HOMECOMING SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY
The 2019 University of Mary homecoming game against the Upper Iowa University Peacocks has been pushed back one day to Sunday, Oct. 13. A fall storm creating hazerdous travel conditions across central and eastern North Dakota into the Red River Valley and western North Dakota caused the one day postponement. Game time for the Marauders - Peacocks game is 12 noon at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. 

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders (0-5 overall/NSIC | 0-4 NSIC North) lost 39-0 at Sioux Falls... Upper Iowa (0-5 overall/NSIC | 0-4 NSIC South) lost 24-22 to Northern State.  
MARAUDERS HOMECOMING GAME POSTPONED TO SUNDAY, OCT. 13
The University of Mary homecoming game against Upper Iowa University is rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 13 at 12 noon. An unseasonable winter storm making travel difficult throughout central and eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota forced the game to be postponed one day as the Peacocks were unable to complete the trip to Bismarck Friday. Upper Iowa was able to make it as far as St. Cloud, MN, and intends to complete their journey to Bismarck, ND, on Saturday. 

RADIO BROADCAST FOR MARAUDERS-PEACOCKS MOVES TO 1130 KBMR
The radio broadcast of the Marauders 2019 homecoming football game against the Peacocks can be found on 1130 KBMR on Sunday, Oct. 13. Catch Voice of the Marauders Jesse Rostvedt and Hall of Fame coach and former UMary athletic director Roger Thomas on the call. The Marauders will be back on KFYR 550 AM the following week. 

WELCOME HOME, COACH SHEA
Head coach of the Marauders 1995 Hall of Fame team was Tom Shea, who will be standing on the opposing sidelines as head coach of Upper Iowa on Sunday. Shea coached six seasons (1991-96) at UMary and posted a mark of 47-16-1. His teams won one NDCAC title and made the NAIA playoffs three times.    

HALL OF FAME CONGRATULATIONS TO '95 MARAUDERS FOOTBALL
On Friday four individuals and a team were inducted into the Marauders Hall of Fame. Bridgit Fischer Tollefsrud (softball), Aaron Hartnell (wrestling), Marc Hawley (men's basketball) and Flavia Siqueira (volleyball) were joined by the 1995 Marauders football team... An overwhelming force in all facets of the game, featuring three All-Americans and four future Marauders Hall of Fame members, the 1995 University of Mary football team was the first of only two UMary squads to reach the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) semifinals. Head coach Tom Shea - now the Upper Iowa head coach - directed the Marauders to a record of 11-2 overall and 5-1 in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC), breaking the previous school record for wins in a season (8). The Marauders team included All-Americans Steve Clooten, Bryon Hoff and Jeremy Polson, and future Marauders Hall of Famers included Jon Ahneman, Clooten, Paul Cronin and Neil MacDannald; team member Jason Salz was elected to the Marauders Hall of Fame as a baseball player. All-NDCAC players include first-team selections Jason Aman, Eric Chinn, Clooten, Cronin, Hoff, Joel Lentz, Polson and Rich Sigsworth. Earning second team honors was David Delaplane, Steve Walker, MacDannald, Ahneman and Temell Parks. Cronin was selected as the NDCAC Most Valuable Player by the media after passing for 2,935 yards and 32 touchdowns; both totals remain school records. Team captains were Ahneman, Chris Clements, Clooten and Cronin.

SOUTH SEAS
After facing Northern Sun North Division opposition the first four weeks of the season, the Marauders enter week two in a four-week stretch of playing teams from the NSIC South. After facing Sioux Falls last weekend, the Marauders host Upper Iowa for Homecoming on Oct 12, visit nationally-ranked Minnesota State on Oct. 19 and return to Bismarck to face Wayne State College on Oct. 26. 

BEEN A COUPLE YEARS
Due to the every-other-year format in the NSIC for facing teams from the other division, the last time the Marauders faced Sioux Falls, Upper Iowa, Minnesota State and Wayne State was in 2017... The last time the Marauders played in Sioux Falls and Mankato, MN, was in 2015. 

