GAME NOTES (PDF)

SATURDAY: A long-time rivalry is renewed when the University of Mary faces Minot State University for the first time since 2005. The former North Dakota College Athletic Association and Dakota Athletic Conference foes take to the field on Saturday, September 29, at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, ND. Televised on the NBC North Dakota Sports Network, kickoff is set for 6:07 PM.

THE RECORDS: U-Mary is 3-1 overall and in the Northern Sun. MSU is 0-4 overall and in the NSIC. This will be the first NSIC North Division game for both squads.

LAST GAME: The Marauders lost its homecoming game 32-23 to Winona State, the first loss of the year for U-Mary... The Beavers lost 26-20 at Upper Iowa University.

LAST YEAR: U-Mary finished 5-6 overall, 4-6 in the NSIC and 3-3 in the NSIC North… In its final season of transition to full NCAA membership, MSU was 2-8.

MARAUDERS-BEAVERS ON NBC ND SPORTS NETWORK: The Marauders-Beavers football game will be televised across western and central North Dakota on the NBC North Dakota Sports Network. Coverage is set for 6 PM on Saturday, September 29. The game will be carried throughout the central and western part of the state across the NBC North Dakota Sports Network (KFYR-TV in Bismarck, KMOT-TV in Minot, KUMV-TV in Williston, and KQCD-TV in Dickinson). KFYR-TV sports director Lee Timmerman handles the play by play. Weekend anchor and Marauders Weekly host Scott Westerberg provided the commentary.

MARAUDERS-BEAVERS TAPE-DELAYED ON MIDCO SPORTS NET: The Marauders-Beavers game will be tape-delayed by Midco SportsNet on Wednesday, October 3, at 8 PM. Rob Meltzer will handle the play by play for MSN.

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.SMSUmustangs.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: An annual foe for the first 18 years of Marauders football, the U-Mary and Minot State series is tied at 10-10... Both teams are 5-5 on their home turf... The Beavers have a 10-8 edge during the regular season but the Marauders have won the two playoff meetings (1993 and 2002)... The Marauders head coach since 1999, Myron Schulz is 6-2 all-time vs. the Beavers... Minot State won the first four match-ups with U-Mary but the Marauders captured seven of the last nine... The Marauders and Beavers last met October 1, 2005, at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, ND. Minot State claimed a 14-10 win as Jamar Culver completed 21-of-30 passes for one touchdown. Silas Sneed hauled in five passes for 112 yards and a score and Manny Gutierrez also ran for a Beavers touchdown. The Marauders were led by a huge day from Leon Cradle, who caught seven passes for 157 yards and a score. Matt Pearce completed 10-of-18 passes for 169 yards. Justin Fleck led the Marauders ground game with 49 yards. Defensively Bobby Usher had 11 tackles, including two for loss. Brooks Laber added 10 stops.

PAST MARAUDERS-BEAVERS MEETINGS (Series tied 10-10)
1988    Minot State 42        U-Mary 22                    Bismarck, ND
1989    Minot State 28        U-Mary 24                    Minot, ND
1990    Minot State 26        U-Mary 7                    Bismarck, ND
1991    Minot State 21        U-Mary 7                    Minot, ND
1992    U-Mary 26                Minot State 23             Bismarck, ND
1993    Minot State 27        U-Mary 24                    Minot, ND
1993    U-Mary 31                Minot State 20            Minot, ND (NAIA Playoff game)
1994     Minot State 31        U-Mary 24                    Bismarck, ND
1995    U-Mary 14                Minot State 7                Minot, ND
1996    Minot State 23        U-Mary 7                    Bismarck, ND
1997    Minot State 21        U-Mary 7                    Minot, ND
1998    U-Mary 36                Minot State 12            Bismarck, ND
1999    U-Mary 41                Minot State 10            Minot, ND
2000    U-Mary 45                Minot State 6                Bismarck, ND
2001    U-Mary 43                Minot State 38            Minot, ND
2002    Minot State 35        U-Mary 21                    Bismarck, ND
2002     U-Mary 21                Minot State 18            Bismarck, ND (NAIA Playoff game)
2003    U-Mary 27                Minot State 6                Minot, ND
2004    U-Mary 13                Minot State 7                Bismarck ND
2005    Minot State 14        U-Mary 10                    Minot, ND


QUICK LOOK AT THE MINOT STATE BEAVERS: Minot State University joined the University of Sioux Falls this fall as the two newest members of the Northern Sun. So far this season the two schools have been on divergant paths as the Cougars are 4-0 and ranked nationally while the Beavers remain winless after four weeks. The Beavers have made forward progress each week, especially offensively. MSU generated just 32 yards of offense the first week against Minnesota State. Over the next three weeks behind freshman QB Zac Cuhna, the Beavers improved to 278 and 351 yards before generating 428 yards of offense in a tough 26-20 loss at Upper Iowa. Cunha is averaging 191 yards/game passing and has thrown five TDs and eight picks. Blake Eggl has ran for 166 yards but the team is averaging just 53.5 yards/game on the ground and does not have a rushing TD. Wayne Peters is the top target for Cuhna, catching 21 passes for 270 yards and two TDs. Porter Sturm shows big play potential, catching three touchdowns on 16 passes for 263 yards. Defensively, SO MLB Casey Weinmann paces the Beavers with 32 tackles (17 solo) and has four tackles for loss. JR LB Josh Weidler has five TFL and 30 stops. Head coach Paul Rudolph (28-27 at MSU, 71-74) is a native of Stanley, ND, and is in his sixth season leading the Minot State program.  

