GAME NOTES   LIVE STATS    LIVE AUDIO (KFYR 550 AM)   LIVE VIDEO

SATURDAY
A new era begins for University of Mary football when the 2014 season kicks off on Saturday. Josh Kotelnicki makes his Marauders debut as just the fifth U-Mary varsity head coach in 27 seasons when the team takes the field against Southwest Minnesota State University on Sept. 6. Kickoff between the Marauders and the Mustangs in this Northern Sun clash is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. at the newly-renovated MDU Resources Community Bowl.  

SHINY AND NEW
Saturday marks the first game for the Marauders at the MDU Resources Community Bowl since the $8 million renovation project was completed. Suites, a larger video scoreboard, a resurfaced track and additional locker rooms are among the enhancements made to the facility. The concessions area, restrooms, and the spectator facility were all also renovated.

DEJA VU
In 1999, Myron Schulz made his U-Mary head coaching debut with a 28-7 road win over Southwest Minnesota State University. Schulz would go on to win 103 games in 15 seasons as the Marauders head coach before resigning after last season to join the faculty of the U-Mary business school. On Saturday Josh Kotelnicki makes his Marauders head coaching debut against Southwest Minnesota State.  

DEJA VU TWO
Marauders head coach Josh Kotelnicki comes to U-Mary after serving as the defensive coordinator and associate head coach at the University of North Dakota last season. Dale Lennon, U-Mary's third head coach, also joined the Marauders from UND, where he, too, was serving as defensive coordinator under current U-Mary athletic director Roger Thomas. Kotelnicki has close ties to both Thomas and Lennon. Thomas recruited Kotelnicki to UND where he then played for Lennon. Kotelnicki would win a national NCAA Division II title playing for Lennon. He later became a coach on Lennon's UND staff. Lennon, now the head coach at NCAA FCS Southern Illinois, compiled a record of 12-9 with a conference championship and an NAIA playoff appearance in two seasons (1997-98). Additionally, Lennon's son Trevor played at U-Mary for Schulz.

BACK HOME
After two years on the south sidelines, the Marauders return to the north side of the field now that the renovations to the MDU Resources Community Bowl are complete.

MARAUDERS-MUSTANGS GAME LIVE ON NBC ND SPORTS NETWORK
The opening U-Mary football game of the 2014 season and the Marauders head coaching debut of Josh Kotelnicki will air live on television across the central and western portions of the state. The North Dakota NBC Sports Network will televise the Marauders-Mustangs game live at 2:30 p.m. this Saturday on 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 duties and Mike McMahon, the former Marauders defensive coordinator and the U-Mary Director of Admissions, will handle the color commentary. Working the sidelines is Marisa DeCandido, the KFYR-TV weekend anchor and host of "Marauders Weekly."

THE RECORDS
This is the first game of the season for both the Marauders and the Mustangs. Both are members of the NSIC but U-Mary competes in the North division and SMSU is in the South.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders defeated the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles 31-15 in the final game of the 2013 season. It was also the last game on the sideline for former head coach Myron Schulz... The Mustangs lost 90-28 to Pittsburg State in the Mineral Water Bowl.  

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… Southwest Minnesota State finished 7-5 overall, 7-4 in the NSIC (4th place), and 5-2 in the NSIC South (2nd). The Mustangs qualified for the Mineral Water Bowl. It was the first winning season for SMSU since 2008 and just the ninth for the school in 46 seasons.

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... Former NFL and University of Minnesota quarterback Cory Sauter is starting his fifth season as the Southwest Minnesota State University head coach and is in his seventh year on the Mustangs coaching staff. He led SMSU to one of the best seasons in school history in 2013, posting a mark of 7-5 overall and advancing to the Mineral Water Bowl. Overall he has a career mark of 18-27 overall and 17-25 in NSIC contests.

