THIS WEEK
It's the Battle for the Paddle when the University of Mary visits MSU Moorhead on Saturday, Oct. 23, in an NSIC North Division meeting. Kickoff is set for 12 noon from Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, MN. 

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders are 2-5 overall/Northern Sun and 1-1 in the NSIC North after a 34-14 loss at the University of Sioux Falls... The Dragons are 3-4/1-2 following a 22-19 loss on the road at Bemidji State. MSUM led 19-0 before the Beavers scored in the final minute of play.   

FOLLOW LIVE 

• Voice of the Marauders Jesse Rostvedt and former UMary athletic director and Hall of Fame football coach Roger Thomas team up to broadcast Marauders games on KFYR 550 AM. The game is also streamed online at www.kfyr.com.
• Free video streaming of Marauders home and Northern Sun games is available  https://nsicnetwork.com/goumary and at www.GoUMary.com/coverage  
• Live stats for Saturday's games are available online at www.GoUMary.com/coverage 

MARAUDERS-DRAGONS SERIES HISTORY
This is the 15th meeting between the Marauders and the Dragons... UMary leads the series 8-6... The Marauders won the first seven meetings with the Dragons winning the last five... The two schools first met in 2006, which was the start of the Paddle Trophy... 11 times in 14 games the winning team has scored 30 or more points... four times the losing team has cracked 30 points and twice scored 40... UMary is 5-2 at home and 3-4 at MSUM.

PADDLE TROPHY
The first-ever gridiron match-up between the University of Mary and Minnesota State University Moorhead took on a little extra edge in 2006 as both schools battled for The Paddle Trophy in this "River Rivalry" game. UMary is located on the Missouri River and MSU Moorhead is on the Red River. Both are Northern Sun North Division rivals... The Paddle Trophy was developed by the student governments of the two colleges. The team that wins each year is responsible for the safekeeping and delivery of the Paddle Trophy and its case to each game between the Marauders and Dragons. The home team's student body representative will award the Paddle Trophy, which has each school's logo on opposite sides of the blade, with the score of each game being added to the winning team's side after the game... UMary won the first seven paddle games, grabbing initial possession with a 21-20 win in Bismarck in 2006. Marauders linebacker Brian Finnegan preserved the initial UMary win when he deflected a Dragons pass on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:08 remaining in the game. MSUM captured the paddle in 2013 for the first time with a 48-41 win. 

TWO TRAVELING TROPHIES
The Marauders play two games annually for travelling trophies. Combined the Marauders are 10-11 in trophy games. The Marauders are 8-6 in the "Battle for the Paddle" with MSU Moorhead and 2-5 in the "Battle for the Big Lake" against Minot State. 

QUICK HITTER STORY LINES

• After winning two straight road games, the Marauders saw their streak end last weekend in a 34-14 loss at Sioux Falls
• The Marauders are 2-2 on the road in 2021 and have a pair of road games remaining - at MSUM this weekend and at Bemidji State the final weekend of the season
• Led by QB Logan Nelson, wide receivers Danny Kittner and Luke Little and running back Dave Small Jr., the Marauders have one of the top attacks in the NSIC and NCAA D2
• UMary ranks 2nd in the nation in passing (344.4 yards/game), 28th in total offense (435 yards/game) and 59th in scoring (31.4) out of 163 teams
• Danny Kittner leads all NCAA players across every division in catches (78) and receiving yards (1,073) and is 3rd in TDs (12)
• Luke Little is 4th among all NCAA players across every divisions in TD receptions (11)
• UMary has committed just five turnovers this season (4 interceptions, 1 fumble), the 9th lowest total in the nation
• The current combined record of the Marauders first seven opponents is 33-16. Only SMSU (2-5) has a losing record with Augustana, Minnesota Duluth and Wayne State all cracking the nation's top 25 polls this year.
• The combined record of the Marauders last four opponents is 9-19. Bemidji State (5-2) the lone team with a winning record and has received poll votes

MARAUDERS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
The Marauders potent attack has the team and several individuals charting high in NCAA Division II. Here's a look at where UMary ranks among the national leaders in several key categories:
NCAA/NSIC RANKINGS - TEAM

• #2 NCAA /#1 NSIC Passing Offense (344.4 yards/game)
• #2 NCAA / #1 NSIC Fumbles Lost (1) 
• #13 NCAA / #3 NSIC Red Zone Offense (91%)
• #7 NCAA / #1 NSIC First Downs (171)
• #9 NCAA / #3 NSIC Turnovers lost (5)
• #28 NCAA / #5 NSIC Total Offense (435.4 yards/game)
• #59 NCAA / #8 NSIC Scoring Offense (31.4)

NCAA/NSIC RANKINGS - INDIVIDUAL
Danny Kittner 

• #1 NCAA / #1 NSIC Receptions/game (11.3)
• #1 NCAA / #1 NSIC Receiving yards (1,073) and receiving yards/game (153)
• #2 NCAA / #1 NSIC TD receptions (12)
• #1 NCAA / #1 NSIC All Purpose Yards (203 yards/game)

