SATURDAY
The University of Mary is back on the road for the second time this season. In search of the Marauders first win, Mary will visit the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs on Saturday, Sept. 17, in Marshall, MN. Game time is 1 pm at Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 0-2 overall and in the Northern Sun. Mary has not yet played a game against the NSIC North... The Mustangs are 1-1 overall and in the NSIC and has yet to play an NSIC South opponent.

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 Mustangs were 8-3 overall and in the NSIC to finish fourth in the league overall and in the South division.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders opened their 2016 home schedule with a 63-0 loss to #21 Augustana... The Mustangs lost 51-34 at Northern State.

PUBLIC SETTING
After facing fellow private colleges in the first two weeks of the season, the Marauders play their first public college of the year when Mary visits Southwest Minnesota.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR VISIT
North and South Division teams in the Northern Sun face each other every other season (i.e. every two years), and visit the opponent's field every four years. The Marauders played in Marshall, MN, in 2012, a 43-24 Mary win, during the last presidential election year.  

HOME STAND
The Marauders have won their last two home games against the Mustangs, 19-18 in 2014 and 43-24 in 2012... The visiting team is 4-3 in the all-time series.

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 6-18 lifetime (3rd year). Kotelnicki joined 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 in his seventh season as the Southwest Minnesota State University head coach and is in his ninth year on the Mustangs coaching staff. He led SMSU to eight wins in 2013, the most in the school's 21 years of NCAA Division II football, and tied the team record. Overall he has a career mark of 30-39 overall. The 30 career wins is second all-time among SMSU football coaches.

THE MARAUDERS-MUSTANGS SERIES HISTORY (UM leads series 5-2)
The Marauders are 5-2 all-time against the Mustangs in what has been an incredibly entertaining series over the last five meetings... 1999: 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 season 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... U-Mary scored with 23 seconds left in the game to rally past SMSU 19-18 in the 2014 season opener. Playing in front of the home crowd, Zach Roberson connected with Jake East in the end zone and Brody Riggs added the extra point for the win. Trailing 18-3, the Marauders rallied in the fourth to score on a Roberson to Nick Jolliffe scoring pass and a Riggs field goal. Roberson was 32-of-57 for 366 yards and two TDs. Elby Pope caught seven passes for 91 yards, returned two punts for 36 yards and two kicks for 65 yards. Shawn Fulwider had 12 tackles. SMSU RB Tyler Tonderum ran for 82 yards and a score and Kevin Parks caught six passes for 166 yards..

PAST MARAUDERS-MUSTANGS MEETINGS (UM leads 5-2)
1999         Mary 28         SMSU 7         Marshall, MN
2006         Mary 20         SMSU 0         Marshall, MN
2007         Mary 23         SMSU 22         Bismarck, ND
2010         SMSU 21     Mary 14             Bismarck, ND
2011         SMSU 48     Mary 45             Marshall, MN
2012        Mary 43        SMSU 24        Marshall, MN
2014        Mary 19        SMSU 18        Bismarck, ND

QUICK LOOK AT THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS
The Mustangs feature a high octane offense and are coming off one of their best seasons in school history. SMSU won eight games last year, tying the school's  all-time single season mark. In their last 48 games, SMSU has scored 30 or more points 28 times. JR QB Blake Gimbel is third nationally in passing yards and completions per game and fourth in touchdown passes. He has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 370 yards/game with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Nate Huot is among the nation's leaders with 17 catches for 277 yards and three scores. Defensively the Mustangs allow 425 yards/game, including 189.5 yards/game on the ground. Gene Germain leds SMSU with 23 tackles (13 solo). Caleb Leichtnam has a team-high 3.5 tackles for loss and is second with three pass breakups. After knocking off nationally Minnesota Duluth in the opening game of of the season - the school's first win over a nationally ranked squad - the Mustangs lost 51-35 at Northern State. The Wolves scored three time on interception returns and once on a punt return.          
    
