SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Ryan Lowmiller ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns and Kristian Porter added 132 yards and a TD, leading defending national champion Sioux Falls to a 49-21 victory over Morningside in the NAIA quarterfinals.

Lowmiller broke a 91-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter Saturday to give the Cougars (13-0 overall) a 24-7 lead over their rival from the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Lorenzo Brown completed 19 -of-29 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran for another score for Sioux Falls.

Morningside scored first in the opening quarter when Bradley Norwood hauled in a 26-yard pass from Tim Richard for a TD.

The Cougars responded with three scoring drives of their own as Brown hooked up with Scott LeBrun from 18 yards out, Braden Wieking connected on a 28-yard field goal and Brown ran another touchdown in from 5 yards out to go up 17-7.

Senior defensive back Trevor Holleman earned defensive player of the game recognition with

7-1/2 total takles, one tackle for a loss and one interception. A dominating performance by the USF offensive line earned the entire unit the offensive players of the game and also allowed the Cougars to gain 292 rushing yards.

The Mustangs’ Tim Richard was 15-of-37 for 230 yards and three TDs.

USF received a great chance to put the game away when senior Nate Everett intercepted a Mustang pass and returned it to the Mustang 10-yard line.

On the next play, Lowmiller tallied his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from two yards out. Brown’s two-point conversion to Anderson made the score 42-21.

Porter finished off the scoring as he ran off right tackle and scored from 51 yards out.

Sioux Falls’ defensive effort up front held the Mustangs rushing attack to only 95 yards on 22 carries in the game.

Sioux Falls had beaten Morningside (10-2) by the same 49-21 score two weeks ago in Sioux City, Iowa.

Next up for the Cougars are the semifinals of the NAIA Football Championship Series, against No. 4 Saint Xavier (13-0) at the USF Sanford Complex at noon MST.