THIS WEEK
After picking up their first win of the season last weekend the University of Mary football team returns home to host Winona State University on Saturday, Sept. 25, for the Marauders annual Tackle Hunger food drive game. Kickoff is 2 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.    

THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders enter this weekend with a 1-2 record overall/Northern Sun after rolling past Southwest Minnesota State University 45-23 on the road... The Warriors are 2-1 following a 29-23 home loss t #13 Minnesota Duluth... Neither team has played a divisional game yet. 

MARAUDERS-WARRIORS SERIES HISTORY
This is the 8th meeting between the Marauders and the Warriors... The Warriors lead the series 6-1, winning the last five meetings... 1st three games were decided by five or fewer points and the first five by nine or fewer... UMary head coach Craig Bagnell quarterbacked the Marauders to their lone win in the series, a 21-19 win in 2010, throwing for 251 yards and 2 TDs. John Oyloe secured the win when he blocked a WSU field goal attempts on the final play of the game... Bagnell later threw for 372 yards and 4 TDs in a 46-43 loss in 2011 when WSU scored the winning TD with 51 seconds remaining... Elby Pope set a school record with an 89 yard punt return in 2014. 

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.

QUICK HITTER STORY LINES

• The Marauders defeated Southwest Minnesota State University last weekend 45-23 on the road for UMary's 1st win of the season
• Dave Small Jr. (130 yards rush) and Danny Kittner (125 receiving) provided the Marauders their 1st 100 yard rusher and receiver in the same game since Logan Nelson (149 rush) and Kittner (136 rec) against Minot State Sept. 21, 2019
• This is the Marauders 1st road win since a 34-14 win at Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 10, 2018
• The last road win for the Marauders over a team other than UMC was a 31-29 win at Minot State on Oct. 11, 2014
• The Marauders are one of only three teams in the nation who have not committed a turnover this season
• The Marauders have posted 26 1st downs in each game this season and rank 6th in the country/1st NSIC in total 1st downs 
• Danny Kittner is 1st in the NCAA in receiving yards (469), 1st in catches/game (11.7) and 2nd in all purpose yards (180.7/game)
• Luke Little is 5th in NCAA D2 in TD catches (5), 11th in catches per game (7.7) and 16th in receiving yards (315) 
• The Marauders are 11th nationally in yards passing/game (326.3)
• Logan Nelson is 8th in points responsible for (60), 11th in passing TDs (9), 14th in completions/game (24.0) and 21st in passing yards/game (286.7) 

TACKLE HUNGER
This week is the Marauders football annual Tackle Hunger food drive, supporting the Missouri Slope United Way Backpack Program. The United Way Backpack Program sends a backpack of meals home with children who need it. Marauders fans are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to be used in the Backpack program. Here are some of the items that are most helpful:
Capri Sun Variety Packs | Apple Juice Individual Packs | Small Boxes of Cereal Variety Packs | Instant Oatmeal Variety Packs | Pop Tarts | Easy Mac | Ramen Noodle | Soup | Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli | Fruit or Veggie Cups | Peanut Butter or Cheese Crackers, Individual Packages | Apple Sauce, Individual Cups

NOTE: Please make sure items are in single serving sizes with easy pop tops and no glass. 

PRAIRIE FARMS DAIRY SEPT. 25 GAME SPONSOR
Prairie Farms Dairy is the game sponsor for the Marauders home opener against Winona State University on Sept. 25. 
 
MARAUDERS TO HONOR UNIVERSITY OF MARY SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 
Fifteen Marauders are pursuing degrees from the University of Mary School of Engineering. During the Marauders-Warriors game on Sept. 25, Engineering school faculty will be recognized throughout the game. UMary football scholar-athletes pursuing a degree from the Engineering school include: Adam Richter, Carter Wiebusch, Collin Gapen, Conner Paul, Connor Murphy, Jakim McKinney, Jason Stoddard, Jonathan Elliott, Lucas Bodine, Seth Jarrett, Taylor Morrison, Timothy Vaughn, Tylen Small, Tyler Thilmony and Will Blewett. Engineering 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. At 11 am the UMary wrestling team begins their annual Dean Walker Memorial Throwdown intrasquad dual. 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.   

THE BASICS
The Marauders are among the nation's leaders in fewest turnovers and penalties. UMary is one of only three teams in the country who have yet to turn the ball over, either by interception or by fumble. UMary ranks 26th in penalties at 5.3/game.  

SYNCHRONICITY
All three phases of the game played a key part role in turning a narrow 14-3 lead into a massive 31-3 advantage in the span of 2:19 as the Marauders claimed a 45-23 road win over the Mustangs, The run started when UMary downed a punt at the SMSU 1 just before the half. Ty'Rese Gibson soon intercepted a pass at midfield and returned the ball to the SMSU 22, setting up a 35 yard field goal for Kevin Powell on the last play of the 1st half. UMary scored on the opening drive of the second half on an 80 yard TD thrown from Logan Nelson to Danny Kittner. Three plays later Devin Beck picked off a Mustangs pass at the UMary 13, setting up a Nelson to Little TD pass on the next play. 

