SATURDAY
Back home to play their final two games of the 2019 season in front of the home crowd, the University of Mary hosts the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Mentor Day this Saturday, Nov. 9. Tailgating for Marauders fans begins at 11 am with kickoff set for 2 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, ND. 

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders (1-8 overall/NSIC | 0-5 NSIC North) fell 49-21 at Northern State University in the final road game of the season for the Marauders... After two straight losses, the Bulldogs (6-3 overall / NSIC | 5-0 NSIC North) rebounded with a 63-0 home win over Minnesota Crookston. 

MENTOR DAY
Marauders football recognizes their team mentors this weekend. The Marauders have over 20 people in a variety of occupations who serve as mentors for current UMary football players who share similar interests and career paths. The mentors provide a network of professionals for current student-athletes to use for guidance and support as they graduate and enter the work force. All but two of the mentors are former Marauders football players. We thank all our mentors for sharing your time with our student-athletes! 

Here are the Marauders team mentors: Nick    Jolliffe (Exercise Science / Kineseology / Strength Training    | Sanford Power), Brennan    Quintus    (Insurance Industry    | North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund), Chris Clements (Head HS Football Coach / Athletic Administrator | Legacy High School), Joey Olsen (Police Officer | Burleigh County), Adam    Woroniecki (Attending Dental School at University of Iowa), Erick Capetillo (Head Football HS Coach / HS Teacher    | Las Vegas High School), Danielle    Whitaker (IT and CIS throughout North and South Dakota), Garner    Jones (Police Officer    | Burleigh County), Lee    Weisbeck (VP at Starion Financial | Starion Financial), Joel    Stugelmeyer (Banker | Starion Financial), John Oyloe (Loan Officer | BNC Bank), Nik Polski (Oil Industry | Missouri Valley Petroleum), Mike    Wagner (studied Exercise Science    | Physical and Occupational Therapy | Boise, ID), Ross Lytle (Director of Communications and Marketing    | KX News), Greg    Harwood    (State Farm Insurance Agent | Harwood Insurance in Paul, ID), Ethan    Bakken (Strength and Conditioning Coach | Valley City State University), Jess Helvik (Company Sponsored Retirement Plans | Bremer Bank), Erick    Soderlund (Attorney | Modesto, CA), Keith Rangel (Teacher Education and Administration | Principal/Administrator in Modesto, CA), Brock    Schoch (Banker | Choice Financial), Beau    Blume    (Engineering | San Francisco, CA), Tyson    Roe    (Education/Football Coach | Kalispell, MT), Jordy    Christian    (Sales Manager / Business Finance and Insurance    Federated Insurance | Fargo, ND). 

HOME COOKING
The Marauders wrapped up their 2019 home schedule last weekend at Northern State University and now play their last two games of the season at home in the MDU Resources Community Bowl. UMary hosts Minnesota Duluth this Saturday, followed by the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles on Nov. 16. 

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 14th in NCAA Division II in All Purpose yards (157.3/game)
1st NSIC/6th nationally in combined punt/kick return yardage (760)
6th in NSIC in kick return average (23.0)
3rd NSIC in punt returns (13.9 yards/return)
5th in NSIC/73rd nationally in receiving yards (549)
6th NSIC/80th nationally in receiving yards/game (68.0)
9th NSIC/94th nationally in receptions/game (4.3)
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. 

GALLOPING GUPTILL
Senior LB Paul Guptill returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown against Northern State. It was the Marauders first defensive touchdown this season and the second of Guptill's career. Last season he returned a fumble 49 yards for a score against Augustana. Additionally Guptill scored twice as a sophomore when he was playing running back, catching a 56 yard touchdown pass and running 54 yards in the same game against Minnesota Duluth. 

GOULD STANDARD
In his second career start for UMary,  sophomore QB Avery Gould passed for 246 yards and two touchdowns against Northern State. 

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 six games... 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 at Minnesota Crookston in 2018 and Blair Sandy posted 111 against UMC in 2006... 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 21 catches for 320 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 19 catches for 221 yards and one TD.

LITTLE PLAYING BIG
Marauders All-NSIC wide receiver Luke Little is rounding into form as his health improves. The junior has now caught a touchdown in three straight games. He posted a line of 4-84-1 with a 43 yard scoring strike at #3 Minnesota State, 3-24-1 in a win over Upper Iowa and 4-77-1 last week at Northern State. His season line is 20-301-3. 

