Box Score BISMARCK, N.D. - A new era of Marauders football officially started for the University of Mary today, and it started with the proverbial bang. U-Mary scored the final 16 points of the game to rally past Southwest Minnesota State University 19-18.
 
Jake East caught a 16 yard scoring strike from Zach Roberson with 23 seconds remaining in the game to tie the contest and Brody Riggs blasted the extra point kick through the uprights for the winning point.
 
Maceo Brown sealed the win by picking off a SMSU pass at the visitor's 49 yard line on the Mustangs first play following the kickoff. After a Roberson kneel-down in the victory formation to end the game, the Marauders celebrated the season-opening win by singing the school song in front of the student section.
 
The comeback provided new Marauders head coach Josh Kotelnicki a win in his first game at the U-Mary helm. U-Mary's previous head coach, Myron Schulz, also opened his 15-year career with a win at Southwest Minnesota State, the first of a school-record 103 victories.  
 
The game was also the first for the Marauders since the $8 million renovation of the MDU Resources Community Bowl was complete.
 
The Marauders opened the scoring with a Riggs 20 yard field goal at 5:06 of the first quarter. The Mustangs retaliated by scoring the next 18 points.
 
Charlie Kern provided the Mustangs a 7-3 lead on a 13-yard run with 1:27 left in the first. A 9 yard Tyler Tonderum run extended the SMSU lead to 13-3 less than three minutes into the second.
 
U-Mary had a chance to cut into the deficit but Roberson was dropped at the Mustangs 1 yard line as the first half expired.
 
SMSU extended its lead to 18-3 with a safety on a botched Marauders punt attempt in the third quarter and a field goal at 13:29 of the fourth quarter.
 
The rest of the day belonged to the Marauders. Following the Mustangs field goal, Elby Pope returned the subsequent kickoff 47 yards. Keyed by a pass interference call, Roberson found Nick Jolliffe in the left front corner of the end zone from 20 yards out with 12:13 remaining in the game to pull U-Mary within 18-9.
 
With the Mustangs driving the field in hopes of extending their lead, the Marauders defense stiffened at the home 23 yard line to take control on downs.
 
Behind a 20 yard reception by Myron Baldoz-McArn and a 23 yard run-and-catch by Vince Ferrante, the Marauders drove 70 yards before Riggs connected on a 20 yard field goal to pull U-Mary within 18-12 at the 4:52 mark.
 
Needing another stop, the Marauders defense held at their own 20 yard line, again forcing the Mustangs to turn the ball over on downs.
 
Forced to go 80 yards with only 1:29 left on the clock, Roberson and the Marauders proved up to the challenge. Redshirt freshman VaShawn Pope, on the field due to an injury to Jolliffe, made his first three collegiate catches on the drive, including a 25 yard catch on a 4^th-and-5 from the SMSU 41.
 
On the next play, Roberson drilled East in the end zone for a 16 yard touchdown with 23 remaining. Riggs, playing in his first collegiate game, then converted the extra point for the win.
 
The Marauders defense held a powerful Mustangs offense in check all day. SMSU averaged 40.8 points and 524.6 yards per game a season ago. Today U-Mary limited SMSU to 385 yards, including 118 on the ground.
 
Tonderum, an All-American last season after rushing for 2,145 yards, was limited to 82 yards on 24 carries. He was held under the century mark just twice in 2013.
 
Kern threw for 267 yards, finishing 28-of-44 with two interceptions. Kevin Parks caught six passes for 156 yards for SMSU.
 
Shawn Fulwider was one of several Marauders defenders who kept the Mustangs in check. He led U-Mary with 12 tackles in his first collegiate game. The Watford City, N.D., native had seven solo stops, including one for a loss, and broke up a pass.
 
All-American Grant Singer made 10 stops and had an interception. Ethan Bakken led the pressure from up front, posting two tackles for loss. Troy Guptill had 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
Offensively, the Marauders held the ball for 31:10, made 25 first downs and gained 433 yards.
 
Much of the U-Mary offense came from the arm of Roberson. The junior threw for 366 yards and two scores. He completed 32-of-57 passes with no interceptions.
 
Elby Pope hauled in seven passes for 91 yards. Jolliffe added five for 47 and East had four for 44. Overall 11 Marauders caught passes, including one by senior offensive tackle Michael Mortenson off a deflected pass for one yard.
 
The Marauders now prepare for their first road trip of the season, travelling to Winona State University for a Northern Sun game on Sept. 13.
 
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