SATURDAY

A week after celebrating their own homecoming, the University of Mary football team visits Augustana University for Vikings Days on Saturday, Oct. 20. Game time between the Marauders and the Vikings is 1 pm at Kirkeby-Over Stadium in Sioux Falls, SD.   

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK

The Marauders are 0-7 overall/NSIC and 0-4 in the NSIC North after a 17-7 loss to Concordia-St. Paul... The Vikings are 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the NSIC South after defeating Northern State 42-21 on the road. 

LAST YEAR

UMary finished last season 1-10 overall and in the NSIC and 1-7 in the NSIC North... Augie was 4-7 overall and in the NSIC and 2-5 in the NSIC South.   

MARAUDERS FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

UMary football was heavily represented last weekend during the Marauders Hall of Fame inductions as both the 1999 Marauders national semifinal team and former head coach Myron Schulz were honored. Additionally Levi Evans (men's soccer 1997-2000), Wayne Harvision (wrestling 1994-98), Danelle Murphy (softball 2000-03) and Kotchi Prosper (men's track & field 1994-98) were also inducted.  

1999 Marauders Football team: NAIA Semifinalist (one of only two in program history)... Head coach Myron Schulz... Finished 11-2 overall and 5-0 in the NDCAC to win the league championship... Set season school records for fewest yards allowed per game (178), fewest rushing yards allowed per game (35.6), most touchdowns scored (65) and total points scored (460)... All-Americans that season included Eric Volk, David St. Claire, Seth Maier, Quintin Cradle, Kyle Sires and Jason Davis... Marauders Hall of Famer Chris Schwab was the senior quarterback...Tied program record for wins in single season (11). 

Myron Schulz (Football head coach 1999-2013): Most wins of any UMary football coach with a career record of 103-60... Next winningest coach only has 46 wins for UMary... Led Marauders to nine straight winning seasons, six straight NAIA national playoff appearances and four conference titles in a six-year stretch... Coached 23 All-Americans, 109 All-Conference players, 90 NSIC All-Academic team honorees and 23 NAIA All-Academic performers... Led Marauders through the transition from NAIA to NCAA... The Marauders had the nation's top defense in 2003, allowing just 225.2 yards/game... Member of the Marauders football coaching staff in 23 of the program's first 26 seasons.

CROSSOVER

This is the last weekend of Northern Sun crossover games. It is the first season teams from the NSIC North and NSIC South faced off in the middle of the season instead of the beginning. Since 2012 NSIC schools have played only conference teams during their 11 game regular season schedule. The first four games of the season had been set aside for the crossover contests with the last seven games reserved for divisional games. This season crossover games began in week five. 

YOUNG BLOOD

At 28 years old, UMary head coach Craig Bagnell is the youngest head coach in the NCAA. The 2013 University of Mary graduate started his coaching career at Bemidji State in 2014 as a graduate assistant for one season before he moved to offensive coordinator in 2015. He directed a potent Beavers attack for three seasons (2015-2017) that featured creativity, balance and big plays. A four-year starter at quarterback for the Marauders, Bagnell was a two-time all-conference selection and UMary's all-time career leader in touchdown passes (75) and passing yardage (9,170). 

FIVE + ONE NUMBERS TO KNOW

3x3 The Marauders have forced three turnovers in each of the last three weeks. UMary recovered three fumbles against Southwest Minnesota State. The Marauders forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass the last two weeks against both Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul. 

7x7 The Marauders have seven interceptions this season by seven different players: Marquell Evans, Paul Guptill, Isaiah Hubbard, Jarad Zittleman, Kendall Grier, Max Askew and Grady Blewett all have picked off opponent's passes. 

31 This is the 31st 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. 

14 The Marauders have forced 14 takeaways this season (7 fumbles, 7 interceptions) through seven games, exceeding last year's season-ending total of 11. It is UMary's best takeaway total since creating 21 in 2015. 

7 With an interception by Grady Blewett against Concordia-St. Paul, the Marauders own seven interceptions through seven games, which is more than double last year's season total of three.   