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 seven starts at left tackle while Paul has started five 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 23 plays of 20+ yards, including four runs of 49+ yards and 18 pass completions...  Danny Kittner has 11 catches of at least 20 yards... Breakdown by game: SCSU (2), BSU (3), Minot State (5), MSUM (5), USF (3), UIU (8), MSU (5), WSC (6), and NSU (4)... Here is a list of all 41 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 - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Avery Gould at NSU
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)
43 yards - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Logan Nelson vs. WSC 
42 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Jordan Velarde at MSUM
40 yards - Leonardo Vecchi catch from Logan Nelson at BSU (TD)
39 yards - Luke Little catch from Avery Gould at NSU 
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
28 yards - Brandon McFarlane catch from Logan Nelson vs. WSC
27 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Logan Nelson vs. WSC 
27 yards - Logan Nelson run vs. WSC (TD) 
27 yards - Luke Little catch from Logan Nelson vs. UIU
26 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Avery Gould at NSU
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 - Scott Tripp run vs. WSC
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
20 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Logan Nelson vs. WSC
20 yards - Danny Kittner catch from Avery Gould at NSU

ON THE SPOT
Jr. safety Richard Bendish has taken over the Marauders team lead in tackles following several big games. With 71 tackles, he is 5th in the NSIC with 7.9 tackles/game... Sr. LB Paul Guptill is the 7th leading tackler in the Northern Sun. The former Marauders fullback is averages 7.4 tackles per game. For the season he has 67 tackles (27 solo) and 7.5 tackles for loss while forcing two fumbles... Several Marauders are also among the NSIC leaders in tackles per game. Jr. LB Dylan Anthony is 16th (6.4), Sr. DL Cyrano Rayfield is 21st (6.2), Jarad Zittleman is 24th (6.0) and Will Blewett (5.4) is 31st.   

BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Paul Guptill and Isaiah Hubbard are tied for 22nd in the NSIC in tackles for loss with 7.5 each. 

RANGING NEAR AND FAR 
Jr. DB Richard Bendish posted both an interception and a sack against Wayne State College. He also had nine tackles in the game. The sack was his career first and the interception was his second. He followed up that performance with a career-high 13 tackles at NSU.  

FOURTH DOWN AND 2 NUMBERS TO KNOW
157 Danny Kittner ranks 14th in NCAA Division II and first in the NSIC in all purpose yardage (rushing, receiving and return) at 157 yards/game 

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. 

41 UMary owns 41 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

17 The Marauders offense owns 17 plays of 39 or more yards

2 Paul Guptill owns two defensive touchdowns in his career

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... University of Minnesota Duluth head coach CURT WEISE is in his seventh season guiding the Bulldogs and has produced a 69-15 overall record, four NCAA II playoff appearances, two overall NSIC titles, six straight NSIC North Division crowns and a win in the 2015 Mineral Water Bowl. Weise joined UMD after two years as the head coach at Marietta College (2006-07) and was the Bulldogs offensive coordinator for five years (2008-12). 