THE MARAUDERS-MUSTANGS SERIES HISTORY
The Marauders are 4-2 all-time against the Mustangs in what has been an incredibly entertaining series over the last four meetings... In Myron Schulz's first game as U-Mary head coach and the first meeting between schools, the Marauders went to Marshall, Minn., and returned with a 28-7 win... In 2006, U-Mary's first playing an NCAA Division II schedule, the Marauders again went on the road to Marshall and left with a 20-0 win, U-Mary's first as a D2 school... The two teams first met in Bismarck, ND, on Sept. 29, 2007. In a day of big plays, the biggest occurred at the end of the contest. Trailing 22-16 with 1:35 left in the game and the ball 97 yards from the end zone, the Marauders converted one fourth down play before Blair Sandy connected with Mike Williams for an 85 yard scoring strike on third down with 23 seconds left in the game. In the game, SMSU scored touchdowns on a 100 yard interception return and a blocked punt. The Marauders outgained the Mustangs 425-247, including a 288-119 edge in passing yards. SMSU opened the scoring when Josh Shudlick scored on a QB keeper from one yard out. U-Mary evened the game on a Bayland Rippenkroger one yard run before Keith McCleary recorded a safety for UM. The Mustangs took a 22-7 lead on a TD off a blocked punt and an interception return by Tyler Reed with 11 seconds left in the first half. The Marauders rallied in the fourth with Williams scoring from 27 yards out before electrifying the crowd at the end... The Mustangs claimed their first victory over the Marauders in 2010, a 21-14 win that featured four U-Mary turnovers and a goal line stand in the final minute of play by SMSU. Down by a touchdown, the Marauders drove to the Mustangs one yard line but failed to score with 56 seconds left in the game. U-Mary held a 351-257 lead in total yardage and Jamal Lomax ran for 113 yards and a score. SMSU's Ryan Ratekin passed for 194 yards… In an offensive shootout in 2011, the Mustangs defeated the Marauders for the second straight season, 48-45 in Marshall. In a game that featured 1,133 yards of combined offense and eight lead changes, Warren Matthew scored the winning touchdown for the Mustangs with 2:16 remaining in the game. U-Mary drove to the SMSU 18-yard line but failed to convert a 35-yard field goal with 18 seconds on the game clock. The Marauders generated 583 yards of offense, including 403 passing yards by Craig Bagnell. He also threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score. Tyler Steffan caught five passes for 101 yards and Avan Leday had four for 104. Josh Murray ran for 90 yards. Tyler Peschong threw for 334 yards and three scores for SMSU and ran for 89 yards and two TDs. Matthews ran for 101 yards... Four fourth quarter touchdowns lifted the Marauders to a 43-24 road win over the Mustangs in 2012. Trailing 24-14 after the third quarter, U-Mary scored 26 points in the final stanza to walk away with the win. Nick Jolliffe and Bryan Sandy both caught touchdown passes from Craig Bagnell, Darious Gravely busted loose from 44 yards out for a score and Evan Gross ran in from 6 yards out to complete the rally. Gravely ran for 140 yards and Gross 74. Bagnell passed for 199 yards and three scores while also running for a touchdown. Tyler Peschong passed for 225 yards and three touchdowns for SMSU.

PAST MARAUDERS-MUSTANGS MEETINGS (UM leads 4-2)
1999         U-Mary 28     SMSU 7         Marshall, MN
2006         U-Mary 20     SMSU 0         Marshall, MN
2007         U-Mary 23     SMSU 22         Bismarck, ND
2010         SMSU 21     U-Mary 14         Bismarck, ND
2011         SMSU 48     U-Mary 45         Marshall, MN
2012        U-Mary 43    SMSU 24        Marshall, MN

QUICK LOOK AT THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS
Featuring two of the most prolific offensive players in the country, Southwest Minnesota State should have one of the nation's best attacks. SR RB Tyler Tonderum placed eighth in the Harlon Hill Trophy race last year after running for a school-record 2,145 yards in his first season as a starter. Named to five different All-American teams, he cracked the century barrier in ten out of 12 games, including a school record 343 yards in a win over MSU Moorhead. Tonderum scored 20 touchdowns, including 19 on the ground, and caught 34 passes for 289 yards. SR QB Charlie Kern threw for 3,156 yards and 33 touchdowns while completing 271 of 437 pass attempts. He was just picked off eight times. Kern also ran for 460 yards and nine touchdowns. The offensive returns just three starters with none on the offensive line. The Mustangs do return seven starters on defense, who are among the 34 letter winners back from last season. JR DE AJ Page, a two-year starter, earned All-NSIC South honors in 2013 after posting 109 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Starting corners Andrew McReynolds and Donovan Woods both are juniors and both earned All-NSIC South honorable mention honors. Second team All-NSIC punter Mike Wenk also returns after leading the league with a 42.8 yards per punt average.

