Football | 10/3/2014 12:56:00 AM

SATURDAY
The University of Mary celebrates Homecoming 2014 this weekend when the Marauders host Bemidji State University. The Northern Sun North Division opener for both teams, the Marauders-Beavers conflict is set for 2:35 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.

HOMECOMING LIVE ON NBC NORTH DAKOTA SPORTS NETWORK'S Me-TV
The Marauders homecoming game against the Beavers will be aired live on the NBC North Dakota Sports Network's Me-TV in Bismarck (over-the-air channel 5.3), Minot (10.3), Williston (8.3) and Dickinson (7.3). Also check your local cable listings for Me-TV. KFYR-TV sports director Lee Timmerman handles the play by play duties and Mike McMahon, the former Marauders defensive coordinator and the U-Mary asst. vice president for enrollment, will handle the color commentary. Working the sidelines is Marisa DeCandido, the KFYR-TV weekend anchor and host of "Marauders Weekly."  

THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 2-2 overall and in the Northern Sun. U-Mary has yet to play an NSIC North Division game... The Beavers are 0-4 overall and in the Northern Sun. BSU has yet to play an NSIC North Division game.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders lost 52-0 at Augustana... The Beavers dropped a 34-16 decision to #3 Minnesota State University at home.   

LAST YEAR
U-Mary finished 6-5 overall in the NSIC (5th place) and 4-3 (3rd) in the NSIC North. It was the first winning season for the Marauders since 2007 and the 17th in 26 seasons of U-Mary football… Bemidji State finished 3-8 overall/NSIC to place 13th in the NSIC. BSU was 1-6 in NSIC North play and tied for 7th.

HEAD COACHES
Josh Kotelnicki is just the fifth varsity head coach at the University of Mary as the Marauders begin their 27th season. Kotelnicki comes to U-Mary after serving as the associate head coach at NCAA FCS University of North Dakota for two seasons (2012-13) and as UND's defensive coordinator in 2013. A native of Litchfield, Minn., Kotelnicki won an NCAA Division II title as a player at North Dakota and has been on winning teams as a coach at the NCAA FBS, FCS, and Division II levels. After starting his coaching career at UND, he has also worked at Murray State, Truman State, and NCAA FBS Kansas State before returning to UND... In his 19th season at Bemidji State University, Jeff Tesch has the most coaching wins in Beavers history and has a career record of 116-83. Entering this season the Beavers have posted 14 winning seasons in 16 years. 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.

REWIND: Vikings 52 Marauders 0
Despite a 52-0 loss at Augustana, the University of Mary concluded the Northern Sun South Division crossover portion of its schedule with a 2-2 mark and the second best record among North Division teams. Augie proved unstoppable, scoring on eight of 11 drives with missed field goals ending two others. The Vikings opened the scoring with a one-play drive, a 61-yard touchdown pass from Trey Heid to Matt Gerry on their second possession of the game. Back to back drives of over 70 yards by the Vikings pushed their advantage to 17-0 before entering intermission leading 24-0. Grant Singer paced the Marauders statistically, posting 14 tackles to go over 300 in his career. Darien Saeman added eight stops and Maceo Brown had seven. Ben Jolliffe finished 12-of-23 passing for 129 yards and one interception. The redshirt freshman quarterback also ran for a team-high 49 yards. Elby Pope caught three balls for 31 yards.... Heid completed 14-of19 passes for 201 yards and two scores for Augie. He also ran for 25 yards. Chase Marso came off the bench to complete all nine of his pass attempts for 98 yards and a score. The main recipient was Heller, who caught six passes for 79 yards and a score... Dajon Newell paced all players with 100 yards rushing and a scored for the Vikings. CJ Ham scored twice and ran for 69 yards while Jackie Davis recorded 66 yards and a score... Overall, Augie held a 31-13 edge in first downs and a 575 to 261 yardage advantage.

THE MARAUDERS-BEAVERS SERIES HISTORY: Close games are one of the hallmarks in a series tied at four games apiece. 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... 2013: Craig Bagnell became the U-Mary career passing yardage leader in a 26-17 win at Bemidji State. The senior QB threw for 311 yards and led the Marauders to 16 unanswered points in the third quarter. Down 10-3 at intermission, Bagnell threw a two-yard scoring pass to Nick Jolliffe. Tyler Ryan hit a 24-yard field goal and Bagnell scored from one yard out for a Marauders 19-10 lead after three quarters. The teams traded fourth quarter touchddowns with Dariouse Gravely sealing the game on a 2-yard scoring run with 3:31 remaining... Bagnell completed 21-of-30 passes and finished the game with a U-Mary career passing yardage record of 7,962 yards. Joliffe caught seven passes for a career-high 137 yards and his NSIC-leading ninth touchdown of the season... U-Mary posted 404 yards of offense on just 61 plays while BSU was limited to 14 first downs and 286 total yards. Grant Singer had 14 tackles (2.0 for loss) and Troy Guptill posted nine tackles (1.5 sacks, 3.0 TFL). John Oyloe added 1.5 sacks as the Marauders trapped the Beavers quarterback seven times... Avery Walker ran for a game-high 122 yards and BSU's first touchdown. Dinckel caught two balls for 80 yards.
 
