SATURDAY
The University of Mary begins a stretch of playing three of its last four games at home when the Marauders host Wayne State College on Saturday, Oct. 26, in UMary's Never Surrender Cancer Awareness game. Kickoff is set for 2 pm at the MDU Resources Bowl in Bismarck, ND. 

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders (1-6 overall/NSIC | 0-4 NSIC North) dropped a 74-17 decision at #3 Minnesota State University... Wayne State College (2-5 overall / NSC | 1-3 NSIC South) lost to visiting Northern State University 29-26 in two overtimes. 

NEVER SURRENDER CANCER AWARENESS GAME
Saturday is the Marauders football Never Surrender Cancer Awareness game. The Marauders will wear lavender ribbons on their helmets, signifying the fight against all cancer. Fans will receive a small commemorative Red Flag prior to the game, replicating the Never Surrender red flag the Marauders carry onto the field prior to every game.

BEK TO TELEVISE MARAUDERS-WILDCATS GAME STATEWIDE
BEK Broadcasting will air the Marauders-Wildcats game statewide when the two Northern Sun foes face off on Saturday, Oct. 26. Kickoff is set for 2 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. Corey Brooks will call the game for BEK Sports. View the Marauders-Wildcats match on the BEK Broadcasting Network via local cable providers on BEK PRIME and over-the-air on KNDB/KNDM in Western North Dakota and KRDK in Eastern North Dakota. Visit www.bek.coop/bek-tv/ for local channel assignments and current broadcast schedule. The BEK Broadcasting Network is also available nationally on BEK Now via your ROKU streaming device.

SOUTH SEAS
The Marauders end a four-week stretch of facing teams from the NSIC South when UMary hosts Wayne State College on Saturday. After opening the year with four games against fellow NSIC North teams, the Marauders have faced Sioux Falls, Upper Iowa and Minnesota State the last three weeks. When the calendar turns to November the Marauders will visit Northern State before hosting Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota Crookston to wrap up the season. 

SOUTH SEAS VICTORY
The Marauders victory over Upper Iowa is the first for UMary over a team from the NSIC South Division since defeating Concordia-St. Paul in the third week of the 2014 season.

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 hosted Wayne State was 2015.  

ALL AROUND AWESOME
Danny Kittner has provided big plays all season for the Marauders in all facets of the game, perhaps none bigger than a 71 yard punt return for a touchdown in the homecoming win over Upper Iowa. Here are a few highlights and rankings for the sophomore wide receiver/kick returner:
1st in NSIC and 12th in NCAA Division II in All Purpose yards (160.9/game)
1st NSIC/5th nationally in combined punt/kick return yardage (601)
5th in NSIC in kick return average (23.1)
1st NSIC/5th national in punt returns (15.4 yards/return)
5th in NSIC/63rd nationally in receiving yards (501)
5th NSIC/67th nationally in receiving yards/game (71.7)
8th NSIC/72nd nationally in receptions/game (4.6)
1st UMary player to post 100 yards receiving and 100 on returns in two consecutive NCAA 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)
1st UMary player with consecutive 200+ all purpose yards since All-NSIC WR Elby Pope in final four games of 2014
3 straight 100 yard receiving games (5-136-1 v Minot State, 7-121-1 at MSUM, 3-101-0 at USF), longest streak since Elby Pope in 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 18 longest kick returns in the NSIC this season plus two of the nine longest punt returns. 
Effort of 259 all-purpose yards against Minot State is the top mark in the NSIC this season. The 242 yards at MSU Moorhead ranks third. 

LOGAN'S RUN
Since UMary began playing NCAA competition in 2006, the Marauders have had eight runs of at least 60 yards and Logan Nelson owns two of them. The junior QB had a 72 yard run against UIU and 62 yards against Minot State. If you include his runs of 55 and 49 yards, Nelson has four of the top 15 runs- and he's only played in five games!

