THURSDAY
The University of Mary football team opens the 2019 season at home when the Marauders host St. Cloud State University in a match-up of Northern Sun North Division foes on Thursday, Sept. 5. Kickoff between the Marauders and the Huskies is set for 6 pm at the MDU Resources Bowl.

WHITEOUT / TAILGATING INFORMATION FOR SEASON OPENER
It may be early September but we're calling a WHITEOUT for the Marauders home football opener on Thursday against the Huskies of St. Cloud State. All UMary fans are encouraged to wear their white. The first 100 fans all receive a FREE white Marauders t-shirt.

Dakota Community Bank & Trust is the game sponsor and is providing complimentary tickets at their locations  throughout the area.

Tailgating begins at 3 pm with the UMary football team arriving at Marauders Alley around 3:40 pm.

Purchase tickets online at www.UMaryTickets.com 

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
This is the season opener for both the Marauders and the Huskies. 

LAST YEAR
UMary finished last season 1-10 overall and in the NSIC and 1-7 in the NSIC North... SCSU was 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC North.

BEK SPORTS TO AIR MARAUDERS OPENER VS. ST. CLOUD STATE
The 2019 UMary season opener with St. Cloud State will be broadcast statewide throughout North Dakota by the BEK Broadcasting Network. Game time between the Marauders and the Huskies is set for 6 pm on Thursday, Sept. 5, from the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, ND. Corey Brooks will call the game for BEK Sports. View the Northern Sun tilt 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.bektel.com/bbn for local channel assignments and current broadcast schedule. The BEK Broadcasting Network is also available nationally on BEK Now via your ROKU streaming device. Go to www.beknow.tv for more information. BEK will also broadcast the Marauders game against Wayne State College on Oct. 26.

THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS OPENER RECENT HISTORY
After going five seasons without opening up the season on a Thursday, the Marauders kick off the season on a Thursday for the third straight season and second straight against St. Cloud State. Last season the Marauders dropped a heartbreaking 14-13 road decision when the Huskies scored in he final minute of play. In 2017 UMary opened its schedule at Minnesota State. Prior to the Mavericks game, the Marauders last Thursday home opener occurred in 2011. Current UMary head coach Craig Bagnell - then the Marauders starting quarterback - ran for a touchdown and connected with Tyler Steffan for two scoring passes in a 31-24 win at Chadron State. Josh Murray scored the winning touchdown with 2:46 left in the game.

THURSDAY THURSDAY
The Marauders open the 2019 season with consecutive Thursday night games. After hosting St. Cloud State on Sept. 5, the Marauders visit Bemidji State University on Thursday, Sept. 12, in the Midco NSIC Game of the Week... UMary played just on Thursday night game in 2018 after playing three time in 2017. 

UNDER THE LIGHTS
The Marauders play their first three games of the season under the lights. After opening the 2019 season against St. Cloud State on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 6 pm. UMary visits Bemidji State University on Thursday, Sept. 12, with game time set for 7 pm. On Saturday, Sept. 21, UMary hosts Minot State University in the Battle for the Big Lake trophy game at 6 pm.  

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 Network
Sept. 21        Marauders vs. Minot State                6 p.m.        KXMB-TV
Sept. 28        Marauders at MSU Moorhead        1 p.m.        Midco Sports Network
Oct. 26            Marauders vs. Wayne State             2 p.m.        BEK Sports

ROGER THOMAS JOINING MARAUDERS FOOTBALL BROADCASTS ON KFYR 550 AM 
Bringing his impressive wealth of football knowledge and gregarious personality to the radio booth, former University of Mary athletic director Roger Thomas will team with Voice of the Marauders Jesse Rostvedt on KFYR 550 AM as color commentator for UMary games. Tied for the most coaching wins at the University of North Dakota with current UMary athletic director Dale Lennon, Thomas also coached professionally in the Canadian Football League and in NCAA Division I. A member of the UND Hall of Fame, Thomas received the D2 Athletic Directors Association Lifetime Achievement Award this past year. 

FIVE +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. 

23 The Marauders forced 23 takeaways in 2018 (11 fumbles, 12 interceptions), an increase of 12 from 2017. It is UMary's best takeaway total since creating 26 in 2013. It was the third highest total of turnovers forced in the NSIC last year. 

