GAME NOTES (PDF)

SATURDAY: The University of Mary football team hits the midpoint of the season when the Marauders host the Beavers of Bemidji State University in a Northern Sun North Division tussle. Kickoff is set for 2:30 PM at the Community Bowl in Bismarck, ND, on Saturday, October 6.

THE RECORDS: U-Mary is 3-2 overall and in the Northern Sun and 0-1 in the North Division. BSU is 2-3 overall and in the NSIC and 1-0 in the NSIC North.

LAST GAME: The Marauders lost 32-21 at Minot State University... The Beavers picked up a 35-2 homecoming win over the University of Minnesota Crookston.

LAST YEAR: U-Mary finished 5-6 overall, 4-6 in the NSIC and 3-3 in the NSIC North… BSU was 8-3 overall, 7-3 in the NSIC and 3-3 in the NSIC North.

HEAD COACHES: This Saturday features a contest between two head coaches that own the most victories in each of their respective programs... U-Mary's all-time winningest head coach, Myron Schulz owns a record of 96-50 in his 14th season at the helm of the Marauders. Synonymous with Marauders football, Schulz has been a member of U-Mary's coaching staff in 22 of the program's 25 seasons. He has directed the squad to six national tournament appearances and four conference titles. His teams owned a streak of nine straight winning seasons and are 72-32 in conference games. Since starting the transition to the NCAA in 2005, U-Mary is 41-38. The Marauders are 27-27 in Northern Sun contests... The winningest Bemidji State head coach, Jeff Tesch is 108-70 overall and 83-53 in NSIC play in his 17th season guiding the Beavers.

FOLLOW LIVE
MARAUDERS FOOTBALL IS ON THE RADIO! If you can't be at Saturday's game, there are several other ways to follow the Marauders. Rick Anthony and Jeff Groseclose will broadcast the game on KFYR 550 AM. The game is also streamed online at www.kfyr.com.
 
VIDEO STREAMING: Free video streaming of Marauders home and Northern Sun games is available at http://umary.nmtvsports.com/ or http://nmtvsports.com.
 
LIVE STATS: Live stats for this Saturday's game are available online at www.GoUMary.com
 
MARAUDERS WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS: Every Sunday, catch highlights of home and away games on Marauders Weekly. Originating from KFYR-TV in Bismarck, ND, the 30-minute Marauders Weekly will air Sunday nights at 10:35 PM following The Night Report across the NBC North Dakota Sports Network (KFYR-TV, KMOT-TV in Minot, KUMV-TV in Williston, and KQCD-TV in Dickinson). Hosted by Scott Westerberg, Marauders Weekly can also be viewed online at www.kfyrtv.com/video_marauders.asp.
 
MYRON SCHULZ SHOW: Each Wednesday morning at 9 AM during the football season, Marauders head coach Myron Schulz appears on the “Marauders Midweek Power Hour” with Rick Anthony on ESPN 710 AM. It can be heard live online at www.espn710am.com.
 
TICKETS: Game tickets for Marauders home games are available at the door. Adult tickets are $8 while seniors, college students and youth 18 years old and younger are $4. U-Mary students with their M-card and children 5 and under are free.
 
THE MARAUDERS-BEAVERS SERIES/LAST MEETING:  Close games are one of the hallmarks in a series tied at 3-3 between the Marauders and the Beavers. Three of the contests were decided by six or fewer points... 2006: Playing an NCAA D2 schedule for the first time, U-Mary defeated eventual Northern Sun champion Bemidji State 27-21 to ruin the Beavers homecoming. The Marauders grabbed a 21-7 lead on Blair Sandy TD passes to Matt Wall and Stacy Martin and an 85-yard Shawn Melland fumble recovery. BSU would rally to take a lead but Justin Fleck scored the winning points on a 4-yd run with 41 seconds left in the game. U-Mary managed just 167 yards of offense. Jesse Laber had three tackles for loss... 2007: Roman Penirian caught a 25-yd TD pass from Sandy in the second quarter and Rett Thibodeaux booted a 26-yd field goal in the third to lead the Marauders to a 10-0 win at home. Brandon Lewis and Laber both had two sacks as U-Mary limited BSU to 242 yards of offense... 2008: Erik Kruse caught nine passes for 125 yards and Penerian had seven for 112 but BSU's George Kadlec caught two scoring passes, including one covering 85 yards, and totaled three catches for 156 yards in a 31-10 Beavers win... 2009: U-Mary threw three interceptions and couldn't overcome a 21 point deficit at home. Jamal Lomax scored the Marauders lone TD and ran for 71 yards. Dustin Kroeplin ran for 105 yards and a TD for BSU in its 21-7 win... 2010: With 2:08 left in the game and pinned at its 2-yard line, BSU drove 89 yards and kicked a 26-yd field goal with 21 second remaining in a 23-22 Beavers win. A defensive battle, BSU outgained the Marauders 289-262. Lomax carried 29 times for 88 yards. Kroeplin led BSU with 72 yards rushing and one score... 2011: For the first time U-Mary defeated a nationally-ranked NCAA school, routing #20 BSU 49-21. Tyler Steffan caught three TD passes and totaled 202 yards on eight catches. His first score came on a double pass from fellow wideout Curtis Darrah. Josh Murray and Even Gross  both ran for two TDs and Murray added 117 yards on the ground. Craig Bagnell was 18-of-26 for 315 yards and two scores. Defensively the Marauders forced three turnovers.