LOGAN'S RUN II
Marauders quarterbacks have run for over 100 yards four times in an NCAA game and Logan Nelson has two of them. He ran for 149 yards against Minot State and 129 against Upper Iowa. The other two: Colton Farmer ran for 175 in the final game of 2018 at Minnesota Crookston and 111 yards by Blair Sandy against UMC in 2006.

RPO
Becoming proficient at running and passing, Logan Nelson became the first UMary player to crack 100 yards rushing and 200 yards passing against Upper Iowa when he carried the ball for 129 yards and a score and passed for 205 and two touchdowns. Earlier this year he ran for 149 and three scored and passed for 179 and a score. 

IMPORTED FROM ITALY
A native of Bergamo, Italy, Leonardo Vecchi joined the Marauders from Butte Community College and caught his second touchdown of the season for the Marauders against Upper Iowa. He also caught a scoring pass against Bemidji State. For the year he has 14 catches for 185 yards and two scores. 

TRIPLE THREAT
As a multi-purpose player who played a considerable amount at quarterback the previous couple seasons, Garrett Weissinger has ran for six touchdowns in his career and passed for seven. Against Upper Iowa the senior wide receiver caught his first touchdown pass, a 14 yard reception in the end zone from Logan Nelson. For the year the team captain has 16 catches for 199 yards and one TD.

LITTLE PLAYING BIG
Marauders All-NSIC wide receiver Luke Little is rounding into form as his health improves. The junior caught four passes for a season-high 84 yards and a 43 yard TD at #3 Minnesota State. He has a line of 13-200-1 on the season. 

MR. FIXIT
A transfer from Northern Michigan University, junior Scott Tripp was used at linebacker, defensive back and on special teams before finding his way to running back. Tripp, whose dad played football for the Marauders in the 1990s, ran for 58 yards and caught two passes at Sioux Falls before running for 86 yards and catching two passes for 29 yards in the homecoming win over Upper Iowa. 

YOUNGSTERS
Injuries to the offensive line have provided true freshmen Drake Lalim and Conner Paul the opportunity to play vital roles for the Marauders this season. Lalim has made six starts at left tackle while Paul has started four times at right guard. Other true freshmen who have played this season include LB/DB Darrin Cotton Jr. and DB Damon Williamson. 

EXPLOSION
It's not a matter of if but when the Marauders will strike for a big play as UMary has generated several big plays on offense this season. QB Logan Nelson has been involved in 18 plays of 20+ yards, including four runs of 49+ yards and 14 pass completions...  Danny Kittner has seven catches of at least 20 yards... Breakdown by game: SCSU (2), BSU (3), Minot State (5), MSUM (5), USF (3), UIU (8), MSU (5)... Here is a list of all 31 UMary plays over 20 yards:
72 yards - Logan Nelson run vs. UIU
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 - Logan Nelson run vs. UIU (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 St. (TD)
44 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Avery Gould at Sioux Falls
43 yards - Luke Little catch from Avery Gould at MSU (TD)
42 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Jordan Velarde at MSUM
40 yards - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Logan Nelson at BSU (TD)
39 yards - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Logan Nelson vs. SCSU
34 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Jordan Velarde at MSUM
32 yards - Bryan Lumsden run vs. Minot State
32 yards - Kade Lynch catch from Logan Nelson at Bemidji State
30 yards - Garrett Weissinger catch from Logan Nelson vs. UIU
30 yards - Garrett Weissinger catch from Logan Nelson at MSU 
29 yards - Scott Tripp catch from Logan Nelson vs. UIU
27 yards - Luke Little catch from Logan Nelson vs. UIU
25 yards - Scott Tripp run vs. UIU 
25 yards - Luke Little catch from Logan Nelson vs. UIU
25 yards - Avery Gould run at MSU
24 yards - Luke Little catch from Avery Gould at MSU
21 yards - Garrett Weissinger catch from Jordan Velarde at MSUM
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 MSUM
20 yards - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Logan Nelson vs. UIU
20 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Logan Nelson at MSU

BIG RETURNS
Marquell Evans and Danny Kittner have formed an impressive kick return duo for the Marauders this season. UMary is 4th in the NSIC and 56th nationally, averaging 22.1 yards/return. Evans averages 24.8 yards a return this season to rank 4th in the NSIC. Kittner averages 23.1 yards/return to rank 5th in the NSIC. 