15 The Marauders return 15 starters from 2018, including four-year starters Hunter Hanson and Tyson Lytle on the offensive line and Noah Krebs at linebacker. 

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

12 UMary intercepted 12 passes in 2018, quadrupling their total of three in 2017.  

6 The Marauders played several true freshmen last year and several look to make an impact this season as six are in the UMary two-deep depth chart for week 1: WR Danny Kittner and Kade Lynch, OL Tyree Shepherd and Dallas Pena, RB Bryan Lumsden and LB Devin Beck

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... In his 12th season leading the St. Cloud State University football program, Scott Underwood posted a winning record in each of his first eight years and owns a career mark of 82-44 overall and 77-39 in Northern Sun games. He was named the 2011 NSIC Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to a share of the conference title and getting SCSU to a second straight NCAA playoff berth. Underwood has taken SCSU to the NCAA playoffs three times and is second all-time in wins at SCSU. The 1988 graduate of Augustana College was the SCSU defensive coordinator prior to earning the head job.

YEAR IN YEAR OUT
This is the 14th straight season the Marauders have played the Huskies. St. Cloud State is one of five teams Mary has faced every season since beginning NCAA play in 2006. The first two meetings (2006, 2007) were non-conference games. SCSU rejoined the Northern Sun in 2008. Bemidji State, Minnesota Crookston, Northern State and MSU Moorhead are the other four teams. 

THE MARAUDERS-HUSKIES SERIES HISTORY 
(SCSU leads the series 13-0)
An annual contest for the Marauders since beginning NCAA Division II play in 2006, Mary has faced SCSU 13 times with the Huskies winning all... 2006 Marauders scoring runs of 81 yards by Justin Fleck and 7 yards by Blair Sandy gave UMary a 14-13 lead in the third quarter before SCSU posted 21 points in the 4th for a 37-14 SCSU win. Matt Wall caught six passes for 100 yards and Fleck ran for 99... 2007 Brian Christan booted the game-winning field goal with 55 seconds left in the game from 36 yards in a SCSU 16-13 win. Sandy threw for 230 yards and Roman Penirian had five catches for 127 yards to lead Mary....  2008 Darius Dotch returned an interception 30 yards for the winning touchdown with three minutes left in the game in a 14-7 SCSU win. Mary tied the game in the 3rd on a Jesse kozak to Erik Kruse 15 yard TD pass. Jamal Lomax led UMary with 77 yards rushing. Brandon Geiss gained 124 of SCSU's 193 yards in the game... 2009 Joey Bollinger threw for 267 yards in his first collegiate start and Lomax scored two touchdowns but SCSU ran for 371 yards in a 35-17 Huskies win. Stripling led SCSU with 154 yards and two TDs, one of three Huskies to run for over 100 yards... 2010 John Oyloe returned an interception for a TD and Mo Burrough blocked a punt that was returned for a score by Marcus Parence for the only Marauders points in a 30-14 loss at SCSU. The Huskies ran for 291 of their 403 yards... 2011 Mary intercepted four passes, took a 14-7 lead and held #18 SCSU to 99 yards passing but the Huskies ran for 354 and scored the last 14 points in a 45-24 road win. Dante Steward led SCSU with 134 yards rushing. Craig Bagnell threw for 235 yards and a TD to Bryan Sandy. Mo Burrough and Andrew Richter each had two interceptions with Burrough returning one for a score... 2012 SCSU turned four Mary interceptions into 28 second quarter points in a 55-13 home win. Elby Pope led UM with 7 catches for 81 yards and a TD. Dariouse Gravely ran for 68 yards and a 24 yard TD. SCSU rushed for 307 yards, led by Michael Walker with 166, including an 80 yard TD run. Phillip Klaphake was 12-of-14 for 187 yards and four TDs... 2013 Mary lost two fumbles  in a 20-13 SCSU win, the first leading to an SCSU score and the second on the SCSU 5 yard line. Tyler Ryan hit two field goals and Bagnell threw a TD to Jeremy Mayfield. Troy Guptill had 3 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. Grant Singer added 3 tackles for loss. Bagnell passed for 269 yards and a score... 2014 Zach Roberson completed 40-of-64 passes for 505 yards (all school records) and five TDs and Elby Pope caught 11 passes for 199 yards and two TDs to become Mary's all-time leading receiver in a 55-44 Marauders loss at SCSU. Guptill had two tackles for loss, including a sack. Nate Meyer was 18-of-22 passing for 232 yards and 2 TDs for SCSU and Jaden Huff ran for 128 yards and 3 TDs... 2015 Caleb Buck was 38-of-55 passing for 260 yards, including TD pass to Connor Graves in a 42-7 home loss. SCSU seasled the qame with 28 4th quarter points. Meyer passed for 234 yards and two TDs and ran for 71 yards and two TDs to lead SCSU... 2016 Sam Mackedanz caught three passes for 47 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown from Colton Farmer, in a 41-7 road loss at St. Cloud State. SCSU scored four TDs in the second quarter. Meyer passed for 243 yards and three TDs and also ran for two scores for SCSU... 2017 Visiting SCSU scored 24 points in the second half - including 17 in the fourth quarter - in a 33-7 Huskies win. DeShawn Gay caught a 61 yard scoring pass from Nick McCann to close within 9-7 at half. Noah Krebs had 15 tackles and Jarad Zittleman added 13 stops and three PBUs. SCSU had a 327-244 edge in offense, despite UMary holding the Husky passing attack to a 7-of-19 effort for 73 yards... 2018 UMary never trailed until homestanding SCSU scored with 67 seconds left in a 14-13 Huskies win. Jordan Velarde ran for a 20-yard TD in the 2nd quarter and hit Tyson Carney on a 51-yard scoring pass late in the 3rd quarter. Dwayne Lawhorn found John Solberg in the end zone from 15 yards out with 1:07 left in the game. Velarde was 18-for-32 for 191 yards and a TD. Noah Krebs had seven tackles and broke up two passes. Jamison Lytle made 2.5 TFL. Lawhorn passed for 255 yards and two scores.   