5 Five teams in Marauders history have won both a conference championship and qualified for the national playoffs. One of those five teams - the 1999 Marauders squad that advanced to the NAIA semifinals - was inducted this fall into the Marauders Hall of Fame. 

PRIVATE PAIRING

There are five private colleges that compete in the Northern Sun: Mary, Augustana, Sioux Falls, Upper Iowa and Concordia-St. Paul. After facing CSP last week and visiting Augie on Saturday, the Marauders have faced fellow private schools in back-to-back-weeks. Mary plays public schools the rest of the season.

HOME STAND

The home team has won 4-of-6 games in the series. The home losses were Augie victories in Bismarck in 2007 and 2016. 

HEAD COACHES

At 28 years old, UMary head coach Craig Bagnell is the youngest head coach in the NCAA. The 2013 University of Mary graduate started his coaching career at Bemidji State in 2014 as a graduate assistant working with receivers. The next season he moved to offensive coordinator where he led a potent Beavers attack the last three years that featured creativity, balance and big plays. A four-year starter at quarterback for the Marauders, Bagnell was a two-time all-conference selection and UMary's all-time career leader in touchdown passes (75) and passing yardage (9,170)... In his sixth season as head coach at Augustana, Jerry Olszewski has led the Vikings to three winning seasons in five tries and appears on the way to a fourth. After finishing 4-7 his first season in 2013, Augie went 6-5, 9-3 (and an NCAA playoff appearance), 8-3 and 4-7 since. He is 35-28 leading the Vikings and 67-46 in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach (32-18 at St. Olaf from 2008-12). 

THE MARAUDERS-VIKINGS SERIES HISTORY

2007: The Vikings won the first meeting 26-19 in Bismarck, ND, on August 25, 2007, in the season opener in front of over 6,500 fans. UMary held a 19-7 lead halfway through the fourth quarter before Augie scored 19 straight points to claim the victory. Shawn Melland opened the scoring with a 65 yard interception return and Blair Sandy ran one yard for a score and UMary led 13-0 at intermission. Two Rett Thibodeaux field goals built the Marauders lead to 19-7 in the fourth. The Vikings rallied and took their first lead with 45 seconds left as J. Norquist scored from the one yard line. Augie sealed the win when Dustin Rice returned an interception 70 yards for the score as time expired. Jamal Lomax ran for 107 yards and Jesse Laber had two sacks to lead the Marauders. Justin Huber ran for 105 yards and two TDs for Augie... 2010: The Vikings won  52-21 in Sioux Falls, SD. Terry Newsome caught a TD pass as U-Mary scored first but Augie ran off 28 straight points. U-Mary pulled within 28-21 on scoring runs by Craig Bagnell and Bo Cole but Tyler Schulte caught his third of four touchdowns for the Vikings to enter intermission up 35-21. AC would tack on 17 more in the second half. Augie's Josh Hanson threw for five TDs and ran for one... 2011: Using their best defensive effort of the 2011 season, the Marauders earned their first win over Augustana in a 10-0 victory. UMary gave up just 253 yards, including 58 yards on the ground. The Marauders picked up all the points they needed in the game in the second quarter when Bagnell connected with Tyler Steffan on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Tyler Ryan sealed the win with a 24-yard field goal in the 4th quarter. Bagnell paced the offense with 283 passing yards. Defensively, John Oyloe posted 4.0 tackles for loss and DeShon Benton had 2.5... 2012: Behind 409 yards passing from NSIC Offensive Player of the Week Craig Bagnell, UMary opened its home schedule with a 31-25 win over Augustana. The Marauders went on a 21-3 tear to build a 28-17 lead over the Vikings that featured two touchdown receptions by Tyler Steffan and one by Elby Pope. The Vikings would close to within 28-25 before Tyler Ryan converted a 34-yard field goal with 2:35 left in the game to double the Marauders advantage. The Marauders defense finished the game in fine fashion, sacking Vikings QB Josh Hanson twice in three plays, including Augie's last play of the game. Steffan caught ten passes for 154 yards to pace the Marauders. The Vikings gained 454 yards of offense while running 99 plays. The Marauders posted 428 yards of offense on 79 plays... 2014: Augie scored on 8-of-11 drives with missed field goals ending two others. The Vikings opened the scoring with a one-play drive, a 61-yard touchdown pass from Trey Heid to Matt Gerry on their second possession of the game and led 24-0 at intermission. Grant Singer made 14 tackles to go over 300 in his career. Ben Jolliffe was 12-of-23 passing for 129 yards and one interception and ran for a team-high 49 yards. Elby Pope caught three balls for 31 yards. Heid completed 14-of-19 passes for 201 yards and two scores for Augie. Dajon Newell ran for 100 yards and one TD. CJ Ham scored twice and ran for 69 yards. Augie held a 31-13 edge in first downs and a 575 to 261 yardage advantage... 2016: A big 2nd quarter by #21 Augie carried the Vikings to a 63-0 win over UMary. Trey Heid threw a first quarter TD - the only points of the first period - and tossed two more scoring passes and ran for another as Augie led 35-0 at intermission. Sr. LB Austin Bolton had 13 tackles with 1.5 for loss. Jr. CB Jacob Parker added 10 tackles and So. DL Jackson Grad had an interception. Heid was 23-of-27 passes for 339 yards and four TDs. 

