SATURDAY
The Paddle Trophy is on the line this weekend when a pair of River City football teams take to the field. The University of Mary visits MSU Moorhead in the 12th annual Battle for the Paddle on Saturday, Oct. 28. Kickoff between the Marauders and the Dragons is set for 2 pm at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, MN.

PADDLE TROPHY
The first-ever gridiron match-up between UMary and Minnesota State University Moorhead took on a little extra edge in 2006 as both schools battled for The Paddle Trophy in this "River Rivalry" game. Mary is located on the Missouri River and MSU Moorhead is on the Red River. Both are Northern Sun North Division rivals... The Paddle Trophy was developed by the student governments of the two colleges. The team that wins each year is responsible for the safekeeping and delivery of the Paddle Trophy and its case to each game between the Marauders and Dragons. The home team's student body representative will award the Paddle Trophy, which has each school's logo on opposite sides of the blade, with the score of each game being added to the winning team's side after the game... Mary won the first seven paddle games, grabbing initial possession with a 21-20 win in Bismarck in 2006. Marauders linebacker Brian Finnegan preserved the initial U-Mary win when he deflected a Dragons pass on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:08 remaining in the game. MSUM captured the paddle in 2013 for the first time with a 48-41 win.

THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 1-7 overall and in the Northern Sun and 1-3 in the NSIC North... The Dragons are 3-5 overall and in the Northern Sun and 1-3 in the NSIC North.  

LAST WEEK
The Marauders fell at home 33-7 to St. Cloud State on Military Appreciation Day... The Dragons rolled past the University of Minnesota Crookston 49-7.
 
LAST YEAR
The Marauders finished the 2016 season 1-10 overall and in the Northern Sun and 1-6 in the NSIC North division, placing 15th overall in the conference and sixth in the North division... The Dragons finished 7-4 overall and in the Northern Sun and 5-2 in the NSIC North.

LIVE ON WDAY'Z XTRA
The Marauders-Dragons game will be televised across the state on WDAY'Z Xtra.

FIVE + 1 NUMBERS TO KNOW
228.9 The Marauders are second in the Northern Sun and 14th in NCAA Division II  in rushing offense with 228.9 yards per game, despite already facing four of the top six run defenses in the conference (Sioux Falls, Minnesota State, Bemidji State, St. Cloud State) in the first eight games.

30 This is the 30th season of Marauders football. After playing a junior varsity schedule in 1987, head coach Jim Driscoll led the 1988 squad to a 27-18 home win in the program's first varsity game. UMary honored the members of the 1988 team - known as The Originals - during the Minot State game.

21.21 UMary leads the country in yards per pass completion at 21.21. The Marauders have completed 24-of-64 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns.

6 Over the last four weeks, senior defensive tackle Brock Pittley has picked up six sacks, including 2.5 at Bemidji State and 2.0 on Homecoming against Minnesota Crookston. The native of Killdeer, ND, added one more against SCSU. He is second in the Northern Sun in sacks and 30th in the country.

4 DeShawn Gay has scored a touchdown in each of the last four games for the Marauders and he has a team-leading five on the season. He had a 9 yard run against Minot State, a 72 yard touchdown reception against Bemidji State, a 1 yard run against Minnesota Crookston and a 61 yard scoring catch against St. Cloud State. The team leader with five touchdowns, he also has a 59 yard scoring run against Wayne State College.

3 The Marauders had three or more sacks for the third straight game against the Huskies as Brock Pittsley, Jacob Parker and Luther Missoh all reached the quarterback. UMary had three sacks at BSU, eight against UMC and three against SCSU. For the year the Marauders have 19 sacks, eighth in the NSIC.

HEAD COACHES
Josh Kotelnicki is in his fourth 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 30th season. Kotelnicki directed the Marauders to a 5-6 record in his first season in 2014 and is 8-35 lifetime (four years). 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... Steve Laqua became the 17th head coach in the 93-year history of Dragons football prior to the 2011 season. A native of Cavalier, N.D., and a 2000 graduate of North Dakota State University, Laqua is in his 7th season directing the MSUM program and had posted a 27-47 record. After graduating from NDSU, he was a graduate assistant coach for the Bison before working at St. Olaf and the University of Minnesota Crookston. Laqua returned to NDSU for two seasons before winning two state titles as head coach at Fargo Shanley High School. He led the Dragons to a 6-5 record in 2015, the school's first winning mark in nine seasons, and followed with a 7-4 record in 2016.

YEAR IN YEAR OUT
This is the 12th straight season the Marauders have played the Dragons. MSUM is one of five teams Mary has faced every season since beginning NCAA play in 2006. Bemidji State, Minnesota Crookston, Northern State and St. Cloud State are the other four teams.