WELCOME BACK
This is the first trip to Bismarck, N.D., for Southwest Minnesota State University since 2010. In the six meetings between the Mustangs and the Marauders, only two have occurred in North Dakota. The two teams have split the pair of games in Bismarck while U-Mary is 3-1 at Marshall, Minn.

HONORED, I'M SURE
Two of the most decorated players in the North Sun will be on the same field this weekend. U-Mary senior linebacker Grant Singer was named to the AFCA All-American team and was honorable mention on another. The 2013 NSIC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Singer is a 2014 Sporting News Preseason All-American and the NSIC North Division Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Tyler Tonderum of SMSU earned mention on five different All-American teams last year and finished eighth in the Harlon Hill race for the best NCAA Division II player. The 2014 NSIC South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year also earned several more preseason All-American accolades.

GAME DAY CAPTAIN
Senior RB Vince Ferrante is this week's game captain for the Marauders, joining team captains Troy Guptill, Nick Jolliffe, Elby Pope and Grant Singer. Ferrante led the Marauders in rushing last season with 455 yards. The native of Martinez, Calif., and a transfer from Diablo Valley Community College scored four times on the ground and once on one of his 22 catches for 184 yards in 2013.

SINGING PRAISES FOR SINGER
Entering his third year as a starter, Grant Singer is coming off an All-American season after leading the NSIC in tackles with 118 and posting 16.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Singer is tied for second in U-Mary history with 255 tackles and his 36.5 tackles for loss is third all-time. He is a 2013 Capital One Academic All-District selection and a two-time NSIC All-Academic choice.

GUPTILL WILL GET HIM
Troy 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. Currently Guptill is fourth in school history with 36 tackles for loss and tenth in sacks with 17.5.   

ALL-NSIC RETURNERS
The Marauders return six of their 11 All-NSIC players from a year ago. Linebacker Grant SInger, the NSIC co-defensive player of the year, wide receivers Elby Pope and Nick Jolliffe, and defensive back Preston Tescher all earned first team honors. Pope was also the first team kick returner. Offensive lineman Michael Mortenson and defensive end Troy Guptill both received second team honors.  

ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM RETURNERS
U-Mary returns nine of 16 NSIC all-academic team honorees from 2013: Dalton Clough, Troy Guptill, Nick Jolliffe, Tylar Kist, Michael Mortenson, Patrick Ryan, Grant Singer, Preston Tescher and Adam Woroniecki.

TOGETHERNESS
The Marauders offensive line returns four starters from last season with several compiling multiple years of experience. Left tackle Michel Mortenson and center Don Pask, both seniors, enter their third year starting on the line. Junior Nolan LaValley is in his third season holding down right tackle and junior Deon Paulson is a second year starter at guard. The lone newcomer is well-known to the team. Senior Jeremiah Herman has moved into the starting right guard spot and is a first-year starter.

WIDE RECEIVER KNOW-IT-ALLS
With four senior wide receivers, the veteran Marauders group has seen every type of coverage in their careers. Elby Pope and Nick Jolliffe both are all-conference selections and Jake East and Myron Baldoz-McArn are productive players. Pope caught 46 passes for 614 yards and four scores last season and also averaged over 13 yards per punt return. He is sixth at U-Mary with 119 career receptions and 1,7333 yards. Joliffe scored 15 touchdown passes last year and had 64 catches for 843 yards. He has 104 catches for 1,374 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career. East caught six balls for 95 yards and Baldoz-McArn has six grabs for 46 yards.

BROTHERS
The Marauders have three sets of brothers on the team: Tylar and Turnar Kist, Elby and VaShawn Pope and Jake and Billy East.

#marauders#