Luke Little

• #3 NCAA / #2 NSIC TD receptions (11)
• #7 NCAA / #3 NSIC Receiving Yards (794)
• #8 NCAA / #3 NSIC Receiving yards/game (113.4)
• #3 NCAA / #2 NSIC Receptions/game (8.4)

Logan Nelson

• #2 NCAA / #1 NSIC Passing touchdowns (24)
• #7 NCAA/ #3 NSIC Points responsible for (150)
• #7 NCAA / #2 NSIC Total Offense (322.2 yards/game)
• #5 NCAA / #2 NSIC Passing Yards (2,251)
• #6 NCAA / #2 NSIC Passing Yards/game (321.6)
• #7 NCAA / #1 NSIC Completions/game (25.71)
• #15 NCAA / #2 NSIC Completion percentage (65%)

Tylen Small

• #7 NCAA / #2 NSIC Solo Tackles (6.6)

PRECISION PASSING
The Marauders have created one of the nation's top passing attacks. Behind the arm of Logan Nelson and the hands of Danny Kittner and Luke Little plus an offensive line growing stronger each week, the Marauders are averaging 344 yards/game through the air to rank 2nd in the nation. UMary has thrown for over 300 yards in five of seven games, including efforts of 399 yards against Wayne State, 403 against Winona State and 454 at Northern State. The Marauders have scored 25 touchdowns through the air with Logan Nelson passing for 24. 

DYNAMIC DUO
Danny Kittner and Luke Little rank among the nation's leaders in receiving (see NCAA rankings above). Kittner and Little became the Marauders first receiving duo to both crack 100 yards in a game for two straight games... Kittner had 202 in the season opener at Wayne State and 135 against Augustana. Little opened the season with 123 at WSC with another 108 against the Vikings in week 2... They also turned the trick against Winona State (Kittner 235 yards, Little 174) and at Northern State (Kittner 154, Little 116)...Since beginning NCAA competition in 2006, the Marauders have only had three total prior instances where teammates cracked 100 yards in the same game - Jake East (174 yards) and Elby Pope 129) against Northern State in 2014, Avan Leday (104) and Tyler Steffan (101) against Southwest Minnesota State in 2011 and Roman Penirian (108) and Erik Kruse (125) at Bemidji State in 2008. 

SIX SHOOTER
Danny Kittner's run of six straight 100 yard receiving games - the longest in school history - ended last weekend when he finished with 90 yards at Sioux Falls. 

• @WSC | 17 catches - 202 yards - 2 TDs | school record for catches
• Augie | 10-135-1
• @SMSU | 7-125-1
• WSU | 13-235-3 | NCAA era record for receiving yards
• @NSU | 9-153-2
• UMD | 13-133-3
• @USF | 9-90-0

TOTAL | 68 catches | 1,073 yards | 12 TDs


KITTNER TRACKING SINGLE SEASON MARKS
Danny Kittner is currently 3rd on the Marauders single season chart for catches with 78 (record 80 by Seth Maier 1999), 2nd in receiving yardage with 1,073 (record 1,208 by Neil MacDannald in 1996) and 6th in touchdown receptions and just outside the top 10 in overall TDs with 12 (Tyler Steffan caught 17 TDs in 2011, Bobby Wagner scored 22 touchdowns in 1993). 

NELSON ON RECORD PACE
Through 7 games Logan Nelson has thrown for 2,264 yards and 24 touchdowns. The 24 TD passes is a new UMary NCAA era record, surpassing the 23 by Craig Bagnell in 2013. His passing yardage total is 8th all-time in school history... The single season UMary record for TD passes is 32 in 1995 by Paul Cronin... The single season record for passing yardage is 2,933 yards by Cronin (1995)... The NCAA era yardage record is 2,769 by Bagnell in 2013... The NCAA era team record for TD passes is 29 in 2014 (19 by Zach Roberson, 10 by Ben Jolliffe).

DANNY THE HANDY MAN
Not only is Danny Kittner among the nation's leaders in receptions, receiving yardage and all purpose yardage, he also...

• Returns kicks and punts
• Holds on field goals and extra points
• Recovered an onside kick at Wayne State
• Set a school record with 378 all purpose yards vs Winona State
• Threw a 41 yard pass against the Warriors

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Luke Little and Danny Kittner are climbing the career receiving charts at UMary. Little is 7th in receiving yards (1,955) and 8th in catches (132). He also has 21 career TD receptions (7th)... Kittner is 5th in receptions (151) and 6th in receiving yardage (2,015). He has 18 career receiving TDs (9th).  