THE MARAUDERS-BULLDOGS SERIES HISTORY 
(Bulldogs lead series 12-0)
In a series that began in 2006, the Bulldogs have won all 12 meetings. The first meeting was Sept. 9, 2006 and ended with a 42-14 UMD win. The Marauders had more 1st downs (20-18), more total yards (375-372) and more passing yards (314 to 246) but the Bulldogs jumped out to a 21-0 lead... In 2008, Minnesota Duluth claimed a 44-7 win at home. RB Isaac Odim scored three TDs and DJ Winfield caught ten balls for 172 yards and a score. Jamal Lomax scored the lone Mary touchdown and ran for 63 yards... In 2009, UMD won 35-7 win as Odim ran for four touchdowns and 187 yards on 14 carries. Jamal Lomax led UM with 109 yards rushing on 29 carries... In the 2010 meeting in Duluth, MN, #2 UMD won 49-0 and ran for 327 yards despite losing Odim to injury earlier in the week. Jamal Lomax led UMary with 65 ards rushing and Craig Bagell passed for 152 yards. For UMD, Brad Foss ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns... 2011 Tyler Steffan caught a school-record four touchdown passes and Josh Edwards threw for 318 yards in a 41-28 lost to #9 UMD. UMD ran for 410, including a 75-yard TD run by Austin Sikorski on the second play of the game. He finished the day with 185 yards and three scores on 19 carries. The Marauders matched the Sikorski score on their first offensive play when Edwards hit Steffan on a 64-yard  touchdown pass just 1:07 into the game. UMD then scored the next 27 points. Edwards was 28-of-40 passes for 318 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions... 2012 #9 UMD ran for 270 yards and passed for 294 in a 53-14 home win over Mary. Evan Gross ran for 67 yards to lead UM. Grant Singer had a game-high 14 tackles, Chase Vogler was 19-of-24 for 260 yards and 3 TDs for UMD... 2013 #5 Minnesota Duluth scored a pair of 3rd quarter touchdowns in a 32-14 win over the Marauders. UMary pulled with 17-14 at half after Zach Roberson hit Elby Pope for a 37 yard TD. Roberson threw for 189 yards and Pope caught six passes for 89 yards and a TD. Grant Singer posted 13 tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss, and an interception for Mary. Sikorski led UMD with 113 yards rushing... 2014 Zach Roberson passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns and Elby Pope caught 10 passes for 183 yards and two scores in a 53-35 loss at #2 UMD. Austin Bolton made 14 stops (6 solo) and Troy Guptill had 2.0 tackles for loss. Logan Lauters ran for 147 yards and two scores to lead UMD and Beau Bofferding ran for 4 TDs...  2015 UMD scored 28 points in the second quarter on the way to a 45-0 win at Mary. Drew Bauer passed 280 yards and four TDs on nine completions and ran for a score. Andrew Brees closed the scoring with a 57 yard field goal. Patrick Ryan had 11 tackles for UM and Landon Smith had three tackles behind the line... 2016 Brothers Zack Graves and Connor Graves scored the Marauders two touchdowns in a 75-14 loss at UMD. Bofferding scored the first two touchdowns of the game, including a 79 yard score. Zack Graves caught a 4 yard touchdown pass and Connor Graves returned a kick 87 yards just before halftime. Drew Bauer threw for three TDs and 173 yards and Bofferding ran nine times for 109 yards and two scores... 2017 Paul Guptill caught a 56 yard touchdown and ran for a 54 yard score in a 62-27 loss to the Bulldogs. UMary lost six fumbles and threw an interception. UMD returned two of the fumbles and the interception for touchdowns. Sam Mackedanz caught a 1 yard TD pass and Pat O'Connell returned a fumble 29 yards for at TD for UMary... 2018 After a scoreless 1st quarter the 5th ranked Bulldogs posted 27 points in the second on the way to a 55-0 win at home over the Marauders. Luke Little led the UM offense with two catches for 47 yards. Ryan Nielsen posted 10 tackles and Noah Krebs had a sack. Seven Bulldogs scored a touchdown and UMD had a 625-59 edge in offense.    
 
PAST MARAUDERS-BULLDOGS MEETINGS (UMD lead 12-0) 
2018        #5 Minnesota Duluth 55         Mary 0                Duluth, MN 
2017        Minnesota Duluth 62                Mary 27            Bismarck, ND
2016        #18 Minnesota Duluth 75     Mary 14            Duluth, MN
2015        #21 Minnesota Duluth 45        Mary 0                Bismarck, ND
2014        #2 Minnesota Duluth 53        Mary 35            Duluth, MN
2013        #5 Minnesota Duluth 32        Mary 14            Bismarck, ND
2012        #9 Minnesota Duluth 53        Mary 14            Duluth, MN
2011        #9 Minnesota Duluth 41         Mary 28            Bismarck, ND
2010        #2 Minnesota Duluth 49         Mary 0                Duluth, MN
2009        Minnesota Duluth 35             Mary 7                Bismarck, ND
2008        Minnesota Duluth 44             Mary 7                Duluth, MN
2006        Minnesota Duluth 42             Mary 14            Duluth, MN

QUICK LOOK AT THE MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs find themselves in a little different situation than most years with three regular season losses already in the books. This is just the second time in head coach Curt Wiese's seven year tenure that UMD has suffered that many losses. However, the Bulldogs are still the frontrunner to win another NSIC North division crown. UMD ranks among the nation's best in several defensive categories, including 6th in passing yards allowed (148), 9th in total defense  ranks in the top ten in several key categories: sixth in passing yards allowed (148.0 per game), 9th in total defense (263.9) and  30th in scoring defense (18.2 ppg). Nate Pearson leads the Bulldogs in tackles for loss (12) and Cole Refsnider (8.5) is close behind. Offensively UMD is 3rd in the NSIC in scoring (29.9) and 3rd in rushing (183.7). Wade Sullivan leads the team with 537 yards rushing and has scored 6 TDs on the ground. Cazz Martin has 477 yards rushing with 7 TDs and averages 8.8 yards/carry. Starting QB John Larson has been limited to five games and has thrown 9 TD passes. WR Quincy Moore has a line of 32-464-4.