Austin threw for 111 yards on 5-of=18 passing with an interception. Joseph Lagafuaina was the Ravens top receiver with 43 yards on three catches. Christian Pitts had one catch for 42 yards and Titan Osburn had one catch for 32 yards also adding 121 yards on four kickoff returns.
The Ravens return to the road for their Week 1 meeting, taking on Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. The Bobcats opened their season at home on Saturday night, falling 51-0 to No. 1 Grand View University.
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