BISMARCK, ND – In a homecoming game celebrating the Marauders Hall of Fame inductions of former University of Mary head coach Myron Schulz and the 1999 football team that reached the national semifinals, the Marauders took a page from the past in displaying a ferocious defensive effort. UMary held the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears out of the end zone until the closing minutes of a 17-7 Marauders loss.
 
Schulz, a former defensive coordinator before becoming head coach, directed the 1999 Marauders to one of the best defensive seasons in school history.
 
Led by a career-best 18 tackle performance by Jarad Zittleman, the Marauders defense posted four sacks and six tackles for loss while forcing three turnovers for the third straight game.
 
Cyrano Rayfield registered 1.5 sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Grady Blewett had nine assisted tackles and an interception. Maxwell Askew recorded a career-best 10 tackles with .5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Ryan Naki made eight tackles, set up the Marauders lone touchdown with a fumble return and broke up a pass.
 
On a day with the wind gusting out of the west end zone at over 22 miles per hour, neither team had success driving the ball in the first half. Both teams also committed errors to halt promising possessions as the three longest of the opening half ended in turnovers.
 
The Marauders fumbled the ball away on their opening possession at the Golden Bears 42 yard line. UMary later stopped second quarter Concordia-St. Paul drives at the Marauders 27 yard line on a Rayfield fumble recovery and a Blewett pickoff at the UMary 31 that was returned to the home 44 yard line.
 
The tide turned in the third quarter on a 77 yard interception return for a score by the Golden Bears Dez Bassett to end the Marauders first possession of the second half. After the Marauders were forced to punt on their next possession, Concordia-St. Paul drove 92 yards, starting at the Golden Bears one yard line to the Marauders four yard line before converting a 24 yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
 
The Marauders defense gave UMary a chance to jump back into the contest when Rayfield sacked the Golden Bears quarterback at the Marauders 35 yard line. Naki picked the ball up at the UMary 45 yard line and weaved his way to the Golden Bear's three yard line. On the next play Colton Farmer ran off right guard into the end zone. After Brody Riggs converted the extra point the Marauders were within 10-7 with 10:43 to play.
 
Only allowed two more offensive possessions, the Marauders couldn't gain any ground while the Golden Bears sealed the contest with 2:11 left in the game. Dom McKinzy raced 26 yards for a score on 4^th-and-2, increasing Concordia-St. Paul advantage to 17-7.
 
Bryan Lumsden led the Marauders with 52 yards rushing. Luke Little returned to action and caught three passes for 33 yards. Garrett Weissinger had two grabs for 37 yards.
 
Bailey Meyer averaged 45 yards on seven kicks with a long of 70. He downed two inside the CSP 20.
 
McKinzy ran the ball for 70 yards and passed for 129. Marcus Gustaveson had six catches for 70 yards. Defensively Chris Garrett had three sacks on the day.
 
The Marauder limited the Golden Bears to 337 yards, including 131 passing, while gaining 150 yards of total offense.
 
UMary returns to the road with a visit to Augustana in Sioux Falls, SD, on Oct. 20. Game time is 1 pm.
 
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