PAST MARAUDERS-HUSKIES MEETINGS (Huskies leads 13-0)
2006        SCSU 37                 Mary 14                St. Cloud, MN
2007        SCSU 16                 Mary 13                Bismarck, ND
2008        SCSU 14                 Mary   7                Bismarck, ND
2009        SCSU 35                 Mary 17                St. Cloud, MN
2010        SCSU 30                 Mary 14                 St. Cloud, MN
2011        SCSU 45                 Mary 24                Bismarck, ND
2012        SCSU 55                 Mary 13                St. Cloud, MN
2013        #25 SCSU 20        Mary 13                Bismarck, ND
2014        SCSU 55                Mary 44                St. Cloud, MN
2015        SCSU 42                Mary   7                Bismarck, ND
2016        SCSU 41                Mary   7                St. Cloud, MN
2017        SCSU 33                Mary   7                Bismarck, ND
2018        SCSU 14                Mary 13                St. Cloud, MN    

QUICK LOOK AT THE ST. CLOUD STATE HUSKIES
Coming off a 7-4 season and a 4-3 record in the NSIC North, the Huskies were picked to finish eighth out of 16 teams in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll. St. Cloud State only graduated three out
of the 12 players that received NSIC honors last season. The offensive line brings back four of last year's starters, led by All-NSIC junior Robert Kraklow. Sr. QB Dwayne Lawhorn earned All-NSIC Honorable Mention honors after throwing for over 1,800 yards and 16 TDs. All-NSIC WR John Solberg caught passes for over 800 yards. TE Anthony Carver also received All-NSIC honors. Defensively SCSU allowed 23 points and 307 yards/game in 2018 and returns eight starters, including All-NSIC defensive linemen Ferris Ingraham and Skyler Kurt. PK Adam Stage also earned All-Conference honors.  

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders claimed a 34-14 win at Minnesota Crookston in the season finale. Luke Little caught a pair of scoring passes from Jason Hoekstra and Colton Farmer found the end zone twice. Leading 28-7 after three quarters, Casey Uhler sealed the win with a 20 yard interception return for a touchdown. Farmer ran for 175 yards and two TDs and Bryan Lumsden added 103 yards on the ground. Cyrano Rayfield had a monster game on the defensive line, making 5.0 tackles for loss with two sacks. Daniel Hudrlik added two sacks and Ryan Naki picked off one pass and broke up two others... SCSU dropped a 13-10 road decision to MSU Moorhead to close out the Huskies 2018 season. The Huskies scored the opening 10 points before MSUM posted the final 13, including the winning field goal with 59 seconds left in the game.  

