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SATURDAY
An old rivalry dating back to the first year of University of Mary varsity football is renewed when the Marauders host the University of Sioux Falls at the MDU Resources Bowl in Bismarck, ND, on Saturday, Sept. 21. The first meeting between the Marauders and the Cougars since the second round of the 2002 NAIA playoffs, kickoff is set for 2:30 PM.
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Sun... The Cougars are 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Sun. Neither team has played a divisional game yet.
LAST TIME OUT
U-Mary earned its first win of the season 34-27 at Wayne State College, the first Marauders win against the Wildcats after five losses... Sioux Falls held off Northern State 45-37 in the Cougars home opener. Â
LAST YEAR
U-Mary finished 4-7 overall in the NSIC and 1-6 in the NSIC North… Playing its first season in the Northern Sun and also its first as an active member of the NCAA, Sioux Falls finished 9-2 overall and in the NSIC to finish fourth in the conference while ending the season ranked 22nd nationally.
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HEAD COACHES
U-Mary's all-time winningest head coach, Myron Schulz owns a record of 98-56 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 73-38 in conference games. Since starting the transition to the NCAA in 2005, U-Mary is 43-45. The Marauders are 29-34 in Northern Sun contests... Jed Stugart enters his fourth season at Sioux Falls and has directed the Cougars transition from NAIA national runner ups in 2010 to NCAA Division II and a national ranking in 2012. He has a record of 28-8 at USF and is 54-15 in his seventh season overall. Prior to joining USF in 2010, Stugart spent a season as the linebackers coach at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (2009). He began his head coaching career at MidAmerica Nazerene (2006-08), compiling a record of 26-7 and advancing to NAIA postseason play twice.
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 98 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 SERIES/LAST MEETING
A series filled with important meetings on a national scale, the University of Sioux Falls has won six of the nine meetings between the two former NAIA powerhouses.
The Marauders and the Cougars first met in 1988, U-Mary's inaugural football season, and USF left Bismarck with a 37-13 win. The Cougars would also win the following year. U-Mary turned the tables in 1990 with a 17-6 win, followed by a 35-21 win in 1991 at Sioux Falls. After a four year break, the two schools found themselves pitted against one another in the second round of the 1995 NAIA playoffs, with U-Mary claiming a 42-17 win. It was the last time the Marauders beat the Cougars. USF won the next four games, all in the NAIA playoffs. The last three meetings were all close with USF outscoring the Marauders by just 13 total points. The last meeting between the two teams was in the second round of the 2002 NAIA playoffs. On Nov. 30 in Bismarck, the Cougars nudged the Marauders 13-10. Down 7-0, the Marauders scored the next 10 points on a field goal from Justin Lang and a Jake Pfau touchdown reception of 13 yards from Tim Garcia. TC Fraser would win the game for USF with two third quarter field goals. On a day dominated by defense, the Marauders were held to -6 yards rushing while U-Mary's defense made 21 tackles behind the line. U-Mary Hall of Famer Pfau set a school record with 13 catches in the game, covering 167 yards.
PAST MARAUDERS-COUGARS MEETINGS
1988 Â Â Â USF 37 Â Â Â Â Â Â U-Mary 13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bismarck, ND
1989 Â Â Â USF 28 Â Â Â Â Â Â U-Mary 17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sioux Falls, SD
1990 Â Â Â U-Mary 17 Â Â Â USF 6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bismarck, ND
1991 Â Â Â U-Mary 35 Â Â Â USF 21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sioux Falls, SD
1995 Â Â Â U-Mary 42 Â Â Â USF 17 (NAIA playoffs 2nd round)Â Â Â Bismarck, ND
1996 Â Â Â USF 56 Â Â Â Â Â Â U-Mary 19 (NAIA 1st rd)Â Â Â Â Â Â Bismarck, ND
1998 Â Â Â USF 29 Â Â Â Â Â Â U-Mary 25 (NAIA 1st rd)Â Â Â Â Â Â Sioux Falls, SD
2001Â Â Â USF 27 Â Â Â Â Â Â U-Mary 21 (NAIA 1st rd)Â Â Â Â Â Â Bismarck, ND
2002 Â Â Â USF 13 Â Â Â Â Â Â U-Mary 10 (NAIA 2nd rd)Â Â Â Â Â Â Bismarck, ND
QUICK LOOK AT SIOUX FALLS
One of the top NAIA football programs, the University of Sioux Falls made a tremendous transition to NCAA football in 2012, finishing 9-2 to place fourth in the Northern Sun and earning a spot in the nation's top 25 rankings in the Cougars first season as an active NCAA member. Despite losing several starters and 25 seniors to graduation, the Cougars are a dangerous team. Still an experienced group, USF has 16 seniors on the roster. After opening the year with a 32-7 loss at #9 Minnesota Duluth, USF bounced back with a 45-37 home win over Northern State. True freshman QB Luke Papilion was tremendous, rushing for 240 yards and five touchdowns. He was also 8-of-25 for 94 yards through the air. RB Nephi Garcia also had a big day, running for 159 yards on 22 carries. For the year Papilion leads USF in rushing with 227 yards and Garcia is second with 179. The pass attack is led by all-conference WR Carrington Hanna, who has eight catches for 53 yards. Last season Hanna caught an NSIC-leading 69 balls for 898 yards and 10 TDs. Defensively soph. LB Carter Ahlers leads the Cougars in stops with 22 (15 solo). He also has 3.0 tackles for loss. Soph. DL Grant Schindler paces the Cougars in tackles for loss with 3.5. Senior RB Wes Smith leads the NSIC in kick returns, averaging 33.0 yards on six attempts.
