Senior quarterback Lorenzo Brown (Bristol, Conn.) threw for four scores, three to junior receiver Jon Ryan (Watertown, S.D.) and added two more touchdowns on the ground in the second half to help close the game out. Senior running back Ryan Lowmiller added a touchdown and 160 rushing yards, his second best yardage production of the season.

USF controlled the turnover battle, forcing six turnovers to only one Cougar interception. Junior safety Dan Schmeichel (Odessa, Minn.) had two of USF's interceptions, while also forcing and recovering a fumble.

In the battle of two of the six remaining NAIA undefeated teams, the first quarter did not disappoint. After Mustang receiver Beau Kidlow made the initial down of the game, NAIA-leading rusher Jake Peterson put the ball on the turf and senior Cougar linebacker Marlon Lobban (Pittsburg, Calif.) jumped on the ball to gain possession for USF.

After a nice open field tackle by a Mustang defender on Brown and a penalty, USF faced a 2nd and 16. Brown dropped back to pass and hit Ryan for the first of his three receiving touchdowns on the day. Brown laid the ball smoothly over a Mustang defender and put USF 7-0.

With the ball back in their hands after the kickoff, the Mustangs started to move the ball once again, picking up another first down. However, senior cornerback Cody Cavender (Redding, Calif.), who appeared to have been beat by Mustang receiver Kildow, made up ground to pick off the ball. It was Morningside's second turnover in the first five minutes of the game and was Cavender's second interception of the season. Cavender led the Cougars today with 14 total tackles. USF took the ball at their 27 yard line but was not able to move the ball on offense and was forced to punt.

Morningside took their third possession of the day and picked up a few first down on nice pass plays before Mustangs quarterback Tim Richard found Kidlow for a 45 yard pass to the USF nine yard line. Richard ran the ball down to the two yard line on the next play, then found receiver Chad Bucholz for the Mustang's first points of the game.

The Mustang defense held USF to a three-and-out on the next series, to put the ball back in favor of Morningside. Richard went deep again, this time finding Bradley Norwood for a 51 yard pick-up to the USF 17 yard line. Kildow would move the ball nine more yards before Tim Richard did a quarterback sneak into the end zone that put the Mustangs up 14-7. It is only the second time this season that USF trailed in a game. At the end of the first quarter USF had surrendered more total yards and points than their per-game average during the 2009 season.

Starting the second quarter, USF was once again forced into a three-and-out and the Mustangs, playing at home, had a clear momentum advantage and the opportunity to grab a two possession edge. However, Schmeichel would get his first of three forced turnovers on the day, this time forcing Mustang running back Peterson to fumble for the second time of the day.

Down by a touchdown USF was aided by a 15 yard penalty, giving the Cougars a starting point at midfield. Receptions of 12 and 11 yards, tacked onto another 15 yard penalty and a Lowmiller 10 yard rush put the Cougars in prime position to tie the game. On first and goal, Brown found Ryan in the front corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The touchdown reception was the second on the day for Ryan and tied the score at 14-14.

Even though some of the momentum had been taken away from the Mustangs, they were able to move the ball for a first down on the ensuing drive, but Schmeichel would once again end the drive on one of his two interceptions on the day. The ball was knocked up in the air by senior safety Trevor Holleman (New Holland, S.D.) and Schmeichel made a shoe-string catch to give the ball back to the Coguars.

USF was able to take the lead back when Lowmiller darted up the middle, then cut to the outside to find a great block by junior receiver Alex Anderson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and ran into the endzone for a 22 yard touchdown. The score made it 21-14 and built a high-scoring affair between the nation's No. 1 and No. 3 scoring defenses.

Morningside answered the Sioux Falls touchdown as they had a steady drive that didn't have a gain over ten yards, but chipped away at the Cougar defense. Mustang running back Joe Don Hunter put the ball in from two yards out, knotting the game at 21-21.

With 1:21 left in the half sophomore kick returner Adam Lopez (Gillete, Wyo.) had an excellent 36 yard kickoff return that put USF at midfield and in position to take the lead again. After a first down throw to Anderson, Brown found junior receiver Brad Theilen (Nashua, Iowa) down the middle for a 38 yard touchdown.

The quick strike by the Cougars allowed for Morningside have the ball with 45 second left. The Mustangs moved to midfield and an apparent heave to the end zone was in store but junior linebacker Dominic Studzinski (Fort Atkinson, WIS.) ended the half with a sack.

With the game still undecided Olsen Stadium remained at its original 7,500 attendance after halftime.

The Cougars took the opening kickoff in the second half and made a statement on the drive. Lowmiller rushed for 14 yards, then Ryan caught one of his two passes that did not go for a touchdown (38 yards). Ryan found the end zone from 10 yards out on the next pass, scoring his third and final touchdown reception of the afternoon. USF grabbed the 35-21 lead in only two minutes and 40 seconds.

Morningside was unable to move the ball on their first possession of the second half, but an interception of Cougar quarterback Lorenzo Brown gave the Mustangs possession inside USF's 40. It is only the second time a defense has found a Brown pass this season.

A sack by defensive lineman Mike Hartley (Sr.; Rapid City, S.D.) pushed the Mustangs back to the 40 yard line but an open receiver took a pass 23 yards deep into Cougar territory. After a few short runs a fourth and one situation on the eight yard line provided a dilemma for the Mustangs. Morningside decided to go for it, but failed when junior defensive back Joe Moen (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and company stuffed Mustang running back Joe Don Hunter.

After both teams exchanged punts, USF would take over just short of midfield. The Cougars made a handful of moderate gains before Brown ran for his first rushing touchdown of the day and fifth overall touchdown. With the defense not allowing a single point in the second half, the 42-21 USF lead painted a bleak picture for the Mustangs at the end of the third quarter.

The Mustangs started the fourth quarter with the ball and running back Jake Peterson found his best running space of the day. Morningside was able to move the ball inside the Cougar's 20 yard line and threatened lower their 21 point deficit. Schemeichel, already making one fumble recovery and a interception on the day, ended those hopes with his fourth interception of the season. It would be the last time the Mustangs would have the ball inside the Cougar's 40 yard line.

In the fourth quarter USF handled the ball for almost 10 minutes. Lorenzo Brown would gain 16 of the 95 USF rushing yards in the fourth quarter on a touchdown, increasing the score to 49-21.

On the day the Mustangs and Cougar defenses gave up nearly 1,000 yards of total offense, but USF was able to keep Morningside out of the end zone in the second half, giving USF's offense a chance to separate the score in their favor.

The win gave USF their fourth straight GPAC title and eighth in the conference's 10 year history. It should also keep the Cougars at the No. 1 spot in the NAIA polls and will give USF home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The win also extended USF's GPAC winning streak to 48 games.

The NAIA's playoff pairings of the top 16 teams will be announced tomorrow at 1 p.m. and will be carried live on the College Fanz Network (http://www.collegefanz.com/index.jspa).