BISMARCK, ND – An explosive passing attack paired with a strong running game and a forceful defensive effort carried the University of Mary to a 42-17 win over visiting Concordia-St. Paul. Logan Nelson passed for four touchdowns and ran for one, Luke Little caught a pair of touchdown passes and Danny Kittner broke the Marauders single season record for receiving yards to lead UMary to its first home win of the season.
 
Locked in from the start, Nelson completed 22-of-31 passes for 332 yards. With 31 touchdown passes and 2,895 passing yards this season, the senior from Billings, MT, is now the Marauders NCAA single season record holder in both categories. Nelson is fast approaching UMary's all-time single season marks of 2,933 yards and 32 touchdowns, set by Marauders Hall of Famer Paul Cronin in 1995.
 
In addition to throwing four touchdown passes, Nelson also ran for a score and was responsible for five touchdowns on the day. He entered the game ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in touchdown passes and was 7^th in points responsible for.
 
For the second straight week, Kittner broke another single season receiving record. A week after setting the record for catches in a season, Kittner broke the mark for receiving yards in a season, formerly held by Marauders Hall of Fame receiver Neil MacDannald with 1,208 in 1995.
 
Just missing the century mark in receiving yards the last two weeks after six straight weeks of 100+ yards, Kittner had another massive day with 11 catches for 179 yards and one touchdown. The NCAA leader in catches and receiving yards now has 99 catches for 1,332 yards and 14 TDs.
 
With two more touchdown catches, Little leads NCAA D2 in receiving touchdowns with 15. The senior finished with 5 catches for 93 yards and 2 TDs. He is two off Tyler Steffan's record for TD catches in a season set in 2011 with 17.
 
Keyed by a pair of 3^rd down conversions, UMary (3-6 overall / 2-2 NSIC North) scored on its second possession of the game when Nelson hit Little in stride deep downfield for a 39 yard touchdown pass for the only points of the first quarter.
 
The Golden Bears (1-8/0-4) responded early in the 2^nd quarter, pulling even on a 1 yard run by Daimarion Nelson. Then taking advantage of a Marauders fumble two plays later, the Golden Bears claimed the only lead of the game on a booming 48 yard field goal by Sam Henson with a 21 mile an hour wind to his back.
 
The rest of the game belonged to the Marauders. UMary scored on their next two drives before halftime and on five straight overall while finishing the game a perfect 5-for-5 in red zone opportunities. UMary regained the lead on a 10 yard run by Diamonte Stuglemeyer which featured an impressive cut back into the end zone with 4:55 on the clock for a 14-10 lead.
 
Taking over at their own 34 yard line with 67 seconds left to intermission, the Marauders quickly drove the field. Highlighted by a 31 yard catch and run by Kittner to give the Gilbert, AZ, native the school record for receiving yards in a season, Kittner finished the drive two plays later when he hauled in a 3 yard touchdown pass from Nelson with 16 seconds remaining for a 21-10 UMary advantage at the break.
 
The Marauders offense remained on fire in the second half, scoring on their first three possessions. UMary took the opening kickoff and drove 73 yards on 12 plays for a score, capped by a 13 yard touchdown reception by Little from Nelson.
 
After Ty'Rese Gibson ended the Golden Bears next possession with an interception in the red zone, Nelson scored on a 1 yard run with 54 seconds left in the 3^rd quarter to finish off a 10 play 70 yard drive to push the Marauders advantage to 35-10.
 
Concordia-St. Paul interrupted the UMary scoring run early in the fourth but the Marauders offense couldn't be sidetracked. Starting at the CSP 48 following Stuglemeyer's recovery of an onside kick attempt by the Golden Bears, the Marauders needed just four plays to extend their lead to 42-17. Two plays after Kittner hauled in a 44 yard pass to set up 1^st and goal at the 4, Nelson found Luke Bodine wide open in the end zone to wrap up the day's scoring.
 
The Marauders offense generated 480 yards in the game on only 66 plays, including 137 yards on the ground.
 
Defensively UMary held Concordia-St. Paul to 275 yards, the fewest yards allowed by a Marauders defense since limiting the University of Minnesota Crookston to 236 yards in the final game of the 2018 season. CSP managed just 71 yards on the ground and completed only 23-of-52 passes for 204 yards.
 
Devyn Charles highlighted the Marauders defensive effort. He led UMary with 2.5 tackles for loss and eight tackles while also posting a sack. Ty'Rhae Gibson and Xzavier Wilkens both had a pair of pass breakups. Johnny Tillman had a pass breakup and six tackles.
 
Dave Small Jr. finished with a team-best 45 yards rushing on three carries, including a 43 yard burst. Dorian McAllister added 41 yards, Stugelmeyer 27 and Jakim McKinney 26. McKinney also had a 23 yard catch.
 
Nelson led CSP with 45 yards rushing. Mason Van Zeeland had 78 yards receiving and a touchdown catch. Joey Farley caught 10 passes for 53 yards.
 
The Marauders finish off their home schedule next Saturday, Nov. 6, with a visit from Minot State University in the annual Battle for the Big Lake game. Kickoff is set for 2 pm.
 
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