GAME NOTES

SATURDAY
After a huge homecoming win, the University of Mary rolls east to face Bemidji State University, which is coming off a difficult loss. The Marauders face the Beavers in an NSIC North Division tussle at 1 PM Saturday, Oct. 12, at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, MN.

THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 3-2 overall and in the Northern Sun and 1-0 in NSIC North Division games... The Beavers are 2-3 overall and in the Northern Sun and 0-1 in the NSIC North.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders scored 38 straight points in the first half and rolled to a 45-10 homecoming win over Minot State University... On a wet, muddy field in a game played in the rain, the Beavers lost 16-14 at the University of Minnesota Crookston on a safety with 1:25 left in the game.

LAST YEAR
U-Mary finished 4-7 overall in the NSIC and 1-6 in the NSIC North… Bemidji State finished 7-4 overall, 7-4 in the NSIC (T-5th overall) and 6-1 in the NSIC North Division (T-1st).

HEAD COACHES
U-Mary's all-time winningest head coach, Myron Schulz owns a record of 100-57 in his 15th season at the helm of the Marauders. Synonymous with Marauders football, Schulz has been a member of U-Mary's coaching staff in 23 of the program's 26 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 the Marauders are 75-39 in conference games. Since starting the transition to the NCAA in 2005, U-Mary is 45-46. The Marauders are 31-35 in Northern Sun contests...  In his 18th season at Bemidji State University, Jeff Tesch has the most coaching wins in Beavers history and has a career record of 115-74. Prior to joining the Beavers in 1996, the Moorhead State University graduate was the assistant head coach at the University of North Dakota under Roger Thomas, the current University of Mary athletic director.
 
FINAL SEASON FOR SCHULZ
Marauders Head Coach Myron Schulz, the man most associated with University of Mary football and the longest-tenured coach in school history, is resigning his head coaching position effective at the end of the 2013 season. Entering his 15th season at the helm of the Marauders football team, Schulz will become a faculty member in U-Mary's Gary Tharaldson School of Business. As U-Mary prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary of Marauders football, Schulz starts his 23rd season as a member of the squad's coaching staff. His 100 wins are more than any other U-Mary head football coach. Schulz directed his teams to four conference crowns and six playoff appearances while posting nine straight winning seasons at the start of his tenure. Schulz will start his teaching duties at the completion of the football season. A search for a replacement will begin later in the fall with hopes to have a new coach in place shortly after the end of the 2013 schedule.

THE MARAUDERS-BEAVERS SERIES/LAST MEETING:  Close games are one of the hallmarks in a series Bemidji State leads 4-3. Three games 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 2nd quarter and Rett Thibodeaux booted a 26-yd field goal in the 3rd in a 10-0 Marauders home win. 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: U-Mary defeated a nationally-ranked NCAA school for the first time in a 49-21 rout of #20 BSU. Tyler Steffan caught eight passes for 202 yards and three TDs. 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.. 2012: Bemidji State ran off 29 straight points and U-Mary turned the ball over on downs at the Beavers two yard line plus threw three red zone interceptions in the Marauders 29-21 home loss. Elby Pope caught 10 passes for 123 yards and Zach Roberson threw for 307 yards and two scores with four interceptions. Dustin Kroeplin ran for 111 yards and a TD. Lance Rongstad completed 16-of-24 passes for 261 yards and a TD and ran for 48 yards and a score.  

PAST MARAUDERS-BEAVERS MEETINGS (BSU leads series 4-3)
2012:    Bemidji State 29     U-Mary 21        Bismarck, ND
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 BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY
A youthful offense combined with a veteran defense has led to an inconsistent season for Bemidji State University. Returning just three starters on the offensive side, the Beavers look to start five redshirt freshmen against the University of Mary on Saturday. Three of the first-year starters are at receiver with the other two on the offensive line. The Beavers average 20.6 points per game, 143.6 yards rushing/game, 108.6 yards passing/game (last in the NSIC) and 252.3 yards/game of total offense (15th out of 16). SR RB Avery Walker has been incredible the past two weeks, running for 170 yards and scoring three TDs in a 41-40 win over Southwest Minnesota State and 265 yards and two scores on 46 carries in a 16-14 loss at the University of Minnesota Crookston last week. For the year he has run for 607 yards in five games. Josh Malone leads the passing game with 14 catches for 128 yards and a TD. The defense is a veteran group with eight returning starters. Connor Quinn is the Beavers most active defender, leading the team with 51 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Dan Kiebler has six tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks.