ON THE SPOT
Sr. LB Paul Guptill is the 10th leading tackler in the Northern Sun. The former Marauders fullback is averages 7.3 tackles per game. For the season he has 51 tackles (22 solo) and 7.0 tackles for loss while forcing two fumbles... Several Marauders are among the NSIC leaders in tackles per game. After making nine tackles against Minnesota State, DB Richard Bendish ranks 11th (7.0), Jr. LB Dylan Anthony is 20th (6.4), Sr. DL Cyrano Rafield is 19th (6.6) and Jarad Zittleman checks in at 25th (6.0) after also making nine tackles at MSU... Taylor Morrison is 25th in the NSIC in sacks with 2.0.  

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Paul Guptill and Isaiah Hubbard are tied for 17th in the NSIC in tackles for loss with seven. 

FOURTH DOWN AND 2 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. 

31 UMary owns 31 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

15 The Marauders offense owns 15 plays of 39 or more yards

12 Danny Kittner ranks 12th in NCAA Division II and first in the NSIC in all purpose yardage (rushing, receiving and return) at 160 yards/game

5    Danny Kittner is fifth in the nation in punt return average (15.4 yards/return)

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... Dan McLaughlin is in his 15th year as Wayne State College head coach, the longest-tenured football coach in Wildcats history. McLaughlin is the all-time wins leader at WSC and has a career record of 77-86 overall and 73-75 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. He is the second-longest tenured coach in the NSIC, trailing only Winona State's Tom Sawyer (24 years).

THE MARAUDERS-WILDCATS SERIES HISTORY 
2007: The first meeting between the two schools was for a berth in the Mineral Water Bowl. Both teams were tied for second in the NSIC - and finished the season tied for second - but WSC earned the postseason berth with the 35-30 win in the 19th Egg Bowl. Trailing 21-3, the Marauders pulled within 28-23 before Nick Baldetti returned an interception 75 yards to seal the Wildcats win. Blair Sandy threw for 242 yards and three scores and Jesse Laber had two sacks to lead UM. Logan Masters caught four passes for 130 yards for WSC... 2008 Henry Lau threw for 302 yards and two scores and Erik Kruse caught 12 balls for 119 yards in a 31-16 UM loss. Silas Fluellen passed for 267 yards and led WSC to a 24-3 lead... 2009 Fluellen completed 15-of-20 passes for 220 yards and four scores as WSC rolled past UM 47-21. Jamal Lomax ran for 114 yards and scored two TDs to lead the Marauders... 2010 The Marauders overcame a 13-point deficit on a Craig Bagnell 4 yard run with 1:36 left in the game. Frank Bruno spoiled the Marauders hopes with a 34 yard TD catch with 45 seconds left to play in a 33-28 WIldcats win. Bagnell passed for 260 yards and Tyler Steffan made six catches for 114 yards. WSC's Evan Johnson won NSIC Player of the week honors, throwing for 387 yards running for 35. LB Buddy Wallace had 2.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss for UM... 2011 Josh Edwards passed for 283 yards and two scores for UMary and Josh Murray ran for 138 yards and scored on a 45 yard pass play and a one yard run in a 31-24 loss to WSC. Wildcats WR Mitch Montgomery caught four balls for 113 yards and two TDs... 2013 Nick Jolliffe caught three touchdowns and Elby Pope scored the winning touchdown on a punt return as the Marauders defeated Wayne State 34-27. Jolliffe's 3rd TD tied the game before Pope's 35 yard punt return TD gave UMary the win. Jolliffe caught 8 passes for 92 yards and 3 TDs. Bagnell completed 33-of-53 passes for 304 yardsand 3 TDs. Pope returned three punts for 60 yards and caught six passes for 82 yards. Charlie Davidson ran for 142 yards and a score to lead the WSC offense. Defensively Troy Guptill posted three tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and recovered one... 2015 Adam Woroniecki ran for 108 yards in a 24-10 loss to WSC. Ryan Ludlow ran for 165 yards to lead WSC... 2017 DeShawn Gay ran for 144 yards - including a 57 yard TD run - and the Marauders piled up 356 yards on the ground in a 48-10 loss at Wayne State. WSC scored on the opening kickoff and had five TDs longer than 30 yards.  
      