CAPTAINS
The University of Mary football team has named four captains for the 2019 season, including three from the Bismarck-Mandan area. Wide receivers Luke Little and Garrett Weissinger, linebacker Noah Krebs and defensive back Jarad Zittleman were selected for the honor of representing their Marauders teammates.
 
"These four men are great examples of what we want in our program," said Marauders Head Football Coach Craig Bagnell. "All four are guys I trust, are hard workers committed to what we are trying to accomplish within the Marauders football program, and are members of our leadership council. They were dedicated to the program throughout the summer, took charge and really pushed the other 60 guys who stayed. Luke, Garrett, Noah and Jarad have been tremendous for the program and have taken on leadership responsibilities. They understand that just because they were named a captain, it doesn't change their role; it's just that their teammates will look to them for answers in certain situations and we know they can handle the added responsibility."

BLEWETT, LITTLE NAMED ALL-NSIC
Grady Blewett and Luke Little both earned 2018 All-NSIC honorable mention honors. Blewett anchored a Marauders defense that was among the best in the conference at forcing turnovers, ranking third in the NSIC with 23. The Bozeman, MT, native led the Marauders in tackles with 70 to finish 28th in the conference. He had 31 solo stops, made 6.5 tackles for loss and had 2.5 sacks... Little was the Marauders big play weapon on offense and led the Marauders receiving corps with 40 catches for 657 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 16.4 yards per reception. 

LINE MATES
Offensive linemen Hunter Hanson and Tyson Lytle enter their fourth season as starters. Adding to a veteran front line, fellow senior Rory Olson is starting at center for the second straight year after starting a combined nine games as a freshman and sophomore.  

PRECISION
Sr. Bailey Meyer has handled the Marauders punting the for the last three years, earning All-NSIC honors in 2017. He holds the Marauders record for career average (39.1 yards/punt), singe season average (41.8 in 2018), single season attempts (77 in 2018) and career attempts (202).  

NSIC FAMILIARITY
Of the ten coaches on Craig Bagnell's staff, eight have either coached at or graduated from a Northern Sun school. Bagnell, Jordan Noskowiak, Matthew Splon, Rufus Saylee and student assistant coach Jackson Grad all have played and coached in the NSIC. Mark Martin and Tristian Johnson all coached in the NSIC at other schools before joining UMary. Ben Davis is back at UMary for his sixth season after spending last year at Benedictine University.   

BROTHERS
The Marauders have three brother combinations on their 2019 roster. Sr. Noah Krebs and R-Fr. Jonah Krebs are both linebackers from St. Mary's in Bismarck, ND. Soph. OL Dylan Thomsen and R-Fr. TE Dylan Thomas are natives both from Thompson, ND. Sr. LB Grady Blewett and Jr. Will Blewett are from Bozeman, MT. 

BROTHERS PART 2
The Marauders also have several players who have had older brothers on the squad, including Cru Darrah (older brother Curtis), Paul Guptill (Troy), Ryan Woroniecki (Adam), and Jarad Zittleman (Brady), 

USS ANCHORAGE
Jr. Daquavian Ross is a veteran of the United States Navy and served on the USS Anchorage, one of the country's newest vessels. Former Marauders player Jordan Beaty served on the USS Anchorage with Ross. 

UPCOMING FOOTBALL GAMEDAY THEMES
This season Marauders football has several themes surrounding the games. Here are a few to note:

Sept. 5 vs. St. Cloud State
The season opener is designated a WHITEOUT! All Marauders fans are encouraged to wear WHITE and the first 100 fans receive a Marauders t-shirt. 

Sept. 21 vs. Minot State University
The Marauders TACKLE HUNGER when UMary hosts Minot State in the Battle for the Big Lake. All fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the United Way. 

Oct. 12 vs. Upper Iowa
Homecoming! Need we say more? The 1995 Marauders football team that reached the national semifinals will be inducted that weekend, along with Marc Hawley (men's basketball), Bridgit Tollefsrud Fischer (softball), Aaron Hartnell (wrestling) and Flavia Siqueira (volleyball)

Oct. 26 vs. Wayne State College is the Marauders Never Surrender Cancer Awareness game.

Nov. 9 vs. Minnesota Duluth is Mentor Day as the Marauders celebrate the people who are donating their time to mentor UMary football players. 

Nov. 16 against Minnesota Crookston is Senior Day as the Marauders celebrate and congratulate their graduating seniors.