SATURDAY
For the second straight week the University of Mary football team will play in front of the home crowd at the MDU Resources Community Bowl when the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University makes their first foray to Bismarck since the 2014 season opener. This crossover between Northern Sun North and South Division teams kicks off at 2 pm. 
 
THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders are 0-4 overall/NSIC and 0-4 in the NSIC North after a 48-20 loss to MSU Moorhead in the Battle for the Paddle... The Mustangs are 1-3 overall and 1-3 in the NSIC South after edging Upper Iowa 21-20 at home. 
 
LAST YEAR
UMary finished last season 1-10 overall and in the NSIC and 1-7 in the NSIC North... SMSU was 2-9 in the NSIC and overall and 0-7 in the NSIC South.  
 
CROSSOVER
In a changeup from recent years, the first of four straight crossover games between teams in the NSIC North and South Divisions are starting in week five. For the past six seasons (2012-2017) since the NSIC teams went to only playing conference opposition, the first four games of the season had been set aside for the crossover contests with the last seven games reserved for divisional games. 
 
CROSSOVER V2
During the six seasons where all teams in the NSIC play four-game blocks against teams from the opposite division, the Marauders are 7-17, dropping their last 13 games against teams from the NSIC South. 
 
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 PLUS ONE NUMBERS TO KNOW
177         Sophomore DeShawn Gay generated 177 yards on kick returns against MSU Moorhead on seven returns, the longest going for 35 yards. This is the second-most kick return yardage of the UMary NCAA era, exceeded only by Connor Grave's 200 yards against Minnesota Duluth in 2016. 
 
43.0        Jr. P Bailey Meyer is averaging 43.0 yards per punt, 25th in the nation and 3rd in the NSIC.
 
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. 
 
5 With a pair of interceptions against the Dragons on Saturday, the Marauders have five on the season, already exceeding last year's 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 - will be inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame during Homecoming 2018. Former players, coaches and staff on the 1999 team can go to www.GoUMary.com/1999footballRSVP to register for the event. 
 
3 True freshmen scored all three touchdowns for the Marauders against the Dragons. RB Bryan Lumsden ran for scores of 8 and 37 yards and TE Chase Kopp caught a 59 yard scoring strike. 
 
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)... Former NFL and University of Minnesota quarterback Cory Sauter is in his ninth season as the Southwest Minnesota State University head coach and is in his 11th 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 37-56 overall. The 37 career wins is second all-time among SMSU football coaches. 
 
FIRST AND FIRST
Twice UMary head football coaches have won their first games as head coach of the Marauders against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State. Myron Schulz, who will be inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame in two weeks during Homecoming 2018, led UMary to a 28-7 win again SMSU on the road in Marshall, MN, on the opening weekend of the 1999 season, in his first game as a college head coach. Schulz's successor, Josh Kotelnicki, opened his tenure with a 19-18 home win over SMSU to kick off the 2014 season. In the Mustangs last visit to Bismarck, ND, Zach Roberson found Jake East in the end zone with 23 seconds left in the contest to tie the game and Brody Riggs kicked the extra point for the UMary win. 
 
THE MARAUDERS-MUSTANGS SERIES HISTORY (UM leads series 5-3)
The Marauders are 5-3 all-time against the Mustangs in what has been an incredibly entertaining series... 1999: In Myron Schulz's first game as UMary head coach and the first meeting between schools, the Marauders went to Marshall, Minn., and returned with a 28-7 win... In 2006, UMary'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, UMary'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. UMary 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 UMary 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. UMary 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, UMary 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... UMary 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... 2016: UMary scored the first two TDs of the game and led 17-14 in the 3rd quarter before SMSU roared back for a 47-23 win. The Marauders ran for 258 yards and had 343 yards of offense plus held the ball for nearly 40 minutes. SMSU rolled up 28 first downs and 514 yards. Ben Jollife ran for 93 yards and Zach Podoll 73. Austin Bolton added 11 tackles. Blake Gimbel was 15-of-19 passing for 175 yards and four TDs for SMSU and Divonte Bell ran for 164 yards, 
 