LAST WEEK: #21 Augustana Mary 0
In a battle between a veteran Augustana squad and a youthful Mary team, the 21st ranked Vikings bowled over the Marauders 63-0. The Vikings scored once in the first quarter before scoring on the first play of the second quarter. The Vikings tallied three more touchdowns in the second and two in each the third and fourth. Augie rolled up 569 yards of offense, including 383 yards passing. Mary was limited to four first downs and 84 yards of offense. Ben Jolliffe led the Marauders offense with 31 yards rushing and 31 yards passing. Defensively SR LB Austin Bolton posted double figures in tackles for a second straight week, making a team-high 13 tackles (four solo) and 1.5 tackles for loss. Jacob Parker made seven solo stops and ten total tackles. Harlon Hill candidate Trey Heid threw for four TD passes to lead the Augie offense. He was 23-of-27 for 339 yards through the air. Jackie Davis ran for 50 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries. Zach Johnson had 4.5 tackles for loss.

BOLT THE DOOR
SR LB Austin Bolton recorded double digit tackles for a second straight game. The Joliet, IL, native had 13 tackles against Augie - four solo - and 1.5 tackles for loss. In the season opener Bolton had ten tackles - one solo - at Concordia St Paul. He is currently tied for third in the NSIC in tackles / game at 11.5.

GRAD PARTY
SO DL Jackson Grad posted his first career interception against Augustana. Under pressure, Augie backup QB Chase Marso released a pass just beyond the line line of scrimmage that was swallowed up by the Marauders backup defensive tackle.  

NOSE FOR THE BALL
JR DB Jacob Parker tied a career high with ten tackles against Augustana. His seven solo stops was a personal best.

KEEPING A CLEAN FIELD
The Marauders have committed just nine infractions for 80 yards through two games. The average of 40 yards/game is tied for third in the NSIC.

T.O.P.
One of the reasons for moving to the triple option offense was to control the clock and the Marauders are finding success in this area. Mary is second in the NSIC in time of possession at 33:47/per game.

PUNTING PROWESS
True freshman punter Bailey Meyer had a solid first two weeks for the Marauders. He is 8th in the NSIC with a 38.4 yards/attempt on 15 punts.  The native of Sheboygan, WI, has a long of 47 yards with two punts dropped inside the 20 yard line.

BEHIND THE LINE
Seeing the most extensive time of his young career, sophomore defensive tackle Brody Peterson has quickly made an impact in opposing backfields. The native of Lemmon, SD, is second in the NSIC with a team-high 2.5 sacks. He posted 1.5 sacks against Concordia-St. Paul and one sack against Augustana.

WELCOME BACK
After playing wide receiver last season and missing the final six games due to injury, junior Ben Jolliffe is back on the field, but this time playing quarterback. The Bismarck native started six games at quarterback as a redshirt freshman in 2014 and is back under center to lead the Marauders triple option offense.

DEBUTS
13 Marauders made their career debut in the season opener against the Golden Bears. WR Adam Geiger, SB Paul Guptill, OL Hunter Hanson, LB Eric Knutson, LB Chris Kraft, DB Noah Krebs, DL Devin Macias, P Bailey Meyer, DL Luther Missoh, WR Harley Mollman, OL Rory Olson, DE Brayden Thomas and OL Tyson Lytle all saw their first action in teh Blue & Orange. Starting for the first time were Hanson, Kraft, Macias, Meyer, Mollman and Lytle. True freshmen playing for the Marauders were Geiger, Meyer, Thomas and Lytle.

SNAPPED
Landon Smith had his tackles for loss streak snapped at 10 games at Concordia-St. Paul. A disruptive force to opposing backfields, the SR DE from Stanley, N.D. posted tackles for losses in the final ten games of last season and finished 2015 with  12 TFL to finish among the NSIC leaders. He also had 4.5 sacks and 64 total tackles, all career highs.

HOMECOMING
The Marauders will return home for the annual homecoming game when the University of Mary hosts Winona State University at 1 pm on Saturday, Sept. 24.