Domo debuts, scores first Mustang TD

By Ramon Scott
Updated: August 29, 2017

Morningside College teammates HUNTER GAINES (18) and DOMONIQUE GUEVARA

2017 EAST COUNTY FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE FOOTBALL STANDOUTS

By Ramon Scott

EastCountySports.com

JOLIET, Ill. – The Morningside Mustangs are a perennial NAIA playoff contender and have put themselves into position to contend for a national championship in 2017.

The Morningside program has won six straight Great Plains Athletic Conference championships and have averaged over nine wins per year for the last 15 season.

The Mustangs always attract some of the top players at the NAIA level and this year have what is expected to be one of the top tandems in the nation in quarterback Trent Solsma and All-American receiver Connor Niles, who is coming back off a year-long injury layoff.

Guevara

So who did Solsma turn to for the Mustangs first touchdown of the season Saturday against host St. Francis (Ill.) in a game which featured over 900 yards of passing offense?

None other than former Grossmont High star DOMONIQUE GUEVARA, a freshman making his first collegiate appearance early in the season-opening contest.

Guevara was wide open in the right side of the end zone when Solsma, a polished passer who threw for over 3,300 yards last season with only three interceptions, easily floated a pass to the first-year receiver for six points after St. Francis led 14-0 late in the first quarter.

The touchdown came with :12 left in the first quarter.

Solsma threw for 411 yards and four touchdowns, including scoring plays of 82 and 69 yards to Niles. Niles finished the day with eight catches for 263 yards, so Guevara may find his targets limited, but so far he has made the most of his first opportunity.

Niles finished the day with eight catches for 263 yards, so Guevara may find his targets limited, but so far he has made the most of his first opportunity.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Guevara saw action on six plays in the game and also added a tackle on special teams late in the first half.

Meanwhile, HUNTER GAINES, the other-half of the Foothillers’ record-setting tandem, is also at Morningside, but will be learning for now behind the senior star, along with three other young passers.

Elsewhere…

Another former Foothiller, MALIK HAYES, a linebacker for San Jose State, had 2 tackles in his return after sitting out last season, as SJSU lost 42-22 to South Florida. The former All-Grossmont Hills standout is in his third season with the Spartans.

SEBASTIAN SWIFT, a senior linebacker at Olivet Nazerene University out of Christian High, turned in a big effort Saturday, as he had 12 tackles and a half tackle for loss in a 31-24 win over Kansas Wesleyan. He also had a quarterback hurry, as well as, a forced fumble and recovery the end the thrilling game.

Former Steele Canyon star JORDAN JOHNSON, a wide receiver for Hastings (Neb.) College, had 3 receptions for 68 yds and a touchdown in the Broncos’ 31-3 win over Jamestown Collegey. Johnson scored on a 13-yard reception with 8:11 left in the opening quarter.

Defensive back KEITH RODGERS, out of Valhalla high had six tackles in the game for the Jimmies.

Senior PHILLIP NAPOLEAN, a defensive tackle at Oregon State of out Helix, had 3 tackles in a tough 58-27 loss to Colorado St.

Former West Hills star NOAH YLAGAN keeps plugging at Briar Cliff (Iowa) University, as he had 13 carries for 123 yards, including a touchdown in a 62-26 loss to Waldorf Colleg.