ALL AROUND AWESOME
Danny Kittner has proved to be a dangerous threat on both offense and special teams this season, ranking 5th in the nation and 1st in the NSIC in All Purpose yardage at 180 yards/game... He is also 3rd in the NSIC in receiving yards/game (89.8), 4th in receptions/game (5.2) and 8th in kick return average (22.9/return).He has 26 catches for 449 yards and two touchdowns... Kittner became the first Marauders football player of the school's NCAA era to post both 100 yards receiving and on returns in two consecutive games (5 catches for 136 yards and 1 TD receiving, two runs for 16 yards and five kick returns for 107 yards for 254 all purpose yards on 12 touches against Minot State; seven catches for 121 yards and a score, returned three punts for 35 yards and had two kick returns for 86 yards for 242 yards at MSU Moorhead)... The last time a UMary player went over 200 yards of all purpose yardage was all-Northern Sun receiver Elby Pope in each of the final four games of the 2014 season... While his 100x100 streak ended at two games, he extended his streak of consecutive 100 yard receiving games extended to three with 101 yards receiving on three receptions at Sioux Falls, the first UMary player to accomplisg this feat since Pope in the final four games of 2014. Kittner is also among the league leaders in explosive plays. He has six receptions of at least 34 yards. Kittner has three of the 13 longest kick returns in the NSIC this season and the sixth longest punt return. 

EXPLOSION
The Marauders have generated several big plays on offense this season. Here is a list of all plays over 20 yards:
62 yards - Logan Nelson run vs. Minot State (TD)
56 yards - Kade Lynch catch from Logan Nelson vs. SCSU (TD)
55 yards - Logan Nelson run vs, Minot State (TD)
49 yards - Scott Tripp run at Sioux Falls
48 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Logan Nelson vs. Minot State
47 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Avery Gould at Sioux Falls
46 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Logan Nelson vs. Minot State (TD)
44 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Avery Gould at Sioux Falls
42 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Jordan Velarde at MSU Moorhead
40 yards - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Logan Nelson at Bemidji State (TD)
39 yards - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Logan Nelson vs. SCSU
34 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Jordan Velarde at MSU Moorhead
32 yards - Bryan Lumsden run vs. Minot State
32 yards - Kade Lynch catch from Logam Nelson at Bemidji State
21 yards - Garrett Weissinger catch from Jordan Velarde at MSU Moorhea
21 yards - Kade Lynch catch from Jordan Velarde at MSU Moorhead 
20 yards - Jaden Andresen catch from Logan Nelson at Bemidji State
20 yards - Garrett Weissinger catch from Jordan Velarde at MSU Moorhead

BIG RETURNS
Marquell Evans and Danny Kittner have formed an impressive kick return duo for the Marauders this season. UMary is third in the NSIC and 38th nationally, averaging 23.2 yards/return. Evans averages 24.8 yards a return this season to rank fifth in the NSIC. Kittner averages 22.9 yards/return to rank 8th in the NSIC. 

BUSY MEN
Sr. LB Paul Guptill is the 11th leading tackler in the Northern Sun. The former Marauders fullback is averages 7.2 tackles per game... Several Marauders are among the NSIC leaders in tackles per game. DB Richard Bendish ranks 13th (6.8), Jr. LB Dylan Anthony is 25th (6.0), Sr. DL Cyrano Rafield is 20th (6.6)... Taylor Morrison is 25th in the NSIC in sacks with 2.0.  

SEVEN + 1 NUMBERS TO KNOW
32 This is the 32nd  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. 

18 UMary owns 15 plays of 20 or more yards on offense this season

14 This is the Marauders 14th season competing in the NSIC and NCAA Division II

11 UMary single season records for wins in a season, posted in 1995 and 1999. Both of those football teams are now in the Marauders Hall of Fame.  

11 The Marauders offense owns 11 plays of 39 or more yards

5 UMary and UIU are two of the five private colleges in the 16-team NSIC. The other three are Concordia-St. Paul, Augustana and Sioux Falls

5 Danny Kittner ranks fifth in NCAA Division II and first in the NSIC in all purpose yardage (rushing, receiving and return) at 180 yards/game

3 Danny Kittner has posted at least 100 yards receiving in each of the past three games, the Marauders longest streak since Elby Pope reached triple digits in each of the last four games in 2014. 

COVER CHARGE
The Marauders are among the nation's top teams in kick coverage. In kick return defense, the Marauders are 26th, allowing just 17.0 yards/return. The Marauders punt return defense is 16th, allowing 2.9 yards/return. The defensive effort on returns starts with kicker Brody Riggs and punter Bailey Meyer. Riggs has five kicks that have gone for touchbacks. Meyer has eight kicks inside the 20 yard line has forced seven fair catches. 

