THIS WEEK
Fresh off a second straight road win, homecoming weekend is here as the University of Mary hosts #19 University of Minnesota Duluth in a meeting between a pair of Northern Sun North Division teams. Kickoff is set for 2 pm on Saturday, October 9, when the Marauders tangle with the Bulldogs at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, ND. 

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders are 2-3 overall/Northern Sun and 1-0 in the NSIC North after a 49-42 win at Northern State... The Bulldogs are 4-1/1-0 after defeating MSU Moorhead 26-21. 

MARAUDERS-BULLDOGS SERIES HISTORY
This is the 14th meeting between the Marauders and the Bulldogs... UMD has won every meeting... This is the 2nd straight meeting in Bismarck... This is the 9th time the Bulldogs have been ranked when facing the Marauders... All-American WR Tyler Steffan set a school record with four TD catches from Josh Edwards in 2011.  

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 this Saturday's game are available online at www.GoUMary.com.

HOMECOMING '21
The Marauders welcome the Bulldogs for the University of Mary's annual homecoming game. The weekend starts with the Marauders Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, Oct. 8. Among the inductees is former Marauders football player David St. Clair, UMary's all-time sack leader with 30. He posted a school-record 20 in 1999 and earned All-American honors as UMary went 11-2 and advanced to the NAIA semifinals for the second time in school history. 

US BANK HOMECOMING GAME SPONSOR
US Bank is the game day sponsor for the Marauders Homecoming game on Oct. 9. Complimentary tickets are available at local US Bank branches.  
 
MARAUDERS TO HONOR UNIVERSITY OF MARY LIFFRIG FAMILY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE AT HOMECOMING 
24 Marauders are pursuing degrees from the University of Mary Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Science. During the Marauders-Bulldogs Homecoming day on Oct. 9, Education school faculty will be recognized throughout the game. UMary football scholar-athletes pursuing a degree from the Education school include: Isaac    Bolton, Grant    Collins, Nathan Eschleman, Brannon Flowers, Jacob Fray, Ty'Rese Gibson, Ty'Rhae Gibson, Alexander    Godfrey, Raphael    Hamilton, Jadon Hanzal, Jason    Hoekstra, Jamire Jackson, Christian Janota, Ian Kopf, Brandon Morris, Logan Nelson, Toure' Oliver, Jason Ramirez-Corpuz, Alec Rodriguez, Dave    Small Jr., Carter    Smith, Cameron    Swain, Sue    Taugavau, Xzavier Wilkins.

Education school faculty and a guest will be admitted free to the game with their MCard. Throughout the year the Marauders will honor each of the five University of Mary academic schools and their faculty during a home game. 

MARAUDERS ALLEY TAILGATING STARTS AT 10:30 AM
Saturday's game day festivities begin when the tailgating area opens at 10:30 am in the north parking lot at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. The UMary football team walks through Marauders Alley at 11:45 am. This season three vendors will have food available for purchase: Grand Junction, Laughing Sun and Norm's Eatery. Additionally Laughing Sun Brewery will operate the beer garden inside the MDU Resources Community Bowl during the game.   

QUICK HITTER STORY LINES

• After consecutive road wins, the Marauders look for their first home win of the season against the #19 Bulldogs
• The Marauders rank #2 in the nation in passing offense (374 yards/game)
• Both the Marauders (35.8 ppg) and Bulldogs (30.8 ppg) are scoring over 30 points per game
• Marauders have scored over 30 points in 3 consecutive games
• Danny Kittner and Luke Little have both cracked the century mark in receiving yards in the same game four times in five games. The only miss was at SMSU when Little had 84 yards receiving. Of course he also had two TDs in the win. 
• Logan Nelson has thrown for 4 TDs in a game four times this season (at WSC, at SMSU, v WSU, at Northern State) 
• It took the Marauders until the fourth game of the season before committing a turnover. UMary is now 9th in the nation for fewest turnovers (3) and have yet to lose a fumble. 
• UMary is 18th nationally in total offense (463.8 ypg)
• The Marauders have posted at least 26 first downs in every game and ranks 8th nationally with 131
• Danny Kittner is 1st in the NCAA in receiving yards (857), 1st in catches/game (11.4), 1st in all purpose yards (221 yards/game) and 2nd in TD receptions (9)
• Luke Little is 2nd in NCAA D2 in TD catches (9), 5th in catches per game (8.4) and 5th in receiving yards (582) 
• Logan Nelson is 3rd in points responsible for (120), 3rd in passing TDs (19), 8th in completions/game (25.6), 2nd in passing yards (1,697), 4th in passing yards/game (339) and 17th in total offense (312.5 ypg) 

RECORD PERFORMANCE EARNS NELSON NSIC OFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
A record-tying performance by Logan Nelson in a big win for the University of Mary earned the senior quarterback Northern Sun Offensive Player of the Week honors. The native of Billings, MT, tossed six touchdown passes to lead the Marauders to a 49-42 road win over Northern State University. Nelson threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Andresen on the Marauders first offensive play of the game and led UMary to touchdowns on their first six possessions. Nelson completed 24-of-34 pass attempts for 454 yards. He also ran for 40 yards. Both the yardage and touchdown passes are career highs. This is the fourth time in five games this season he has thrown for at least four scores in a game...The six touchdown passes by Nelson also ties the school single-game record. Paul Cronin first accomplished the feat in 1994. Zach Roberson later threw a half-dozen scoring passes in two different games during the 2014 season... Nelson is the first UMary player to earn NSIC offensive accolades since Roberson received the honor in October 2014 for his efforts in a win over MSU Moorhead. Paul Guptill (defense) and Brody Riggs (special teams) were the last UMary players to earn weekly honors for the Marauders, both cited after UMary defeated the University of Minnesota Crookston in the final game of 2019.