PAST MARAUDERS-MUSTANGS MEETINGS (UM leads 5-3)
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                      
2016        SMSU 47                                               UMary 23                                             Marshall, MN
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE SMSU MUSTANGS
The Mustangs gained their first win of the season last week with a 21-20 home win over Upper Iowa, snapping an 11-game losing streak. Max Simmons carried 30 times for 154 yards and caught a TD pass to lead the SMSU effort. The Mustangs have struggled offensively this season, averaging 17.2 points and 301 yards per game. Of course they have also faced Minnesota State, now ranked first in the nation, and a Sioux Falls team that has also been in the national polls. Sr. QB Blake Gimbel ranks second in SMSU team history with 764 completions and is just six shy of breaking the school record and is second in career TD passes with 65. Gimbel ranks sixth in Division II in completions per game (26) and is 26th in passing yards (969). Simmons, with eight 100-yard games in his career, leads SMSU in rushing with 237 yards. Daniel Davis has 27 catches for 300 yards and one TD. Shane Ratkovich leads SMSU with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. His 44 tackles are a league-high. 
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders lost the 13th annual Paddle Trophy game 48-20 to MSU Moorhead despite a pair of touchdowns by FR RB Bryan Lumsden for the second straight week. Lumsden ran for 81 yards on eight carries and scored on runs of 8 and 37 yards. MSUM jumped out to a 28-0 lead at halftime before the Marauders got on the board. UMary opened the second half scoring with a perfectly executed pass play off a lateral. Off the snap, Jason Hoekstra threw a lateral to Garrett Weissinger on the right sideline in front of the Marauders bench. Weissinger then found freshman Chase Kopp wide open well past the closest defender. After hauling in the pass, Kopp turned on the afterburners to outrace the Dragons defenders to the end zone to complete a 59 yard scoring pass and pulling UMary within 28-7 at 12:32 of the third quarter. The Dragons followed with  a pair of touchdowns before Lumsden found the end zone in both the third and fourth quarters. FR RB Reggie Scott added 40 yards rushing for the Marauders. Colton Farmer chipped in 30 and Weissinger 28. Overall UMary produced 142 yards rushing. Kopp led UMary with 71 yards receiving on three catches. DeShawn Gay had a busy day on returns, hauling back seven kicks for 177 yards, an average of over 25 yards/attempt with a long of 35 yards... Cyrano Rayfield had a game-high 10 tackles and Jackson Grad added nine... Devin Sardelli added two tackles for loss, including a sack... Zittleman added a breakup and eight tackles to his interception... 
Jakup Sinani threw for 272 yards and three scores while also running for 40 yards and two scores for MSUM. Zach Sweep caught two touchdown passes. Darius Woods-Steichen paced MSUM with two sacks.
 
LITTLE LOOMS LARGE
Soph. WR Luke Little has 23 catches for 362 yards. He is third in the NSIC in receiving yardage per game (90.5) and fifth in receptions/game (5.75). The Bismarck, ND, native is 36th in NCAA D2 in receiving yards/game and 47th in receptions/game.  
 
BOOMER
Jr. All-NSIC punter Bailey Meyer is third in the league with an average of 43 yards/punt. He has five punts of 50 yards or longer, dropped seven inside the 20 yard line and has forced one fair catch in his 25 attempts. 
 
PASS-TENSE
Allowing 207 yards per game through the air, the Marauders are fifth in the NSIC in fewest passing yards allowed per game. Opposing QBs complete just 54.7 percent of their pass attempts and average 7.1 yards per game, both-7th best in the conference. 
 
TAKE 5
After making just three interceptions last season, UMary has five this season through four games. Both Jarad Zittleman and Kendall Grier intercepted passes to thwart potential scoring drives for the Dragons on Saturday. Marquell Evans and Paul Guptill made interceptions in the opener at SCSU. Isaiah Hubbard had both an interception and a sack in the Minot State game. 
 
TAG TEAM
Brothers Grady and WIll Blewett are among the team leaders on the Marauders in tackles this season. Grady leads the team with 30 tackles. Will has 13 solo tackles and 20 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 (138). RB Reggie Scott has 63 yards rushing. WR Danny Kittner has 63 yards receiving, 19 yards rushing, and 33 yards on punt returns. QB Jason Hoekstra has thrown for 380 yards. Tyree Shepherd has been a key reserve on the offensive line. TE Chase Kopp has four catches for 80 yards, including a 59 yard TD. Kade Lynch has a 23 yard catch. LB Max Askew owns a team-high 4.0 tackles for loss.

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 duo is Jr. Noah Krebs and Fr. Jonah Krebs, both linebackers from St. Mary's in Bismarck, ND.
 
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.
 
USS ANCHORAGE
Two Marauders are veterans of the United States Navy and served together on the USS Anchorage, one of the country's newest vessels. Jordan Beaty and Daquavian Ross are redshirt sophomores who joined the Marauders in 2016. Ross appeared in four games last season and moved up the depth chart to 2nd team this season. Beaty, who ran for 181 yards last year and caught a TD pass, is the Marauders starting RB.