PAST MARAUDERS-BEAVERS MEETINGS (Series tied 3-3)
2011:     U-Mary 49     #20 Bemidji State 21    Bismarck, ND
2010:     Bemidji State 23     U-Mary 22        Bemidji, MN
2009:     Bemidji State 21     U-Mary 7        Bismarck, ND
2008:     Bemidji State 31     U-Mary 10        Bemidji, MN
2007:     U-Mary 10     Bemidji State 7        Bismarck, ND
2006:     U-Mary 27     Bemidji State 21        Bemidji, MN

QUICK LOOK AT THE BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS: A highly successful but probably underated program, Bemidji State head coach Jeff Tesch has led the Beavers to winning seasons 13 out of the last 14 years. BSU was ranked in the nation's top 25 multiple times last year. A veteran group, 16 starters and seven all-conference performers return this season. After being picked 6th in the preseason poll, injuries and turnovers have hampered the Beavers during the first part of the season. BSU has lost 12 fumbles and thrown four interceptions through five games while forcing just six turnovers. After missing a week, SR QB Lance Rongstad ran for a 34-yd TD and threw for two scores, including a 66-yd strike to Justin Lee, in a 35-2 homecoming win over Minnesota, Crookston. Rongstad has a 7-1 TD to INT ratio and has rushed for two scores. RB Dustin Kroeplin leads the offense with 196 yards on the ground. Lee has 21 catches for 314 yards. TE Brian Leonhardt is an NFL hopeful and has seven catches for 97 yards. Defensively BSU is 14th in the nation, allowing a stingy 283.6 yards/game. The pass defense is giving up just 155.5 yards/game. SR LB Cody Crosby leads the Beavers with 54 tackles (24 solo) and had 4.0 tackles for loss. JR LB Buckley Wright has a team-high 3.5 sacks and 5.0 TFL. Safety Scott Christensen makes plays all over the field, leading the squad with two interceptions while tied for TFL with 5.0.

LAST WEEK: Elby Pope exploded for 154 receiving yards and a touchdown and Zach Roberson threw for 328 yards in his first collegiate start, but the University of Mary was stunned in the fourth quarter of a 32-21 loss at Minot State University. The Beavers scored three touchdowns in the final stanza to pull out a victory... A one-time rivalry shelved for seven seasons after U-Mary began playing in NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun, the series started up with an impressive finish by Minot State. The victory is the first NSIC win by the Beavers... Down 10-0 early, the Marauders controlled the middle two quarters, going on a 21-0 run behind two touchdown passes and a touchdown run by Roberson... A sack by John Oyloe forced a fumble and Troy Guptil recovered the ball to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Roberson early in the second. Roberson would later find Pope on a 32-yard catch and run touchdown to move the Marauders ahead 14-10 at intermission... The Marauders moved in front 21-10 in the third when Roberson hit Jeremy Mayfield from 29 yards out... The rest of the night belonged to the Beavers. Zac Cuhna hit Wayne Peters from nine yards out before connecting with Porter Sturm on a 20 yard score in the back of the end zone for the winning points with 1:52 remaining. Just 23 seconds later Randel Barber salted the game away on the 35 yard run... Pope finished the game with seven catches for the 154 yards. Tyler Steffan added seven catches for 61 yards. Mayfield caught three balls for 61 yards... Filling in for the injured Craig Bagnell, Roberson completed 26-of-49 passes for 328 yards, two scores and two touchdowns... Defensively Grant Singer and Mikey Ingemansen each had two sacks as the Marauders piled up seven in the game... Cunha threw for 228 yards for the Beavers and three scores, connecting on 16-of-33 passes with two interceptions. Glyn Borel had five grabs for 90 yards.

STRENGTH VS STRENGTH: It will be team strength vs. team strength this weekend when the Marauders passing attack faces the Beavers pass defense. The Marauders aerial game averages 322.8 yards/game, first in the Northern Sun and 13th in the NCAA. Bemidji State's pass defense allows 155.4 yards per game, 2nd in the NSIC and 16th in the NCAA.

STRENGTH VS. WEAKNESS: Behind the work of John Oyloe, Troy Guptill and Grant Singer, the Marauders lead the NSIC in sacks with 18. The Beavers are 13th out of 16 teams in sacks allowed, giving up 16.

THOMAS-TESCH: U-Mary Athletic Director Roger Thomas and Bemidji State head coach Jeff Tesch have a long history together. Tesch served as the offensive line coach and assistant head coach at the University of North Dakota from 1986-95 while Thomas was the head coach.

BACK-TO-BACK BEAVERS: With the addition of Minot State, the Northern Sun has two teams nicknamed the Beavers. With Bemidji State coming to town this weekend, the Marauders will have played against Beavers in consecutive weeks.