LITTLE LOOMS LARGE 
An All-NSIC receiver in 2018, team captain Luke Little is having a tremendous senior season. The Bismarck, ND, native owns 59 catches for 814 yards and 11 TDs through seven games... He opened the season with 9 catches for 123 yards and 2 TDs at Wayne State, followed with a line of 7-108-1 against Augie, 7-84-2 at SMSU, 13-174-1 vs. Winona State, 6-113-3 at Northern State, 5-60-0 vs. UMD and 12-152-3 at Sioux Falls... He has set career-highs for catches, yardage and TDs.

HOT ROUTE RECOGNITION
Hot Route Analytics graded Danny Kittner as the #1 receiver in NCAA Division II last week with a mark of 93. Fellow wide out Luke Little tied for 3rd with a 90. 

LOGAN'S RUN PASS
Formerly known for his ability to make huge plays with his legs, Logan Nelson has relied on his arm to make the Marauders offense go in 2021... He opened the season completing 34-of-59 passes for 399 yards and 4 TDs without an interception at Wayne State, all career highs... he followed by throwing for 205 yards and a TD with no interceptions against Augie. Nelson also ran for a score... Against SMSU he was 20-for-28 for 249 yards and 4 TDs... Facing one of the top defenses in the NSIC in Winona State, Nelson was 31-of-43 for a career-best 403 yards and 4 TDs... Nelson earned NSIC Player of the Week for his 24-of-34 for 454 yards and 6 TD effort at Northern State... playing an excellent Minnesota Duluth defense Nelson was 22-of-30 (season-best 73.3% completion mark) for 244 yards and 3 TDs with 0 interceptions... he was 30-of-46 for 310 yards and 2 TDs at Sioux Falls... Climbing up the season and career passing charts this year, Nelson has also made an impact with his legs in his Marauders career. 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 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 in only seven games in 2019... Nelson owns two of the four 100 yard rushing games by a Marauders QB in an NCAA game. He ran for 149 yards against Minot State and 129 against Upper Iowa. Also in 2019 Nelson became the first UMary player to crack 100 yards rushing and 200 yards passing in the same game against Upper Iowa when he carried the ball for 129 yards and a score and passed for 205 and two touchdowns. He also ran for 149 three touchdowns and passed for 179 and a score against Minot State.

PUNISHING PITTMAN
Redshirt freshman Isaiah Pittman is making his presence felt on the Marauders defense. The safety posted a career-high 12 tackles against Minnesota Duluth. He owns a team-high two interceptions. He is second on the Marauders in tackles (43) and pass breakups (4). 

BARRY BREAKS THROUGH
Jack Barry has moved into the Marauders starting lineup this year and is making a major impact. The junior from Bismarck, ND, is the team leader in sacks (2.0) and tackles for loss (6.5). His most notable play is sacking the Northern State on 4th down on the Wolves last possession to guarantee UMary's 49-42 win. 

SMALL MAKING BIG IMPACT
Tylen Small had a big debut for the Marauders. A transfer from NCAA D1 FCS South Dakota State University, Small made 12 tackles, including 11 solo stops at Wayne State. The Marauders free safety also had a tackle for loss in the game... he followed w/ 9 tackles (4 solo) against Augustana, 3 at SMSU, 5 vs. Winona State, 7 (1 TFL) at NSU, 9 against Minnesota Duluth and a season-best 13 at Sioux Falls for a team-high 58 tackles. Small ranks 2nd in the NSIC with 8.3 tackles/game. 

SMALL PLAYING LARGE
Dave Small Jr. has made a major impact on the Marauders running game. A transfer from NCAA Division I University of South Florida and a cousin of Marauders safety Tylen Small, Small has rushed for a team-high 537 yards and 4 TDs on 104 carries. During a recent run he cracked 100 yards three times and just missed in the 4th (130 yards and a TD against SMSU, 95 yards and a TD against Winona State, 19-115-1 at Northern State and punished Minnesota Duluth for 133 yards and 1 TD on 18 carries). He also has a tackle on kick coverage. 

EXPLOSION
The Marauders offense is starting to rev up in 2021 and has already generated 37 chunk plays of 20 or more yards in seven games, including 15 by Luke Little and 13 by Danny Kittner... UMary had a season-best nine chunk plays against Northern State, including three by Little and two by Kittner and Jaden Andresen... UMary generated 51 chunk plays in 2019 with as many as 8 big plays in wins over Upper Iowa and Minnesota Crookston... QB Logan Nelson was involved in 23 plays of 20+ yards in 2019, including four runs of 49+ yards and 18 chunk pass completions while Kittner has 11 catches of at least 20 yards. 

ON TAP
After two straight weeks on the road, the Marauders return to Bismarck for their final two home games of the season... UMary hosts Concordia-St. Paul on Oct. 30 for the Never Surrender Cancer Awareness Game. UMary's School of Health Science will also be honored that day... The Marauders honor their seniors and the School of Arts & Sciences in the Battle of the Big Lake game against Minot State on Nov. 6.  

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