LAST WEEK: Capped by a game-winning punt return for a touchdown by
Elby Pope and three touchdown catches by
Nick Jolliffe, the University of Mary defeated Wayne State College 34-27 on the road. It was the first time U-Mary had beaten the Wildcats after losing the first five matchups. After U-Mary scored first when
Craig Bagnell connected with Jolliffe from 14 yards out, the Wildcats tallied the next 21 points. Bagnell and Jolliffe would connect for another scoring strike to pull within 21-14. After both teams exchanged field goals, the Wildcats entered intermission leading 24-17. U-Mary took advantage of a Wayne State turnover on the opening possession of the second half, driving 11 yards after recovering a fumble to even the game when Bagnell found Jolliffe from five yards out. Midway through the third the Marauders grabbed the lead when Pope burst 35 yards on a punt return to score the winning points. Both teams would later add field goals. Jolliffe finished with eight catches for 92 yards and three scores. Bagnell completed 33-of-53 passes for 304 yards, three TDs and one interception. Pope returned three punts for 60 yards and caught six passes for 82 yards. Charlie Davidson ran for 142 yards and a score to lead the WSC offense. Defensively
Troy Guptill posted three tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and recovered one.
Grant Singer had 10 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and recovered a fumble. The Marauders defense had nine tackles for loss and limited the Wildcats to three points, five first downs and 92 yards after intermission.
POPE, GUPTILL NAMED NSIC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
For their efforts in the 34-27 win at Wayne State College, the Northern Sun named
Elby Pope Special Teams Player of the Week and
Troy Guptill was honored as the Defensive Player of the Week. A junior from Grand Forks, Pope returned a punt 35 yards for the game-winning touchdown, breaking a 24-24 tied at 7:14 of the third quarter. For the game he returned three punts for 60 yards. The all-conference wide receiver caught six balls for 82 yards. Guptill was a big play performer on defense for the Marauders. The junior linebacker was credited with two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and three tackles for loss, including a sack. Overall he registered six tackles (two solo).
BROKEN
After five straight losses, the Marauders picked up their first win ever against Wayne State College 34-27.
BREAKTHROUGH
For the first time since beginning NCAA play - and possibly for the first time in the 21st century - the Marauders had a downfield punt return for a touchdown when
Elby Pope scored the winning touchdown with a 35 yard return at Wayne State College. Why do we say "downfield?" The Marauders have been credited with three punt returns for touchdowns over the last three seasons (Marcus Parence and Mo Burrough in 2010 and
Adam Woroniecki in 2012) but all three came off blocked punts behind the line of scrimmage. Â
TOPS
With five touchdown receptions in two games,
Nick Jolliffe is currently tied for first in the nation.
NEXT TO TOP
Off to a tremendous start, Tyer Ryan leads the NSIC and is second in the NCAA in punting, averaging 46.7 yards per attempt. He has downed three inside the 20, has four touchbacks, a long of 75, and forced one fair catch. Also, only two of his 15 punts have been returned for a total of two yards. The all-conference performer is also 2-of-3 on field goals and has made all seven extra point attempts.
RED ZONE ROLL
The Marauders are a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone, scoring four touchdowns and kicking a field goal.
BEHIND THE LINE
The Marauders continue to create havoc behind the line of scrimmage, making 20 tackles for loss with six quarterback in two games. U-Mary is 14th nationally in tackles for loss and 22nd in sacks. The Marauders were among the NCAA leaders last season. Thirteen different players have contributed to this total.
I'LL TAKE THAT
The Marauders defense has forced seven turnovers already this season, the ninth best total in the country. U-Mary has three interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
CAPTAIN CONNECTION
Offensive team captains
Craig Bagnell and
Nick Jolliffe have had a tremendous connection through the first two games. The duo has combined for five touchdown passes, 16 completions and 160 yards. The pair had two touchdowns in the opener against Minnesota State and three in the win at Wayne State. The Marauders defensive captains also are off to strong starts.
Scott Maldonado had an interception, a pass break-up, and is second on the team with 14 tackles. John Oyle has three tackles for loss and two sacks. Â
ICE THAT ARM / CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Craig Bagnell set a career high for pass attempts and completions against Wayne State College, completing 33-of-54 passes for 304 yards and three scores. Entering his fourth season as the U-Mary starting quarterback,
Craig Bagnell has the opportunity to hold all the major career passing records at U-Mary. He is currently in second in passing yardage, completions and touchdown passes. Another four-year starter and Marauders Hall of Fame quarterback Chris Schwab (1996-99) holds all three of these marks. Schwab leads Bagnell 7,786 to 6,948 in passing yards, holds a 607 to 561 edge in completions, and threw 73 career touchdown passes to 58 for Bagnell.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS II
John Oyloe also has a chance to move into the top career slot in tackles for loss and sacks. The senior is second in tackles for loss with 34, trailing Brooks Laber (2001-05) with 38.5. Oyloe is fourth in sacks with 21, a category led by David St. Clair (1998-99) with 30. Oyloe passed three players last week on the sack list, Nikia Parson (20 sacks), Brooks Laber (19.5) and Mike Jaskolski (19).
SECOND HALF SHUTDOWN
The Marauders defense has been tremendous in the second half in each of its first two games. 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.
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.
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