SATURDAY
On the road for the last two games of the season, the University of Mary football team first visits 18th ranked University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Nov. 5, with hopes of derailing the Bulldogs hopes of postseason action. Game time is set for 1:05 pm at Malosky Stadium in Duluth, MN.  

THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 1-8 overall and in the Northern Sun and 1-4 against NSIC North Division foes... The Bulldogs are 8-1 overall and in the NSIC and 5-0 against NSIC North Division opponents.  

LAST YEAR
The Marauders finished the 2015 season 1-10 overall and in the Northern Sun and 1-6 in the NSIC North division... The Bulldogs went 9-3 overall and 8-3 in the NSIC to finish tied for 4th in the league overall and tied for 1st in the NSIC North division at 6-1. UMD qualified for the Mineral Water Bowl and defeated Fort Hays State 30-22.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders lost 52-7 at home to Northern State University... The Bulldogs defeated Minnesota Crookston 54-23 on the road.

RANKED
For the second time this season the Marauders will play a nationally-ranked opponent. Minnesota Duluth is currently 18th in the AFCA poll (American Football Coaches Association) and 12th in the D2Football.com rankings. Augustana was 21st in the country when Mary hosted the Vikings in week 2 of the season. Bemidji State was receiving votes in week 5 when the Marauders hosted the Beavers. Additionally, week 3 foe Southwest Minnesota State received votes at one point in the AFCA poll this season.

HEAD COACHES
Josh Kotelnicki is in his third season as the head coach of the University of Mary. He is just the fifth varsity head coach in school history as the team begins its 29th season. Kotelnicki directed the Marauders to a 5-6 record in his first season in 2014 and is 7-24 lifetime (3rd year). Kotelnicki joined 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... University of Minnesota Duluth head coach Curt Wiese is in his fourth season guiding the Bulldogs and has produced a 41-7 overall record, two NCAA II playoff appearances, one overall NSIC title (with Minnesota State in 2014), three straight NSIC North Division crowns and a win in the 2015 Mineral Water Bowl. Weise joined UMD after two years as the head coach at Marietta College (2006-07) and was the Bulldogs offensive coordinator for five years (2008-12).

THE MARAUDERS-BULLDOGS SERIES HISTORY (Bulldogs lead series 9-0)
In a series that began in 2006, the Bulldogs have won all nine meetings. The first meeting was Sept. 9, 2006 and ended with a 42-14 UMD win. The Marauders had more 1st downs (20-18), more total yards (375-372) and more passing yards (314 to 246) but the Bulldogs jumped out to a 21-0 lead... In 2008, Minnesota Duluth claimed a 44-7 win at home. RB Isaac Odim scored three TDs and DJ Winfield caught ten balls for 172 yards and a score. Jamal Lomax scored the lone Mary touchdown and ran for 63 yards... In 2009, UMD won 35-7 win as Odim ran for four touchdowns and 187 yards on 14 carries. Overall UMD ran for 259 yards but passed for just 64 yards as Chase Vogler was only 5-of-12 for 53 yards. The Marauders managed 249 yards, led by Lomax with 109 yards rushing on 29 carries... In the 2010 meeting in Duluth, MN, #2 UMD won 49-0 despite playing without All-American Isaac Odim. The Bulldogs rolled up 531 yards of offense, including 327 on the ground. The Marauders were limited to 235 yards offensively. Jamal Lomax ran for 65 yards to pace the Marauders. Craig Bagnell completed 18-of-27 passes for 152 yards and Bryan Sandy caught six balls for 47 yards. Marcus Parence led the defense with eight tackles. For UMD, Brad Foss ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns... 2011: Tyler Steffan caught a school-record four touchdown passes and Josh Edwards threw for 318 yards but the Marauders lost to #9 UMD 41-28. UMD ran for 410, including a 75-yard TD run by Austin Sikorski on the second play of the game. He finished the day with 185 yards and three scores on 19 carries. The Marauders matched the Sikorski score on their first offensive play when Edwards hit Steffan on a 64-yard  touchdown pass just 1:07 into the game. UMD then scored the next 27 points. Edwards was 28-of-40 passes for 318 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions... 2012: #9 UMD ran for 270 yards and passed for 294 in a 53-14 home win over Mary. Evan Gross ran for 67 yards to lead UM. Grant Singer had a game-high 14 tackles, Chase Vogler was 19-of-24 for 260 yards and 3 TDs for UMD... 2013: A dominant 3rd quarter by #5 Minnesota Duluth lifted the Bulldogs to a 32-14 win over the Marauders. Mary used a 37 yard Elby Pope touchdown catch from Zach Roberson and a Roberson 4-yard run to trail 17-14 at intermission. Aaron Sikorski and Logan Lauters both ran for UMD scores in the 3rd quarter  to take command of the game as the Bulldogs outgained the Marauders 160 yards to -6 in the stanza. UMD ran for 321 of its 348 yards of offense while U-Mary posted 226 yards. Roberson completed 20-of-33 passes for 189 yards. Pope caught six passes for 89 yards and a TD and Vince Ferrante ran for 55 yards. Grant Singer posted 13 tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss, and an interception for Mary. Sikorski led UMD with 113 yards rushing... 2014: Zach Roberson passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns and Elby Pope caught 10 passes for 183 yards and two scores but the Marauders were unable to overcome a 27-point halftime deficit in a 53-35 loss at #2 University of Minnesota Duluth. Down 34-7 at half, the Marauders scored three of the next four touchdowns to get within 41-28. Austin Bolton made 14 stops (6 solo) and Troy Guptill had 2.0 tackles for loss. Logan Lauters ran for 147 yards and two scores to lead UMD. Beau Bofferding ran for 4 TDs and 44 yards on seven carries. Drew Bauer ran for 70 yards and passed for 250 yards and two scores, completing 23-of-34 passes...  2015: UMD scored 28 points in the second quarter on the way to a 45-0 win at Mary. Drew Bauer passed 280 yards and four TDs on nine completions and ran for a score. Andrew Brees closed the scoring with a 57 yard field goal. Patrick Ryan had 11 tackles for UM and Landon Smith had three tackles behind the line.  