HEAD COACHES
In his second season as UMary head coach Craig Bagnell was the youngest head coach in the NCAA in 2018 at age 28. 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). He was named head coach at his alma mater in Dec. 2017... A familiar face to long-time Marauders fans, Tom Shea enters his 11th season as the head coach of the Peacocks. Shea became the 15th Upper Iowa head coach in January 2009 and has a record of 40-70 with the Peacocks. This is sixth head coaching job in his career. Shea spent six seasons as head coach of the Marauders (1991-96) where he was 46-15-1 and led UMary to three NAIA playoff appearances and one NDCAC title. In the year prior to joining UMary, Shea led Peru State to the 1990 NAIA Division II national title. In a 19-year career, Shea is 109-89-3 as head coach. 

THE MARAUDERS-PEACOCKS SERIES HISTORY
(UMary leads the series 4-3)
After the Marauders won the first four games in the series, the Peacocks captured the last three meetings... The Marauders are 2-1 at home and 2-2 on the road. 2006: The Marauders won the opening meeting over the Peacocks 42-13 behind a stout defense and a strong running game. Led by Justin Fleck, who ran the ball 19 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns, the Marauders piled up 232 yards on the ground while limiting UIU to seven yards rushing. Bayland Rippenkroger caught a touchdown pass and also ran for a score. Jesse Laber had 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to lead the defense. Dwayne Croker had eight catches for 98 yards to lead UIU... 2007: Erik Kruse caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Blair Sandy with 8:09 to play in a 19-14 Marauders road win. Rett Thibodeaux kicked two field goals and Jesus Gallegos also caught a scoring pass. Rippenkroger ran for 122 yards on 32 carries for UMary and TC Hicks had 105 for UIU. Shawn Melland led the Marauders defense with 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had an interception... 2008: The Marauders rallied from a 15 point deficit to defeat the Peacocks 34-31 on the road. Jamal Lomax ran for 106 yards and scored the winning touchdown with 2:35 left in the game. It was his third touchdown of the day. Jesse Kozak passed for 269 yards and two scores. Roman Penirian caught nine passes for 160 yards and a score. Chris Moody led the Marauders with nine tackles and James Patterson had 1.5 tackles for loss. Sam Epsteen led UIU with 152 yards rushing and three scores... 2009: Down ten points late in the first half, the Marauders ran off 28 straight points in a 48-31 home win over the Peacocks. Jamal Lomax sprinted 50 yards for one score and Brady Martin caught two touchdown passes as UMary rang up 570 yards of offense. Lomax ran for 199 yards and Terry Newsome caught five balls for 128 yards and a score. Henry Lau passed for 369 yards and four touchdowns. Ben Curran passed for 324 yards for UIU. Sean Ziehlke led U-Mary's defense with an interception and a forced fumble and Xavier Cleveland had 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception... 2013: The Marauders forced five Peacocks turnovers on a wet and windy day but couldn't capitalize in a 36-7 road loss. U-Mary scored first on a Craig Bagnell to Jeremy Mayfield 69 yard pass play to cap a 99 yard drive. The Peacocks then rattled off 36 straight points. UIU led 14-7 at intermission and scored 22 points in the 3rd quarter when UMary was forced to play into the driving wind. Bagnell completed 21-of-43 passes for 233 yards with one TD and two INTs. DJ Young caught four passes for 65 yards. Mayfield had three catches for 77 yards. He also had three kick returns for 118 yards, including a 90 yard return. Troy Guptill totaled 3.0 sacks, 12 tackles (9 solo), and forced a fumble. Grant Singer registered 15 tackles (9 solo), recovered a fumble and made an interception. Upper Iowa dominated the stat page. The Peacocks had advantages in first downs (31 to 15), yards rushing (256 to 67), yards passing (317 to 242) and total offense (573 to 309)... 2015: The Peacocks scored the first 31 points of the game (21 in 2nd quarter, 10 in 3rd) on the way to a 34-16 win It was Upper Iowa's first win in Bismarck. Jerrod Edmonds scored all three UIU touchdowns in the second quarter, covering 14-, 2-, and 31 yards from Dmitri Morales. The Marauders 1st score came on a 73 yd run by Coleman Olivas on a fake punt. Ben Jolliffe later caught a 3 yd scoring pass from Caleb Buck. UIU held a 515-338 lead in yards. Morales passed for 446 yards and 4 TDs. Edmonds caught 7-103-3 and Trey MacTaggart's line was 9-158-0. Buck passed for 216 yards. Nick Kottre caught 5-55-0, Jolliffe 7-52-0 and Brennan Doan 7-47-0. Shawn Fulwider had 1.5 sacks for UM. Danielle Whitaker broke up three passes... 2017: UMary lost 58-14 in a Thursday night game. Tyson Carney caught a 56 yard TD pass from Colton Farmer to give UMary a 7-3 and Devin Hope scored on a 12 yard run for the final points in the game. Hope led UM with 92 yards rushing. Bailey Meyers downed four punts inside the UIU 20. Jarad Zittleman made his 1st career interception. Brent Lammers passed for 288 yards and three scores and ran for two TDs to lead UIU, Jarred Edmonds caught eight passes for 160 yards and two TDs. 
PAST MARAUDERS-PEACOCKS MEETINGS 
(Marauders lead series 4-3)
2006    UMary 42    UIU 13        Bismarck, ND
2007    UMary 19    UIU 14        Fayette, IA
2008    UMary 34    UIU 31        Fayette, IA
2009    UMary 48    UIU 31        Bismarck, ND
2013    UIU 36        UMary 7        Fayette, IA
2015    UIU 34        UMary 16    Bismarck, ND
2017    UIU 54        UMary 14    Fayette, IA