PAST MARAUDERS-VIKINGS MEETINGS (AC leads 3-2)

2007 Augustana 26 Mary 19 Bismarck, ND

2010 Augustana 52 Mary 21 Sioux Falls, SD

2011 Mary 10 Augustana   0 Bismarck, ND

2012  Mary 32 Augustana 25 Bismarck, ND

2014 Augustana 52 Mary  0 Sioux Falls, SD

2016 #21 Augustana 63 Mary 0 Bismarck, ND

QUICK LOOK AT THE AUGUSTANA VIKINGS

Perfect in four road games, the Augustana Vikings are looking for their first home win of the season. The Vikings home schedule has featured games against then #2 Minnesota State (L 38-36), #RV Sioux Falls (L 51-13) and #7 Minnesota State (L 28-17). Offensively the Vikings are second in total offense and first in passing offense. Behind an offensive line that has allowed just seven sacks, QB Kyle Saddler has thrown for 2,190 yards and 20 touchdowns. Rudolph Sinflorant has run for 665 yards in six games with six touchdowns. Nickel Myers has 43 catches for 710 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively the Vikings have found their groove over the last three games, allowing just 17 points and 259 yards per game during that stretch. Joey Newman leads the team with 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Michael Kloza has four interceptions on the season. Kirby Hora owns a team-best 66 tackles with 6.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.  

LAST WEEK

In a defensive battle, Concordia-St. Paul edged UMary 17-7 in the Marauders homecoming game. UMary held the CSP offense out of the end zone until the closing minutes of a 17-7 Marauders loss. 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 tide turned in the third quarter on a 77 yard interception return for a score by the Golden Bears Dez Bassett on 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 4th-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.

PLACE AND TIME

So. S Jarad Zittleman is getting to the right place at the right time for the Marauders defense. He posted a career-best 18 tackles against Concordia-St. Paul in one of the Marauders best defensive efforts of the season. He now leads UMary with 29 solo stops. The Mandan, ND, native has recovered a pair of fumbles this season and has an interception. Zittleman is tied for the NSIC lead in fumble recoveries. 

FORCING THE ISSUE

Sr. DL Cyrano Rayfield created havock all over the field for the Golden Bears on Homecoming. Rayfield recovered a fumble, forced a fumble that led to the Marauders lone score, had 1.5 sacks and made seven tackles. For the season Rayfield is third on the team with 5.0 tackles for loss. 

BUSY

Soph. WR DeShawn Gay is a busy man, catching passes and returning kicks. He is 5th in the NSIC in all-purpose yardage at 110.3 yards/game. He is fifth in kick return average at 22.6 yards/return. Gay has 453 kick return yards, two punt return yards, 31 rushing yards and 176 receiving yards. Her produced 263 all-purpose yards against SMSU, a Marauders NCAA game-high. 