LAST WEEK: In its most dominating performance of the year, the University of Mary scored 38 unanswered first-half points on the way to a 45-10 homecoming win over Minot State University. The win was the 100th for head coach Myron Schulz in his tenure at U-Mary and gave the Marauders a win in the first "Battle of the Big Lake" travelling trophy game. The Marauders took advantage of numerous miscues by the Beavers as U-Mary forced four turnovers and several errors by the Minot State punt team. The Marauders opened the scoring on a 42-yard touchdown run by Dariouse Gravely, one play after Preston Tescher blocked an MSU punt. Following a 10-yard punt on MSU's next possession, the Marauders drove 47 yards with Gravely scoring from 2 yards out for a 14-0 lead. A fumbled punt by the Beavers recovered by Tescher led to the Marauders first score of the second quarter, a Craig Bagnell to Elby Pope from 18 yards away. Bagnell would add two more touchdown passes to Nick Jolliffe sandwiched around a Tyler Ryan field goal and U-Mary led 38-0 at intermission. CJ Dreakford returned an interception 17 yards in the fourth quarter for the Marauders final score. Gravely led the Marauders offensive efforts, running for 84 yards and two scores on 12 carries. Bagnell threw for 148 yards and three scores, completing 11-of-21 passes with no interceptions. Jolliffe was the primary target, catching five balls for 97 yards and two scores. Overall the Marauders generated 293 yards of offense and 15 first downs. Grant Singer led the U-Mary defensive efforts, making two tackles for loss and intercepting a pass. Danielle Whitacker had one interception and broke up two other passes. Troy Guptill added 1.5 tackles for loss. One of the nation's leading teams in forcing turnovers, the Marauders intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble. The Beavers managed just 11 first downs and 243 yards of total offense. Ninety-two of the yards came in the fourth quarter.

100
Marauders head coach Myron Schulz captured his 100th win as U-Mary's head coach in the 45-10 Marauders win over Minot State University on Oct. 5, 2013. Schulz's first win was a 28-7 win at Southwest Minnesota State in the opening game of the 1999 season. The 25th win was a 28-27 home win over Jamestown College in 2001. His 50th win was a 32-8 home win over South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2004. The 75th win was a 37-13 win over Northern State at the Metrodome in the final game of the 2007 season.  

38
The 38 points scored in the first half of the 45-10 U-Mary homecoming win over Minot State is the most for the Marauders since scoring 38 in a 52-0 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston on Sept. 20, 2008. The 38 straight points scored is the most at U-Mary since the Marauders shut out Minnesota Crookston 48-0 on Oct. 2, 2010.

BEAVERS x 2
After hosting the Minot State University Beavers for homecoming, the Marauders now play the Beavers of Bemidji State University.                                                                                                                                                                                 
BATTLE FOR THE BIG LAKE TROPHY
The Marauders won the first "Battle of the Big Lake" travelling trophy game 45-10 over Minot State University. This is the only annual football game in North Dakota between two NCAA members. U-Mary has now played Minot State University 22 times, more than any other opponent. Each team has won 11 times.

8-0
Marauders now play two games annually for travelling trophys. The Marauders are 7-0 in the "Battle for the Paddle" with MSU Moorhead and 1-0 in the "Battle for the Lake" against Minot State.
TAKEAWAY TITANS
The University of Mary has forced 19 turnovers this season, the top figure in NCAA Division II. The Marauders have recovered eight fumbles and intercepted 11 passes. U-Mary is seventh nationally in fumbles recovered and fifth in interceptions.