QUICK LOOK AT THE UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY PEACOCKS
The Peacocks are one of three teams in the NSIC looking for their first win of the season. UIU just missed wins against Concordia-St. Paul, Southwest Minnesota State and Northern State with three losses by a touchdown or less. Turnovers and injury have been big issues this season. The Peacocks are -8 on turnovers. Against Northern State, Upper Iowa was down two starting defensive linemen and three linebackers. Isaac Barrett leads the UIU defense with 41 tackles from his safety position. Erik Hanson had 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Freshman LeVon Bellemy rushed for 113 yards in each of his last two games. Alexander Stevens has 22 catches for 255 yards and five touchdowns. 

LAST TIME OUT
Cracking the century mark in receiving yardage for the third straight game, University of Mary sophomore Danny Kittner provided the Marauders a big play element against one of the nation's best defensive teams. Despite a couple catches of over 40 yards for Kittner, the University of Sioux Falls started fast and kept the UMary offense contained in a 39-0 Cougars homecoming win over the Marauders... 
One of the nation's leaders in all purpose yardage, Kittner caught three passes for 101 yards on the day, including receptions of 47 and 44 yards in the second half from Avery Gould. He is the first UMary receiver to post three straight 100 yards receiving games since Elby Pope accomplished the feat in each of the final four games of 2014. Kittner finished the day with 163 all purpose yardage... Sioux Falls scored on its first possession of the game, capping a three-play 75 yard drive on a 48 yard touchdown reception by Nate Johnson. It was the first of three scoring catches in the game by Johnson... Scott Tripp paced the Marauders running game with 58 yards, including a 49 yard burst in the first half. He also caught two passes for 14 yards. Bryan Lumsden added 48 yards rushing and Isaiah Hilliard 36. Gould came off the bench for the Marauders to throw for 125 yards and run for 22. 
Noah Krebs led the Marauders defense with a sack, two tackles for loss and six total tackles. Cyrano Rayfield also had six tackles, had a stop behind the line and forced a fumble. Picking up his second sack of the season was Taylor Morrison... Bailey Meyer boomed a pair of punts over 50 yards with a long of 60 and averaged 43.4 yards/punt on seven efforts. He dropped one inside the USF 20...Johnson led USF with eight catches for 186 and three scores. Caden Walters passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 60 yards and one score. Ja'Tai Jankins ran for 80 yards and one touchdown. Giovanni Purpura had two of the Cougars five sacks.

BOOM TOWN
All-NSIC punter Bailey Meyer is having another strong season. He ranks 37th in the nation with an average of 40.4 yards/attempt. Among his 33 punts, eight balls have been pinned inside the 20 and seven have resulted in a fair catch. His season long is 60 yards. Meyer is the Marauders career punting leader with an average of 39.3 yards/kick and also holds records for singe season average (41.8 in 2018), single season attempts (77 in 2018) and career attempts (211).

TV TIME
The University of Mary football games will be televised live throughout the state and region five times this season:
Sept. 5            Marauders vs. St. Cloud State         6 p.m.         BEK Sports
Sept. 12        Marauders at Bemidji State                7 p.m.        Midco Sports
Sept. 21        Marauders vs. Minot State                    6 p.m.        The Dakota's CW
Sept. 28        Marauders at MSU Moorhead            1 p.m.        Midco Sports
Oct. 26        Marauders vs. Wayne State             2 p.m.        BEK Sports