DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After earning a semifinal victory in the snow, top-ranked Morningside College will chase its first-ever football national title under sunny conditions here Saturday.

The Mustangs (14-0 overall) will face off against Benedictine College (13-1) in the 63rd NAIA Championship inside Daytona Stadium at 5 p.m.

Morningside earned a dramatic 34-28 overtime victory at home this past weekend in winter-like conditions vs. eighth-rated and two-time defending champion St. Francis, while seventh-ranked Benedictine advanced with a 43-21 triumph vs. No. 6 Kansas Wesleyan.

The Mustangs are led by their quarterback, Trent Solsma, who has thrown for 5,097 and 68 touchdowns. Solsma, a former Sioux City Heelan standout, threw for 306 yards and the game-winning touchdown in the semis to Connor Niles, who had 161 yards.

“Honestly, I was fortunate to be able to be a part (of that play),” Niles said after the game. “Our defense made so many great stands in the second half. When they held (St. Francis) on their overtime try and the kick was missed, the defensive coordinator (Casey Jacobsen) looked at us and said we need to go out and score now.”

Solsma has completed 365 of 503 passes, averaging 364 yards per game. Niles has 146 receptions for 2,475 yards and 31 touchdowns, with Arnijae Ponder leading the ground unit with 1,549 yards and 22 scores.

“This is what we worked so hard for,” Solsma said. “Hundreds, thousands of hours on (their home field). We were built for this.”

Solsma and Niles, who were also teammates at Sioux City Heelan, hold virtually every offensive passing and receiving record at the school. Solsma enters his final game with 13,739 yards passing and 161 touchdowns, adding another eight rushing scores with just 17 career interceptions on 1,358 attempts.

Niles has 6,175 yards receiving on 360 receptions with 83 touchdowns.

This marks the second trip to the championship game for Morningside, while the Ravens make their debut in the final round. The Mustangs fell in the 2012 title contest to Marian.

Taylor Duncan, a junior from East Sac County, is an offensive lineman for the Mustangs, while Pocahontas Area graduate Chase Boeve is a freshman running back.

“There is a winning culture around here,” said Boeve, who was a multi-sport athlete for the Indians. “The guys have worked really hard there few months I have been here and they really deserve the chance to play for the national championship.”

In its win over Kansas Wesleyan, Benedictine’s Marquis Stewart ran for 286 yards and two touchdowns, as they recorded 399 yards as a team. The Ravens converted on seven of eight red zone trips in the game.

Benedictine has scored 630 points this year and racked up 6,460 total yards of offense.

Morningside will be looking to join Grand View as national champions from Iowa. The Vikings captured the 2013 title.

Saturday’s game will stream live through the NAIA website and ESPN3.