TWO X TWO: For the second straight game John Oyloe recorded two sacks. He had two against Winona State and two more at Minot State. He is second in the NSIC with 5.5 sacks.

STRONG START: Making his first collegiate start in relief of injured All-NSIC performer Craig Bagnell, Redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Roberson made an impressive debut. His first pass against Minot State went for a 37 yard gain to Elby Pope. Roberson finished the day 26-of-49 for 328 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for a score.

CAREER DAY PART 2: For the second straight game, SO WR Elby Pope set a career high in receiving yardage, hauling in seven passes for 154 yards at Minot State. The week earlier Pope had eight catches for 117 yards against Winona State. Currently he is tied for second in the NSIC in receptions and fourth in receiving yardage with 30 catches for 456 yards. Pope has three touchdown catches. Also U-Mary's punt and kick returner, Pope is 6th in the league in all-purpose yardage at 138.8 yards/game.   
AIR IT OUT: The Marauders passing attack is tops in the NSIC and 13th in the NCAA with an average of 322.8 yards per game. U-Mary quarterbacks have thrown 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions in five games.

PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: The Marauders passing game is an all-inclusive attack. Seven different players have nine or more catches. Seven have caught a pass for 28 or more yards. Seven also have caught scoring passes and five have two or more touchdown receptions. Elby Pope, Tyler Steffan, Bryan Sandy and Jeremy Mayfield each has caught three touchdowns.  

BIG HITTER: JR S Scott Maldonado has made a major impact on the Marauders defense, hitting double digit stops in three of five games. The NSIC defensive player of the week after his first game at U-Mary, Maldonado is third in the conference and leads the Marauders in tackles with 59 (27 solo). He is 8th in the NCAA with 11.8 tackles/game. Maldonado also has two tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and has broken up four passes.

SACK ATTACK: The Marauders lead the NSIC and are ninth in the NCAA, dropping the opposing quarterback 18 times for a loss of 153 yards. Led by two sacks from JR DE John Oyloe, U-Mary reached the Minot State quarterback five times for 30 yards in losses. Oyloe is second in the NSIC with 5.5 sacks. SO LB Troy Guptill is fifth with 3.5 sacks and SO LB Grant Singer seventh with 3.0.

STEFFAN CLIMBS THE CHARTS: All-American WR Tyler Steffan is climbing up the career record charts for the Marauders. After setting a single-season touchdown reception record last season after pulling in 17 scoring strike, Steffan is second all-time at U-Mary in touchdown receptions (26), third in receptions (142), third in receiving yardage (2,215) and fifth in career touchdowns (26).

ALL-TIME MARAUDERS CAREER LISTS
Receptions                                                Receiving Yards
Seth Meier (1996-99)                191            Jake Pfau (2001-04)                2682
Jake Pfau (2001-04)                161            Seth Meier (1996-99)                2421
Tyler Steffan (2009- )            142             Tyler Steffan (2009-  )             2215
Neil MacDonald (1995-96)    132            Neil MacDannald(1995-96)    2020
Chris Buchholtz (1990-93)    114            Chris Buchholtz (1990-93)    1857

Touchdowns                                                Receiving Touchdowns
Bobby Wagner (1992-93)        37            Jake Pfau (2001-04)                34
Jake Pfau (2001-04)                    34            Tyler Steffan (2009- )            26
Brian Kimball (1998-2001)        30            Seth Meier (1996-1999)        23
Jamal Lomax (2007-10)            30
Tyler Steffan (2009-  )                26
AJ Street (1999-2000)                25

25: Marauders football is in its 25th season. The first varsity season for U-Mary was played in 1988 and the team went 2-7. In its first 24 seasons, the Marauders have a combined record of 161-89-1, posted 16 winning seasons, advanced to national playoffs 10 times and claimed six conference titles.

THE NORTH SIDE: The Marauders started their run of seven straight games against NSIC North Division foes last week at Minot State.

WELCOME BACK: After missing the first two games due to injury, Dariouse Gravely has injected a spark into the Marauders running game. He rushed for 150 yards at Southwest Minnesota State, including a 44 yard touchdown run. Against Winona State Gravely ran for 62 yards on 12 carries with a long of 33. He also caught a screen pass for an 18 yard gain. He added 55 yards at Minot State.

MARAUDERS HALL OF FAME: WR Jake Pfau, the Marauders all-time record holder for career touchdown receptions and reception yardage, was inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame Friday. Pfau (2001-04) was a two-time All-American and earned a spot on an NAIA Team of the Dacades for the 2000s. He becomes the 12th U-Mary football player inducted. Toby Schweitzer ('96), Jason Arenz ('98), Shane Walth ('99), Steve Clooten ('01), Bobby Wagner ('02), Jon Ahneman ('03), Eric Volk ('04), Chris Schwab ('06), Paul Cronin ('09), Tim Garcia ('09), Neil MacDannald ('09), Jake Pfau ('12).

SEEING RED: The Marauders red zone offense is fourth in the NSIC, producing points 18-of-21 times. U-Mary's defense is also fourth, giving up points 14-of-21 times.

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