College of Idaho Dominates Morningside to Advance in NAIA Playoffs
Final: College of Idaho 37, Morningside (Iowa) 19
The College of Idaho Yotes delivered a commanding performance at Simplot Stadium on Saturday afternoon, dispatching the Morningside Mustangs 37-19 in the second round of the NAIA Football Championships. Playing in front of 2,194 fans in chilly, windy conditions, the Yotes improve to 11-1 and advance to the quarterfinals.
First Half: Yotes Build Cushion
College of Idaho set the tone early, marching 75 yards on their opening drive capped by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Caden Young to Corban Freese. The Yotes defense held firm, and Josh Horn added a 31-yard field goal to push the lead to 10-0.
Then came the play of the game. Travis Marieiro broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run on just the first play of a drive, extending the lead to 17-0 with 10:14 left in the second quarter. Horn connected on another field goal from 30 yards to make it 20-0 before Morningside finally got on the board—Zack Chevalier finding Kelynn Jacobsen for a 5-yard score with 2:11 remaining in the half.
The Yotes took a 20-7 advantage into the locker room.
Second Half: Mustangs Surge, Yotes Answer
Horn’s 34-yard field goal in the third quarter pushed the lead to 23-7, but Morningside came out swinging in the fourth. A grueling 17-play, 75-yard drive ended with Max Hough punching it in from a yard out, cutting the deficit to 23-13. Then Chevalier connected with Drew Sellon on a 33-yard strike just minutes later, and suddenly it was a four-point game at 23-19 with 8:20 to play.
That’s when Young and Marieiro struck again. On a critical third-and-long, Young found Marieiro streaking down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown that silenced the Mustangs’ momentum. The Yotes added one more score late—a 20-yard touchdown pass to Preston Chamberlin with 12 seconds remaining—to seal the 37-19 victory.
By the Numbers
Caden Young was efficient when it mattered most, completing 10-of-20 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns while also leading the team with 101 rushing yards on 21 carries. Travis Marieiro was electric, totaling 158 all-purpose yards (78 rushing, 80 receiving) with two touchdowns on just four touches.
Morningside’s Zack Chevalier threw for 276 yards and two scores but was hampered by two sacks and an interception. Drew Sellon hauled in 11 catches for 132 yards in a losing effort.
The Yotes controlled the clock (34:38 to 25:14) and dominated on the ground with 269 rushing yards compared to Morningside’s 85.
Travis Mariero was named NAIA Second Round Outstanding OFFENSIVE Player of the Game
Matthew Iwamizu was named named NAIA Second Round Outstanding DEFENSIVE Player of the Game
Up Next
College of Idaho advances to the NAIA quarterfinals, continuing their quest for a national championship. They will travel to Butte, Montana to play the #3 Montana Tech, who won against #11 Carroll 31-21.
The Yotes are now 9-1 with 7 straight wins.