PAST MARAUDERS-BULLDOGS MEETINGS (UMD lead 9-0)
2015            #21 Minnesota Duluth 45        Mary 0                                Bismarck, ND
2014            #2 Minnesota Duluth 53            Mary 35                            Duluth, MN
2013            #5 Minnesota Duluth 32            Mary 14                            Bismarck, ND
2012    #9 Minnesota Duluth 53    Mary 14        Duluth, MN
2011    #9 Minnesota Duluth 41     Mary 28        Bismarck, ND
2010    #2 Minnesota Duluth 49     Mary 0        Duluth, MN
2009    Minnesota Duluth 35     Mary 7        Bismarck, ND
2008    Minnesota Duluth 44     Mary 7        Duluth, MN
2006            Minnesota Duluth 42                 Mary 14                            Duluth, MN

QUICK LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS
After opening the season with a 42-38 loss at Southwest Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth has reeled off eight straight wins to stand second in the Northern Sun behind undefeated Sioux Falls. Ranked 18th in the country, UMD stands fifth in the NCAA Super Region 3 rankings. The Bulldogs have eight straight NSIC North Division titles and are 54-3 all-time in North Division games, including 30-0 at home. Masters of the close win, UMD has five wins by eight or fewer points and three by a field goal. There are no shortage of points for both teams in UMD games. The Bulldogs are sixth in the nation in scoring at 43.6 points per game and the defense allows 32.2 PPG, the most in school history. QB Drew Bauer, a four-year starter and one of 14 seniors who will be honored at the game Saturday, is seventh nationally in total offense with 342 yards/game. He has accounted for 116 touchdowns in his career (81 passing, 35 rushing) with over 3,000 yards rushing and over 8,100 passing. Keyed by offensive lineman Peter Bateman and RBs Beau Bofferding (437 yards and 10 TDs rushing, 31 catches for 342 yards and 6 TDs) and Darren Walker (700 yards, 7 TDs) UMD leads the nation in time of possession (36:32). Defensively the Bulldogs are 6th in the nation in sacks with 40. SR LB Beau Bates has 11 sacks and JR LB Zach Bassuener has 8.5.

REWIND: Norther State 52 Mary 7
After a scoreless first quarter, Northern State posted four touchdowns in the second quarter on its way to a 52-7 road win over the University of Mary on Senior Day. Three of the Wolves second quarter scores came with less than four minutes remaining before half, including a 44 yard strike from Christian McAlvain to Zachary Barber with two seconds remaining. The Marauders scored their lone touchdown early in the fourth quarter when QB Nick McCann connected with Harley Mollman on a 56-yard scoring strike. It was the first career touchdown for Mollman, who finished the day with two catches for 62 yards. The Marauders generated 250 yards of offense - including 147 passing - and eight first downs. Danielle Whitaker broke up three passes and recovered a fumble. Shawn Fulwider intercepted a pass and made four tackles. Austin Bolton led the Marauders with nine tackles. NSU posted 29 first downs and 574 yards of offense (313 rushing). McAlvain ran for 2 TDs and passed for 186 yards and 2 TDs.  
FIRST STRIKE
Redshirt freshman WR Harley Mollman scored his first collegiate touchdown against the Wolves. Early in the fourth quarter, QB Nick McCann found Mollman all alone beyond the Northern State defensive backs and hit the Buffalo, SD, native in stride. Mollman outran the Wolves defense to complete a 56-yard scoring play. For the game he caught two passes for 62 yards. Mollman had career two receptions entering the game.