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 374 yards/game through the air to rank 2nd in the nation. UMary has thrown for over 300 yards in four of five games, including efforts of 399 yards against Wayne State, 403 against Winona State and 454 at Northern State.

SCORING FRENZY
The Marauders have scored 30 or more points in 3 straight games for the first time since the last four games of the 2014 season... Dating back to the final game of the 2019 season the Marauders have scored at least 20 points in 6 straight games their longest streak since 2011-12 when UMary had a 14-game run across the two seasons. 

DYNAMIC DUO
Danny Kittner and Luke Little rank among the nation's leaders in receiving. Kittner is #1 in catches (11.4/game) and receiving yards (171.4/game) and 2nd in TDs (9)... Little is 2nd in TD catches (9), 5th in receptions/game (8.1) and 5th in yards (582)... 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 when Kittner had 235 yards receiving and Little added 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. 

TREMENDOUS TRIO
The Marauders had three receivers go over 100 yards in a single game for what is believed to be the first time in school history. Danny Kittner had 9 catches for 157 and 2 TDs. Jaden Andresen had three catches for 106 yards and 1 TD. Luke Little caught 6 balls for 113 yards and 3 TDs. 

FOUR
Danny Kittner cracked 100 yards receiving for a fifth straight game at Northern State. After posting 202 yards in the opener at WSC, he had 135 yards against Augie, 125 at SMSU, 235 against Winona State (a new NCAA era team record) and 153 at NSU... His run surpasses that of Elby Pope, who had four straight 100 yard receiving games in 2014. 

5 ALIVE
The Marauders offense featured five tremendous performances in the win at Northern State. For what is believed to be the first time in school history, the Marauders had a 300 yard passer (Logan Nelson 454 yards), a 100 yard rusher (Dave Small Jr. 115 yards) and three 100 yard receivers (Danny Kittner 154, Luke Little 116, Jaden Andresen 106) in a single game. 

LOWERING THE BOOM
in a game featuring 91 points, it was the Marauders 4th quarter defensive effort that sealed UMary's 49-42 win at Northern State. UMary held NSU scoreless in the 4th and allowed just one first down. Jack Barry owned the signature play when he sacked NSU QB Hunter Trautman on 4th down with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game, forcing a fumble as the Wolves turned the ball over on downs. It was the second sack of the game for Barry and 3rd tackle for loss. He leads the Marauders in sacks (2.0) and TFL (6.0).

ROCKING THE CHARTS
Danny Kittner is off to an amazing start in 2021. After five games the 2019 All-NSIC performer has 57 catches for 857 yards and 9 TDs. He set a school record with 17 receptions in the opener at Wayne State and an NCAA era school mark with 235 yards receiving against Winona State...  The junior from Gilbert, AZ, is ranked highly nationally in several categories:

• #1 nationally/#1 NSIC in receptions/game (11.4)
• #1 nationally/#1 NSIC in reception yards/game (171.4) 
• #1 nationally/#1 NSIC in all purpose yards/game (221)
• #2 NCAA/#1 NSIC TD receptions (9)

DANNY THE HANDY MAN
Not only is Danny Kittner among the nation's leaders in receiving, 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 9th in receiving yards (1,743) and 10th in catches (115). He also has 19 career TD receptions (8th)... Kittner is 8th in receptions (130) and 7th in receiving yardage (1,799). He has 15 career receiving TDs.  

LITTLE LOOMS LARGE 
An All-NSIC receiver in 2018, team captain Luke Little is off to a tremendous start. The Bismarck, ND, native owns 42 catches for 602 yards and 9 TDs through four 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 and 6-113-3 at Northern State... for the year Little ranks:

• #2 NCAA/#1 NSIC in touchdown catches (9)
• #5 NCAA/#2 NSIC in receptions/game (8.4)
• #6 NCAA/#3 NSIC receiving yards/game (116.4)

HOT ROUTE RECOGNITION
Hot Route Analytics grades Danny Kittner as the #2 receiver in NCAA Division II this season with an overall mark of 99 after four games. Kittner was 1st after opening week with a 93. Luke Little ranks third with a score of 98.   

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 up 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... Against 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 ...After five games Nelson ranks:

• #8 NCAA/#1 NSIC in completions/game (25.6)
• #2 NCAA/#1 NSIC passing yards (1,697)
• #2 NCAA/#1 NSIC passing TDs (19) 

Nelson has also made an impact with his legs. 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 quarterback in an NCAA game. 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... 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.

SMALL MAKING BIG IMPACT
Tylen Small had a big debut for the Marauders. A transfer from NCAA D1 FCS South Dakota State University, Small was credited with 12 tackles, including 11 solo stops at Wayne State. The Marauders free safety also had a tackle for loss in the game... he followed up with 9 tackles (4 solo) against Augustana, 3 at SMSU, 5 vs. Winona State and 7 (1 TFL) at NSU for a team-high 36 tackles. Small ranks 8th in the NSIC with 7.2 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 353 yards and 3 TDs on 68 carries. Heating up the last three games, he ran for 130 yards and a TD against SMSU, added 95 yards and a TD against Winona State and a line of 19-115-1 at Northern State. He also has a tackle on kick coverage. 

EXPLOSION
The Marauders offense is starting to rev up in 2021 and has already generated 27 chunk plays of 20 or more yards in five games, including 11 by Luke Little and 10 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.