PAST MARAUDERS-WILDCATS MEETINGS 
(Wildcats lead series 7-1)
2007     Wayne State 35          UMary 30    Wayne, NE
2008     Wayne State 31          UMary 16    Bismarck, ND
2009     Wayne State 47         UMary 21    Wayne, NE
2010     Wayne State 33        UMary 28    Bismarck, ND
2011     Wayne State 31         UMary 24    Wayne, NE
2013     UMary 34         Wayne State 27     Wayne, NE
2015     Wayne State 24         UMary 10    Bismarck, ND
2017    Wayne State 48        UMary 10    Wayne, NE
    
QUICK LOOK AT THE WAYNE STATE COLLEGE WILDCATS
A tough 29-26 overtime loss to Northern State last week dropped Wayne State to 2-5 overall, including 0-3 on the road. WSC is 12th in the league in scoring (19.4) and eighth in scoring defense (23.0). Wayne State is fifth in the NSIC in sacks and 15th in turnover margin (-9). R-Fr. RB Devin Merkuris leads WSC in rushing with 288 yards and one TD. R-FR. QB Tavian Willis follows with 211 yards rushing with one TD. He is 21-of-39 passing for 313 yards and two scored. R-Fr. QB Andy McCance returned last week after missing three games with a broken left hand and is 75-of-146 for 949 yards, six TDs and nine interceptions this year. Mason Lee is the leading receiver with 28 catches for 355 yards and three TDs. Soph. LB Nicholas Joynt had 20 tackles against the Wolves last week and ranks 3rd in the NSIC with 9.5 tackles per game. Sr. DE Jacob Protzman has 13.5 tackles for loss. 

LAST TIME OUT
Fresh off a homecoming victory, the University of Mary found itself on the road facing the nation's best scoring defense and one of the best overall teams in the country. Despite trading a touchdown apiece early and becoming only the second team this season to score multiple touchdowns in a game against 3rd ranked Minnesota State University, the Marauders couldn't contain the dangerous Mavericks... UMary posted 75 yard scoring drives in each half the 74-17 loss as MSU set a school scoring record. After MSU returned an interception for a TD on the second play of the game, Logan Nelson drove the Marauders 75 yards for a score. Garrett Weissinger caught a 30 yard pass and Danny Kittner a 20 yarder to set Bryan Lumsden up for a 3 yard scoring run. The Mavericks scored on their next possession seven possessions to take control of the game... UMary returned to the end zone on its first possession of the second half when Avery Gould connected with Luke Little on a 43 yard scoring pass. Brody Riggs added a 26 yard field goal in the fourth quarter after Cyrano Rayfield recovered a fumbled punt by MSU... Gould passed for a career-high 135 yards in the game with Nelson adding 51 before he was injured on the Marauders third possession. Little caught four passes for 84 yards and a score. Kittner caught a team-high six passes for 53 yards. Bailey Meyer averaged 42.1 yards on ten punts, including a pair of 50 yard boots. Jarad Zittleman and Richard Bendish tied for the team lead in tackles with nine. Nate Gunn led Minnesota State with 118 yards on seven carries, including a 58 yard scoring run.