Two Iowa schools collide in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs in Sioux City when Morningside hosts St.Ambrose. Morningside made the playoffs for the first time in 2004 and lost in the opening round. The third-rated Mustangs are looking to go further after posting the school’s first unbeaten regular season.Coach Steve Ryan says the first time you make the playoffs is a little different. He says the experience gained from last year should benefit his team. in 2004 the Mustangs lost at St. Francis of Indiana in the opening round. The weather could be a factor on Satturday. On Wednesday afternoon the field at Elwood Olsen Stadium was covered by a sheet of ice. He says it depends on how fast everything melts and how the field shapes up Saturday. St.Ambrose also has playoff experience. This is the Fighting Bees fifth trip in the last six years.Coach Todd Sturdy says it’s a good thing to have that experience. Morningside is second in the country in scoring while St.Ambrose is ninth but Sturdy says the defenses have been overlooked.Sturdy says their biggest concern is Morningside’s ability to score from anywhere on the field, and they can score fast. He says they hope to slow them down enought to have chance in the fourth quarter.St. Ambrose is rated 14th.