THE MARAUDERS-DRAGONS SERIES HISTORY: 2006: The Marauders and Dragons first met in the inaugural Paddle Trophy game with Mary pulling out a 21-20 win despite throwing five interceptions, including a string of four in four pass attempts. Justin Fleck ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns and Matt Wall had seven catches for 140 yards and a score. MSUM scored with 1:08 left in the game but went for a two point conversion and the win. Brian Finnegan tipped the pass in the end zone to preserve the lead and the Mary victory... 2007: Bayland Rippenkroger and Erik Kruse both scored two touchdowns in a 45-31 Mary road win... 2008: Another close home game went the Marauders way when Jamal Lomax scored in overtime, his second touchdown of the day. Phil Thomas secured the win when he knocked down a Dragons fourth down pass attempt on the final play of the game... 2009: Cameron Gatling ran for 184 yards and caught two scoring passes as the Marauders rolled to a 39-13 road win. Mary outgained MSUM 379-250, including a 258-46 edge in rushing. The Marauders forced six turnovers and committed one... 2010: Craig Bagnell passed for two TDs and Jamal Lomax ran for 169 yards and two TDs in a 43-17 Marauders win. John Oyloe has two of UM's four sacks. The Marauders had a 194-40 edge in rushing... 2011: Tyler Steffan tied his school record with four TD receptions and the Marauders set a school record with 683 yards of offense in a 52-13 win. Steffan caught nine passes for 123 yards. Josh Murray ran for 216 yards on 16 carries and scored three TDs, all in the 3rd quarter, and Evan Gross ran for 107. Bagnell was 24-of-35 for 319 and four TDs... 2012: Bagnell threw for 189 yards and a TD and the Marauders defense limited the Dragons to 225 yards in a 23-7 Mary home win. Dariouse Gravely ran for 42 yards and two TDs and Tyler Steffan had four catches for 80 yards. Grant Singer posted 3.5 tackles for loss and John Oyloe had 3.0, including two sacks. MSUM's Jake Hodge was 19-of-38 for 202 yards and one TD but was sacked four times... 2013: Mary lost the Paddle Trophy for the first time in a 48-41 road loss. Down 27 points in the 1st half, the Marauders rallied for a 41-41 tie in the 4th quarter. MSUM won the game on the next possession when backup QB Ryan Toelle hit Adam Jiskra for a 39 yard TD catch. MSUM outgained Mary 582-522. Bagnell was 34-of-57 for 399 yards, 5 TDs and one INT. Nick Jolliffe caught 12 passes for 148 yards and two TDs. Jiskra posted a line of 7-131-2 and Cory Ambrose was at 7-136-1. Jake Hodge was 15-of-25 for 301 and three TDs. He also ran for two TDs. Grant Singer posted 15 tackles for Mary... 2014 Zach Roberson completed 27-of-45 passes for 460 yards and a school record-tying six touchdowns plus ran for a TD in a 52-45 Mary home win. Roberson earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. Dragons QB Demetrius Carr ran for 208 yards and passed for 188 and rallied MSUM from a 44-17 deficit to a 45-44 lead. Roberson hit Elby Pope for a 45-yard TD to win the game with 4:26 remaining. Pope caught 11-169-2. Jake East went 7-93-2 and Myron Baldoz-McArn was 4-87-1. Troy Guptill had 2.0 sacks - both on MSUM's final drive of the game - and 4.0 TFL. Preston Tescher added 12 tackles. The squads combined for 1,095 yards of offense... 2015 MSUM's Kayne Griffith bolted 72 yards for a TD on the third play of the game and Preston Prince dashed 62 yards for the score on the first ply of the next Dragons possession in a 37-0 MSUM home win. Caleb Buck passed for 128 yards for the Marauders, Preston Tescher made a career-high 17 tackles and Seth Walton added 13 stops. Herman Grey ran for 108 yards and a TD to lead MSUM and Griffith added 97... 2016: The Dragons scored a pair of touchdowns in each of the second, third and fourth quarters on the way to a 47-16 road won over the Marauders. Brothers Zack and Connor Graves each scored a touchdown for the Marauders. Nick McCann completed 11-of-15 passes for 128 yards and a TD. Sam Saucedo caught five passes for 73 yards. Austin Bolton had 11 tackles and forced a fumble. Dragons QB Demetrius Car ran for 143 yards and two TDs and passed for 166 yards and a TD. Gibson caught 10 passses for 131 yards and a TD.