TURNOVER TIME

The Marauders have forced multiple turnovers in the last four games and five times in seven outings. After making turning over the Dragons twice, UMary forced three turnovers against Southwest Minnesota State, Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul. 

LITTLE LOOMS LARGE

Soph. WR Luke Little has 26 catches for 395 yards through six games. He is 10th in the NSIC in receiving yardage per game (65.8) and 14th in receptions/game (4.3). 

PRECISION

For the third straight week, Jr. All-NSIC punter Bailey Meyer dropped multiple punts inside the opponents 20 yard line, including one at the CSP 1 yard line. Meyer is 3rd in the NSIC with an average of 42.1 yards/punt. He has ten punts of 50 yards or longer, dropped 15 inside the 20 yard line and has forced three fair catches in his 49 attempts.

TAG TEAM

Brothers Grady and Will Blewett are among the team leaders on the Marauders in tackles this season. Grady leads the team with 53 tackles. Will has 14 solo tackles and 24 stops total.

FRESHMAN

Several true freshmen have found their way to the field this season. Bryan Lumsden leads the Marauders in TDs (4) and rushing yards (243)... RB Reggie Scott has 108 yards rushing... WR Danny Kittner has two touchdowns, 184 yards receiving, 25 yards rushing, 106 kick return yards, and 76 yards on punt returns... QB Jason Hoekstra has thrown for 875 yards and five touchdowns... Tyree Shepherd has been a key reserve on the offensive line... TE Chase Kopp has five catches for 101 yards, including a 59 yard TD... WR Kade Lynch has three catches for 48 yards... LB Max Askew owns a team-high 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 35 tackles and an interception... Devin Beck has 14 tackles, including a sack. 

DOUBLE DOWN

If someone reaches the end zone once in a game for the Marauders, there's a pretty good chance they will cross the goal line again. In four straight games from weeks 3-6, a player scored a pair of touchdowns for UMary. Fr. RB Bryan Lumsden reached the end zone twice against both Minot State and MSU Moorhead. DeShawn Gay scored twice against Southwest Minnesota State. And last week Fr. WR Danny Kittner caught scoring passes of 19 and 5 yards against Winona State. 

NSIC FAMILIARITY

Of the ten coaches on Craig Bagnell's staff, nine have either coached at or graduated from a Northern Sun school. Bagnell, Jordan Noskowiak, Matthew Splon and Rufus Saylee all have played and coached in the NSIC. Brett Holinka, Mark Martin and Tristian Johnson all coached in the NSIC at other schools before joining UMary in the off season. Randy Bandelow is in his third season with the Marauders and Nick Voorhees his second.  

FAMILIARITY

The Marauders return five starting offensive linemen from last year. Senior Nick Benshetler enters his fourth season as a starter. Fellow senior and team captain Jared Taylor and junior Tyson Lytle are three-year starters. Junior Hunter Hanson started all 11 games last season. Junior Rory Olson started several games as a redshirt freshman and last year as a junior. 

BROTHERS BLEWETT

The Marauders will have a pair of brothers from Bozeman, MT, starting at linebacker. Jr. Grady Blewett appeared in 11 games last season and had 20 tackles. R-Fr. Will Blewett redshirted last season... This is the second straight year the Marauders will start a brother combo on defense as Brady and Jarad Zittleman started in the backfield. 

BROTHERS

The Marauders other sibling duos are Jr. Noah Krebs and Fr. Jonah Krebs, both linebackers from St. Mary's in Bismarck, ND, and R-Fr. OL Dylan Thomsen and Fr. TE Dylan Thomas, both from Thompson, ND. 

COUSINS

LB Jamison Lytle and OL Tyson Lytle are cousins. Their fathers both played on the Marauders Originals team, which was the first varsity squad in 1988. 

MOTHER AND SON

Head athletic trainer Rhonda Olson, who has treated the Marauders football players like her own sons since joining UMary in 2000, has her own son on the squad. Jaren Olson is a junior defensive lineman.