THE PLUS COLUMN - LEADING THE NATION IN TURNOVER MARGIN
The Marauders lead the nation in turnover margin with a +11 through five games.  U-Mary has taken the ball away a nation-leading 19 times and have turned it over just eight times.

ABOUT FACE
One week after allowing 36 straight points in a 36-7 loss at Upper Iowa, the Marauders scored 38 points in a 45-10 win over Minot State University.
 
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Craig Bagnell is 134 yards from matching the U-Mary school record for passing yardage set by set the Marauders Hall of Fame quarterback Chris Schwab (1996-99). Bagnell passed Schwab for the career completions record with his final connection of the day at Upper Iowa and now leads 619 to 607. Schwab still leads in passing yardage (7,786 to 7,652) and touchdowns (73 to 63).

FOUR
With eight touchdown receptions in five games, Nick Jolliffe leads the Northern Sun and is fourth in NCAA Division II. The junior caught five passes for a career-high 97 yards and two touchdowns against Minot State. It was the third time this season he has two or more touchdown catches in a game.

A GRAVE(LY) MATTER
Dariouse Gravely had his biggest day of the year, running for two touchdowns and 82 yards on 12 carries against Minot State. His biggest play of the day was a 42-yard scoring run to give the Marauders a 7-0 first quarter lead. The native of Las Vegas, NV, added a 2-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to double the U-Mary lead. It was his best outing since running for 150 yards at Southwest Minnesota State in the third week of the 2011 season. Gravely also made two tackles on special teams.

TESCHER THE TERRIFIC
Preston Tescher terrorized the Beavers on special teams and defense in the Marauders 45-10 win. The sophomore defensive back set up the Marauders first touchdown with a blocked punt, leading to a Dariouse Gravely 42-yard run on the next play. Later he downed a Tyler Ryan punt at the one yard line. Early in the second quarter Tescher recovered a fumbled punt at the Beavers 18 yard line. Elby Pope caught a touchdown from Craig Bagnell on the next play for a 21-0 Marauders lead. The Bismarck native later added a tackle on special teams. For the day U-Mary's starting safety recorded five tackles (three solo).

HITTING THE HIGH NOTES
All-conference linebacker Grant Singer is having another tremendous season. The junior from Turtle Lake, ND, is fourth in the Northern Sun in tackles with 49, fourth in tackles for loss (7.0), third in fumble recoveries (2) and fifth in interceptions (2). Singer had the defensive play of the year in the win over Sioux Falls. With the Cougars at the Marauders seven yard line and threatening to take a lead in the second quarter, a blindside blitz by Singer separated the quarterback from the ball. Defensive lineman Tylar Kist recovered the fumble and U-Mary remained in the lead. Singer posted a season-high 15 tackles at Upper Iowa and has two double-digit tackle performances this season.  

RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME
JR DL Tylar Kist is third in the NCAA and first in the NSIC in fumble recoveries with three.

BIG HITTER
A devastating force on defense, JR LB Troy Guptill leads the NSIC in sacks (5.0) and forced fumbles (3) and is second in tackles for loss (8.5), and 23rd in tackles (36). Gutill posted career-highs with three sacks and 12 tackles at Upper Iowa.

SMART BALL
The Marauders are committing just 4.8 penalties for 42.2 penalty yards a game. U-Mary is second in penalties per game in the NSIC and 12th in the NCAA and third in penalty yardage in the NSIC and 13th in the NCAA. This is a marked improvement from last year when the Marauders were penalized 61.5 yards per game, one of the worst figures in the league.

IF YOU'RE OPEN IT WILL COME
On the year 13 different players have caught passes from Marauders quarterback Craig Bagnell. Nick Jolliffe leads the receiving corps with 31 receptions for 385 yards and eight touchdows. Also in double digits is Elby Pope (18-223-2), DJ Young (17-181-0) and Peter Luton (11-59-0). Against Sioux Falls ten different Marauders caught passes.