PAST MARAUDERS-DRAGONS MEETINGS (Mary leads 8-3)
2006     Mary 21             MSUM 20             Bismarck, ND
2007     Mary 42             MSUM 31             Moorhead, MN
2008     Mary 24             MSUM 17 OT     Bismarck, ND
2009     Mary 39             MSUM 13             Moorhead, MN
2010     Mary 43             MSUM 17             Bismarck, ND
2011     Mary 52             MSUM 13             Moorhead, MN
2012     Mary 23             MSUM 7             Bismarck, ND
2013    MSUM 48        Mary 41                Moorhead, MN
2014    Mary 52            MSUM 45            Bismarck, ND
2015    MSUM 37        Mary 0                Moorhead, MN
2016    MSUM 47        Mary 16                Bismarck, ND            

QUICK LOOK AT THE MSU MOORHEAD DRAGONS
Coming off two straight winning seasons, the Dragons ability to extend their streak to three is in jeopardy with a 3-5 record through eight weeks. MSU Moorhead has struggled with turnovers and is tied for 13th in the Northern Sun with UMary in turnover margin at -9. The Dragons have thrown 12 interceptions and lost six fumbles while forcing seven fumbles and recovering two fumbles. The Dragons lead the NSIC in passing at 265.5 yards/game but have thrown 12 interceptions to 11 touchdown passes. MSUM is second in the NSIC in total offense at 417.4 yards/game. Defensively the Dragons are in the middle of the pack at 323.6 yards allowed/game. Sr. QB Demitrius Carr is averaging 240 yards passing game and has thrown 8 TDs and 11 interceptions. Last week freshman QB Jakup Sinani threw for 378 yards and three TDs and ran for a score in a 49-7 win over Minnesota Crookston and was named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week. Sr. WR Hunter Braaten leads MSUM with 55 catches for 564 yards and a TD. Sr. WR Damon Gibson, an NFL prospect, has 54 catches for 659 yards and three TDs. He missed last week's game and played sparingly against SCSU. Jonathan Kabambi is averaging 7.2 yards/carry and has 437 yards rushing. Abe Roehrich leads the Dragons in tackles (49) and fumble recoveries (2). Miles Baggett owns the team lead in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (10).

WEEK 7 REWIND
A tight game at half, visiting St. Cloud State gained control in the third quarter of a 33-7 Huskies win over UMary. Down 9-0, the Marauders pulled within 9-7 in the second quarter when Nick McCann connected with DeSahwn Gay for a 61 yard scoring pass. SCSU opened the second half with a 19 play 75 yard scoring drive that consumed 12:03 of the clock. The game turned on the ensuing kickoff. Sent into the wind, the ball blew back towards the Huskies, who recovered the ball at the Marauders 44 yard line. Denied any offensive plays in the third, UMary soon trailed 23-7 early in the fourth. UMary's third turnover of the day allowed SCSU to add a 55 yard field goal before a late Huskies TD sealed the outcome. UMary ran for 183 yards, led by 57 from Devin Hope. Garrett Weissinger added 52. Noah Krebs had 15 tackles and Jarad Zittleman added 13 with three pass breakups. SCSU ran for 254 yads with Curtwan Evans pounding out 128 and Gregory Lewis 121. SCSU had a 327-244 edge in total yards.

BROTHER BATTLE
Two brothers from the Capital City will be on opposite sides of the ball during the Battle for the Paddle. Marauders slotback Brennan Doan, a senior from Bismarck, ND, is the older brother of Dragons safety Aaron Doan. Both played high school football at Century.

PINPOINT PRECISION
Soph. P Bailey Meyer is second in the NSIC in punting at 40.7 yards/attempt. Thirteen of his 40 attempts have been downed inside the 20 with just three rolling into the end zone for touchbacks. There have been six fair catches called.

BIG HITTER - OFFENSE
Freshman DeShawn Gay leads the Marauders in rushing with 396 yards and three touchdowns in 61 carries, a stellar average of 6.5 yards/carry. He had a season-high 144 at Wayne State College, including a 59 yard scoring burst. Gay has three receptions for 148 yards, including two for scores (72 yards v BSU, 61 yards v SCSU).  

BIG HITTER - DEFENSE
Noah Krebs is 6th in the NSIC in tackles with 73 (40 solo). He had a career-high 15 tackles and forced a fumble against SCSU.

YOUNG
Seven of the top nine tacklers this season are underclassmen for UMary, led by sophomore Noah Krebs (73), freshman Jarad Zittleman (51) sophomore Chris Kraft (41), freshmen linebackers Dylan Anthony (36) and Casey Uhler (33) and sophomore Daniel Hudrlik (27). Senior Jacob Parker is fifth with 32 tackles and senior Brady Zittleman in seventh (29).

BROTHERS
Senior defensive back Brady Zittleman and his younger brother, redshirt freshman Jarad Zittleman, have played along side each other all season. This is the first time the two Mandan, ND, natives have played together.

BROTHERS PART TWO
In addition to the Zittleman brothers, the Marauders have three other brother combinations on the team. Sophomore LB Coleton Ford and R-Fr. SB Jaxon Ford are brothers from Bismarck, ND, sophomore LB Grady Blewett and freshman Will Blewett are brothers from Belgrade, MT, and junior PK Cody Goetz and FR WR Cameron Goetz are brothers from Eden Prairie, MN.