PAST MARAUDERS-BEAVERS MEETINGS
2013    U-Mary 26    Bemidji State 19        Bemidji, MN
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 THE BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS
One of the most consistent programs in the Northern Sun, Bemidji State University saw its streak of four straight winning seasons and 14 in 15 years end with a 3-8 season in 2013. The Beavers are again struggling this season, falling in each of their first four games. BSU has also played one of the most daunting schedules in the NSIC - if not the nation - facing #3 Minnesota State, #21 Sioux Falls and Upper Iowa, which is receiving votes. Overall the four teams the Beavers have faced are a combined 14-2. A major issue for the Beavers is turnovers, giving the ball away 14 times (10 interceptions, four fumbles) in four games. QBs Ryan Shields and Jordan Hein have split time. Shields  has passed for 787 yards, completed 49.6% of his passes, and has thrown four TDs with five interceptions. Hein is completing 39% of his attempts for 317 yards, three scores and five picks. The freshman also leads the team with 187 yards rushing and two scores. Blake Holder is the primary target, hauling in 20 passes for 413 yards and two TDs. Defensively junior LB Connor Quinn is the big producer, leading the Beavers in tackles (39), tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (3.5). Four other players also have 3.5 tackles for loss, including Greg Button, who also has an interception, two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery.    

CROSSOVER CLOSEOUT
The Marauders closed out the crossover portion of the Northern Sun schedule with a loss NSIC South Division foe Augustana. Since the Northern Sun began using the first four games of the season to play cross-divisional contests between the North and the South divisions in 2012, the Marauders are 7-5 against teams in the southern division. Only three of eight NSIC North teams won at least half of their games against the South this season: #4 Minnesota Duluth (4-0), U-Mary (2-2) and Northern State (2-2).

NORTHERN LIGHTS
The Marauders face NSIC North competitors the rest of the regular season, beginning Saturday against Bemidji State.

RIVALRY
It's been said that for a true rivalry to exist, both teams must have a chance to win year in and year out. Since joining the NSIC in 2006, the U-Mary opponent that may best fit that description is Bemidji State. In eight meetings both teams have won four times. The series is 2-2 in Bismarck and 2-2 in Bemidji. Only three of the games have been decided by more than a touchdown. U-Mary won the first two games and BSU the next three before alternating over the last three seasons.

BAGNELL BACK
Craig Bagnell, a four-year starter at quarterback for U-Mary who holds all the major career passing records for the Marauders (yards passing, touchdown passes, attempts, completions), returns for homecoming as the graduate assistant wide receiver coach for Bemidji State. Bagnell set the Marauders yardage record in last year's BSU game.

MARAUDERS HALL OF FAME 2014
The University of Mary is inducting three new members into the Marauders Hall of Fame: Bob Brusven (football 1991-95), Travis Dressler (baseball 2002-05) and Debbie Fettig (1998-90). Brusven was a key factor in the rise to national prominence of the Marauders football program. The intense linebacker earned several starts as a freshman in 1991, the first winning season in a young Marauders football program. A full-time starter in 1992, U-Mary won its first conference title. As a junior in 1993, U-Mary earned its first NAIA national playoff spot. Brusven was an all-conference player as a junior and senior and was also a team captain his senior season. He finished his career second all-time with 255 tackles, a figure Grant Singer passed this season.

HoF AD
Marauders athletic director Roger Thomas will be inducted into the University of North Dakota Hall of Fame this weekend for the following accomplishments: Football Coach (1986-98) and Athletics Director (1999-2005)... Amassed a 90-43-2 (.674) record as head football coach and guided UND to five NCAA DII postseason appearances (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998) … Won three straight NCC championships from 1993 to 1995 … Four-time regional coach of the year and three-time NCC Coach of the Year … Oversaw the opening of the Ralph Engelstad Arena, Betty Engelstad Sioux Center and Alerus Center, as well as NCAA titles in men's hockey (1999-2000) and football (2001) during his tenure as athletics director … Later served as NCC Commissioner from 2005-08.

GAMEDAY CAPTAIN
Sr. WR Jake East is this week's game captain. A native of Clovis, Calif., East attended Fresno City College before transferring to U-Mary in 2013. He may be best known for catching the game-winning pass against Southwest Minnesota State in the home opener.

SINGER SURGES PAST 300 TACKLES
All-American linebacker Grant Singer became just the second U-Mary player to record over 300 career tackles. He is up to 311 stops and only trails Toby Scweitzer, who posted 410 tackles between 1988-91. For the season Singer leads the NSIC and is 6th in the NCAA with 14 stops/game. He had reached double figures in tackles every game this season.

CLEAN LAUNDRY
The Marauders are first in the NSIC and 6th in the NSIC in fewest penalties/game (3.75). U-Mary is second in penalty yardage/game in the NSIC and sixth in the NCAA (35).  

TRIPLE THREAT
SR All-NSIC WR/KR Elby Pope is a true triple threat. He is 1st in the NSIC in punt return average (25.5 yd/return), and third in all-purpose yardage (143.2). The senior is averaging 21.2 yards on kick returns. Pope has 18 catches for 209 yards.

GUPTILL SETS CAREER TACKLE FOR LOSS RECORD
U-Mary senior DE Troy Guptill set the Marauders career record for tackles for loss with a fourth quarter sack in the Concordia contest. Guptill posted 1.5 in the game and now has 41.5 for his career, surpassing former teammate John Oyloe's total of 41. Already this season he has 13 tackles, 5.5 TFL, and 3.5 sacks. Guptill earned All-American honorable mention honors his junior season after leading the Northern Sun in sacks and tackles for loss. The senior defensive end was credited with 21.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He just missed the school record of 22 tackles for loss. The devastation he wreaked was noticed as Lindy's placed the Quinn, S.D., native on their 2014 preseason All-American team. Guptill is currently tied for fifth in school history with 21 sacks.