LAST WEEK: Unfortunate errors in front of a homecoming crowd cost U-Mary dearly in a 32-23 loss to Winona State University. The Marauders committed three turnovers that contributed to 17 points for the Warriors... Behind the running of Rayon Simmons, the Warriors jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. After U-Mary turned the ball over on downs, Winona State started its second drive of the game from its own 28. Simmons concluded the drive with a 13-yard run into the end zone for a 6-0 advantage early in the game... A fumbled punt by Elby Pope at the Marauders 27 yard line late in the opening quarter, the first of the Marauders turnovers, ended with Simmons rushing 10 yards into the endzone...The Marauders answered immediately. Keyed by a 32-yard reception by Jeremy Mayfield, Craig Bagnell connected with Tyler Steffan for a 3-yard scoring strike... Winona State added field goals on its next two possessions, the second coming after Chris Norgaard intercepted Bagnell at midfield... Pinned at their own 12 with 55 seconds left before intermission, Pope put U-Mary in position to score after breaking a couple tackles and racing 51 yards on a pass reception. Bagnell found Mayfield in the end zone from 27 yards out three seconds before intermission, bringing U-Mary within 19-14... A field goal on the opening drive of the second half pulled the Marauders within 19-17, the only points of the third quarter. Simmons scored twice in the fourth for the Warriors, the second coming after a U-Mary fumble... The Marauders cut the deficit to 32-23 on a Bryan Sandy touchdown catch but the Warriors controlled the ball for the final 6:24 of the game... Bagnell was 27-of-46 for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Pope caught eight passed for 117 yards. Mayfield covered 86 yards in his four receptions. Scott Maldonado paced the Marauders defense with 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. John Oyloe had two sacks and Troy Guptill added two tackles for loss. Simmons ran for four scores and 176 yards for Winona State. WSU QB John Tiegland was an impressive 22-of-27 for 232 yards.

WELCOME TO NORTH DAKOTA: Since joining the Northern Sun in 2006, the Marauders football team has not played another North Dakota college. That changes Saturday when the Marauders play at Minot State University. The last time U-Mary played outside of Bismarck but within the state was in Minot on Oct. 1, 2005.

RIVALRY RENEWED: In its 25th season playing collegiate football, U-Mary has faced Minot State 20 times, more than any other school. The Marauders have played the Dickinson State Bluehawks 19 times.

INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY: Head coach Myron Schulz and defensive line coach Jeff Dockter are the only members of the Marauders coaching staff who were here the last time U-Mary faced Minot State.

BAGNELL OUT: University of Mary head football coach Myron Schulz announced Wednesday that Marauders starting quarterback and team captain Craig Bagnell will not play against Minot State University on Saturday, September 29, due to injury. The Northern Sun's leader in passing yardage, touchdown passes and total offense, Bagnell suffered a back injury in the Winona State University game.

FAST START: The Marauders last opened with three wins in its first four games in 2005. The last season playing an NAIA schedule, U-Mary won its first four games.

CAREER HIGHS: So. WR Elby Pope set career highs with eight catches for 117 yards. His 52 yard catch and run right before halftime led to a Marauders touchdown with three second left. For the year the Grand Forks, ND, native has 23 catches for 302 yards and two TDs. He leads the Marauders in receptions and is 4th in the NSIC. Pope is 7th in the NSIC in receiving yards per game and ninth in all-purpose yards/game.

IMPACT: JR S Scott Maldonado has made a major impact on the Marauders defense, hitting double digit stops in three of four games. The NSIC defensive player of the week after his first game at U-Mary, Maldonado is tied for the tackling lead in the NSIC and is third in NCAA Division II with 12.8 tackles per game (51 tackles, 25 solo).

PASS RUSH PRESSURE: The Marauders are second in the NSIC with 13 sacks for 123 yards lost. JR DE John Oyloe, after two sacks against Winona State, and SO LB Troy Guptill each have 3.5 sacks, which is 4th in the NSIC. SO LB Grant Singer is ninth with 2.0.

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.

BAGNELL MOVES INTO 2ND IN CAREER PASSING YARDAGE: Craig Bagnell passed Marauders Hall of Game quarterback Tim Garcia to move into second place on the Marauders all-time career passing yardage chart. He is just the third U-Mary quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a career. Bagnell is currently at 5,267 yards. Chris Schwab, another Marauders Hall of Famer, is the school's career record-holder with 7,786 passing yards between 1996-99. Garcia threw for 5,154 yards in two seasons (2002-03).

Name                                                Comp.            Att.        Yards        %        TD        INT
Chris Schwab (1996-99)    607            1136        7786        54        73            33
Craig Bagnell (2010-  )        401                689        5586        64        44            16
Tim Garcia (2002-03)            374                  609        5154        62        58            11
Paul Cronin (1994-95)            360                  680        4970        53        55            15
Blair Sandy (2003-07)            376                694        4451        54        38            18

CRAIG BAGNELL 300 YARD PASSING GAMES
409 yards vs. Augustana (9.8.12)
403 yards at Southwest Minnesota State (9.10.11)
372 yards vs. Winona State (11.5.2011)
359 yards at Concordia University (9.1.12)
319 yards vs. Winona State (9.22.12)
319 yards at MSU Moorhead (10.29.11)
315 yards vs. Bemidji State (10.22.11)


BAGNELL BITES: U-Mary junior QB Craig Bagnell leads the NSIC in passing yards per game (321.5), touchdown passes (14), and total offense (322.8). He is third in pass efficiency (147.7)... In NCAA rankings, the Marauders team captain is 11th in passing yards, 13th in total offense and 37th in passing efficiency... In career numbers among active players, Bagnell is 11th in pass efficiency, 16th in passing yards and 15th in touchdown passes.   

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 (135), third in receiving yardage (2,154) 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- )            135         Tyler Steffan (2009-  )             2154
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.