SIOUX CITY, Iowa. –  The No. 1 ranked Morningside Mustangs defeated the No. 16 ranked Battlin' Bears 49-20 in the opening round of the 2018 NAIA Football National Championship.

Three touchdown passes from Morningside's Trent Solsma to Connor Niles gave the Mustangs a 21 point lead in the first quarter.

The Battlin' Bears gained some momentum in the second quarter. Rocky's defense held the Mustangs scoreless while the offense was able to put points on the board with a two yard Mason Melby touchdown rush. The Mustangs blocked the extra point.

The Mustangs rebounded in the third quarter with a trio of rushing touchdowns that put the Battlin' Bears down 42-6.

A 23 yard fourth quarter touchdown pass from Solsma to Bo Els increased the lead further. Rocky's Drew Korf found Max Gray and Darneail Jenkins for two long touchdown passes, but the damage was already dealt. 

Morningside ended Rocky's season 49-20 and will advance to the next round of the championship series.

A promising match-up between two of the top quarterbacks in the NAIA was derailed by an early injury to Rocky's starting quarterback, Jacob Bakken. The senior quarterback threw for 123 yards and one interception before being knocked out of the game.

His replacement, sophomore Drew Korf, threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns with two fumbles.

Mason Melby rushed for 37 yards and one touchdown on 12 attempts.

Gray brought in nine receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown. Darneail Jenkins caught an additional four passes for 68 yards and one touchdown.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dallas Mack had a team-high nine tackles and pulled in one interception.

This was the fourth time that a Rocky Mountain College football team advanced to the NAIA postseason. Their most recent trip, in 2013, was also ended by a loss to Morningside in the opening round.  

The Battlin' Bears end the season having won the 2018 Frontier Conference Championship.