MEMORY BOOK
Danielle Whitaker had a day to remember for his final home game. With Northern State on the Mary 1 yard line in the second quarter, Whitaker recovered a fumble to keep the Wolves out the end zone and keep the game scoreless. The senior safety from Houston, TX, also knocked down a season-high three passes and made six tackles. For the season he leads the team with two interceptions and five passes defensed. Whitaker also has 48 tackles (33 solo).  

SENIOR MOMENTS
Several other Marauders seniors on defense also had big days in their final home game at the MDU Resources Community Bowl against the Wolves. LB Shawn Fulwider recorded his first career interception and logged four tackles on the day... LB Austin Bolton registered a team-high nine tackles... DL Tom Johnson posted four tackles... DE Landon Smith added three tackles, including two solo stops.

TURNOVER TIDE
The Marauders forced a season-high three turnovers against the Wolves, equaling a season high. Danielle Whitaker and Brayden Thomas both recovered fumbles and Shawn Fulwider made an interception... For the game, the Marauders were +1 in the turnover category, the fourth time this season Mary has been on the positive side. The Marauders have lost the turnover battle just three times and been even twice.

RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME Freshman defensive lineman Brayden Thomas has recovered two fumbles this season. The Bismarck, ND, native leads the Marauders, is tied for the lead in the Northern Sun and ranks 20th in NCAA Division II in fumble recoveries.

THANK YOU SENIORS Fourteen University of Mary seniors played their final home game at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in the Blue & Orange last Saturday against Northern State: Austin Bolton (LB, Joliet, IL), Shawn Fulwider (LB, Watford City, ND), Connor Graves (SB, Rockilin, CA), Zack Graves (SB, Rocklin, CA), Tom Johnson (DL, Moorcroft, WY), Turnar Kist (WR, Winnipeg, MB), Joe Ortegon (DB, Laramie, WY), Brandon Payne (DB, San Diego, CA), Zach Podoll (FB, Velva, ND), Michael Ryan (OL, St. Paul, MN), Sam Saucedo (WR, Altadena, CA), Landon Smith (DE, Stanley, ND), Joey Vrooman (FB, Miller, SD) and Danielle Whitaker (DB, Houston, TX)... Ten of the Marauders seniors have played their whole collegiate career at Mary (Bolton, Fulwider, Johnson, Kist, Ortegon, Podoll, Ryan, Smith, Vrooman and Whitaker) and all have been key contributors during their careers... Zack Graves, Connor Graves, Payne and Saucedo transferred to Mary prior to the 2015 season and have all started or played key roles the last two seasons.

NEXT MAN UP Nick McCann made his first start of the season and second of his career last week against Northern State. The sophomore QB passed for 147 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His first start came last season at Upper Iowa in the second game of the season as a true freshman. The Sioux City, IA, native is the fourth Marauders starting QB this season. Ben Jolliffe and Garrett Weissinger were injured in back-to-back games against Winona State and Bemidji State, respectively, and Colton Farmer suffered a season-ending knee injury against MSU Moorhead.

TRIPLE THREAT Sr. SB Zack Graves is a triple threat for the Marauders. After leading Mary with 63 yards rushing against the Wolves, including a 27-yard burst, Graves has registered 299 yards on the ground, second on the squad. He has a team-high 16 catches for 126 yards. Additionally the native of Rockilin, CA, is averaging 21 yards per kick return. Overall he has generated a team-high 988 all-purpose yards. He ranks 111th in the country in all-purpose yards/game (109.8).   

BLOCK PARTY
The University of Mary is tied for the national lead in blocked kicks with eight. Junior defensive tackle Brock Pittsley leads the Marauders and the NSIC with two blocks and is ranked eighth in the country. Angelo State is the other team with eight blocks this season.  

DISCIPLINE
Mary is 6th in NCAA Division II in fewest penalties per game (4.22) and 3rd in fewest penalty yards per game (33.8), and leads the NSIC in both categories. Marauders opponents, meanwhile, average over 50 yards a game in penalties.

T.O.P.
One reason the Marauders moved to the triple option was to control the clock and it has proved successful. Mary is 12th nationally and 2nd in the NSIC in time of possession, holding the ball for 33:46 a game compared to its opposition's total of 26:14.

COMMON NAME, UNCOMMON PLAYER
Senior DE Landon Smith has 23 career tackles behind the line of scrimmage, placing him in a tie for 15th all-time at Mary with Marcus Broome, Brandon Lewis, Noah Krob, David St. Claire and Sam Fa'alepo. Troy Guptill is the Marauders all-time leader with 53.

DEAD BOLT
Sr. LB Austin Bolton eclipsed 200 career tackles against Northern State last week when he made nine stops. With 201 career tackles, Bolton passed John Oyloe (2010-13) and Doug Roberts (1989-92) to tie James Kelsaw (1988-90) for 12th all-time. The Joliet, IL, native leads Mary with 72 tackles this season and ranks 10th in the NSIC and 117th in NCAA Division II with 8.0 tackles/game.