SECOND HALF SHUTDOWN
In the first three games of the season the Marauders defense was tremendous in the second half. In the opener against #2 Minnesota State, the Marauders limited the Mavericks to three points, four first downs and 77 yards. In a win over Wayne State the U-Mary defense limited the Wildcats to three points, five first downs and 92 yards after intermission. In last week's victory over USF the Cougars were limited to three points, six first downs, 95 yards, a 1-for-7 effort on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth.

FIRST HALF DOMINATION
The Marauders defense didn't wait for the second half to shutdown the Minot State offense. U-Mary started fast on homecoming, allowing just six first downs and 108 yards before intermission.

FULL COVERAGE
Behind the booming leg of Tyler Ryan, the Marauders have displayed tremendous kick coverage. U-Mary is allowing just 18.2 yards per kickoff return on 13 attempts, fifth in the NSIC. The Marauders lead the league in net yards punting at 39.1 yards/punt. Ryan is third in the NSIC in punting at 39.9 yards per attempt. Opposing teams have returned 12 for just 21 yards, an average of 1.75 yards/return. .

BEHIND THE LINE
The Marauders continue to create havoc behind the line of scrimmage, making 37 tackles for loss with 13 quarterback in five games. U-Mary is 44th nationally in tackles for loss and 35th in sacks. The Marauders were also among the NCAA leaders last season. Fifteen different players have contributed tackles for loss.

CAPTAIN CONNECTION
Offensive team captains Craig Bagnell and Nick Jolliffe have had a tremendous connection through the first five games. The duo has combined for eight touchdown passes, 31 completions and 385 yards. The pair had two touchdowns in the opener against Minnesota State, three at Wayne State, one against Sioux Falls and two against Minot State.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS II
John Oyloe also has a chance to move into the top career slot in tackles for loss and sacks. With 35 TFL, the senior trails only Brooks Laber (2001-05) with 38.5. Oyloe is fourth in sacks with 22. David St. Clair (1998-99) leads with 30. Oyloe passed three players this season on the sack list, Nikia Parson (20 sacks), Brooks Laber (19.5) and Mike Jaskolski (19).

FATHER TO SON
True freshman Jonah Hoe caught three passes for 31 yards and ran once for one yard. He is the son of U-Mary graduates Keola and Heather Hoe. Keola was a member of the Marauders first team in 1988.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
Elby Pope has turned into one of the top punt returners in the Northern Sun. The junior all-conference wide receiver is averaging 14.4 yards per punt return, second in the NSIC. He is covering 158 yards on 11 returns and has a 35-yard touchdown return.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN II
Jeremy Mayfield is one of the top kick returners in the NSIC. The senior wideout is averaging 26.8 yards on 11 kick returns, third in the league. His best effort was a 90 yard return at Upper Iowa.

HALL OF FAME
Two members of the Marauders Hall of Fame Class of 2013 have ties to the football program. An original member of the U-Mary varsity football team in 1988, Mike Jaskolski (1988-91) was an imposing physical presence on the defensive line for the Marauders who earned professional football opportunities following his college career. The defensive lineman earned All-NDCAC honors as a junior and senior and was an NAIA honorable mention All-American his final season. A U-Mary football player during the Marauders rise to national prominence, Clarence McKinney (1991-93) has now reached the upper level of collegiate coaching, earning the post of offensive coordinator at Texas A&M and competing in the nation's toughest conference while coaching the current Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE
In about ten minutes of game time at Upper Iowa, senior wide receiver Jeremy Mayfield posted two of the Marauders ten longest plays of the NCAA era (2006 and on). With 2:07 remaining in the first quarter, Mayfield caught a 69 yard touchdown pass from Craig Bagnell. This is the fifth-longest pass play in the last eight years. At 8:08 of the second quarter, Mayfield returned a kickoff 90 yards, both the second longest return and play of any sort since 2006. Two other Marauders also have two plays among the top ten longest, but never in the same game. WR Mike Williams caught passes of 93 and 85 yards in 2007. Last year WR Elby Pope had catches of 77 and 71 yards.

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