PASSING FANCY
The Marauders have created one of the nation's top passing attacks through the first two games of the season. UMary cracked 300 yards through the air in the opening two games and generates 326.3 yards/game to rank 11th in NCAA Division II. After throwing for 399 yards and 4 TDs in the opener at Wayne State, Logan Nelson added 205 yards and a TD against Augustana and 249 yards and 4 TDs at SMSU. He also ran for a score against the Vikings... Jesse Forknell added another 119 yards passing and a TD against Augie in his collegiate debut as the Marauders posted 324 yards in their home opener... UMary is one if just 18 teams out of 162 that has yet to throw an interception.

DYNAMIC DUO
Danny Kittner and Luke Little rank among the nation's leaders in receiving, Kittner is #1 in catches (11.7/game) and receiving yards (156.3/game) and 30th in TDs (3)... Little is 5th in TD catches (5), 11th in receptions/game (7.7) and 18th in yards/game (105)... 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... 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. 

THREE
Danny Kittner cracked 100 yards receiving for a third straight game in the win at SMSU. After posting 202 yards in the opener at WSC, he had 135 yards against Augie and 125 at SMSU. He is also the last UMary player with three straight 100 yard receiving games (101 at Sioux Falls 10/5/19, 121 at MSUM 9/28/19, 136 v Minot State 9/21/2019)... Elby Pope had four straight 100 yard receiving games in 2014. 

ROCKING THE CHARTS
Danny Kittner is off to an amazing start in 2021. After three games the 2019 All-NSIC performer has 34 catches for 462 yards and 4 TDs. He set a school record with 17 receptions in the opener at Wayne State... For the second time in his career he has cracked the century mark in three consecutive games with 202 at Wayne State, 135 against Augie and 125 at SMSU... The junior from Gilbert, AZ, is ranked highly nationally in several categories:

• #1 nationally/#1 NSIC in receptions/game (11.7)
• #1 nationally/#1 NSIC in reception yards/game (156.3) 
• #2 nationally/#1 NSIC in all purpose yards/game (180.7)

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

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Luke Little and Danny Kittner are climbing the career receiving charts at UMary. Little is 10th in receiving yards (1,456) and 14th in catches (96). He also has 15 career TD receptions... Kittner is 11th in receptions (108) and 11th in receiving yardage (1,411). He has 10 career receiving TDs.  

LITTLE LOOMS LARGE 
An All-NSIC receiver in 2018, team captain Luke Litte is off to a tremendous start. The Bismarck, ND, native owns 23 catches for 315 yards and 5 TDs through three 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 and 7-84-2 at SMSU... for the year Little ranks:

• #5 NCAA/#1 NSIC in touchdown catches (5)
• #11 NCAA/#3 NSIC in receptions/game (7.7)
• #18 NCAA/#4 NSIC receiving yards/game (105)

HOT ROUTE RECOGNITION
Hot Route Analytics grades Danny Kittner as the #4 receiver in NCAA Division II this season with an overall mark of 93 after three game. Kittner was 1st after opening week with a 93. Luke Little returns to the top 10 with a score of 91.   

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... After three games Nelson ranks:

• #14 NCAA/#2 NSIC in completions/game (24)
• #19 NCAA/#4 NSIC passing yards (860)
• #11 NCAA/#4 NSIC passing TDs (9) 

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. The Marauders free safety also had a tackle for loss in the game... he followed up with 9 tackles (4 solo) against Augustana and 3 at SMSU for a team-high 24 tackles. Small ranks #33 in the NCAA and #2 in the NSIC in tackles. 

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

2021 Explosive Offensive Plays
80 | Danny Kittner catch at SMSU (TD)
47 | Danny Kittner catch at WSC (TD)
35 | Dave Small Jr. run at SMSU (TD)
33 | Luke Little catch at SMSU
31 | Luke Little catch v Augie
27 | Luke Little catch at WSC
25 | Danny Kittner catch v Augie (TD)
21 | Luke Litttle catch v Augie
21 | Luke Little catch at WSC
20 | Luke Bodine catch at WSC

DEBUTS
27 scholar-athletes made their Marauders debut in the season opener, including 10 starters. Starters making their Marauders debut included RB David Small, OL Mika Fuamatu, OL Nick Thune, OL Melvin Hudson, WR Collin Gapen, DB Ty'Rese Gibson, DB Ty'Rhae Gibson, DB Ronnie Preston, DB Tylen Small, and DL Collintino Andrews... Several other Marauders made their starting debuts in the Augustana game, including WR Brandon Morris, OL Alec Rodriguez, OL Sam Harris, DL Tanner Vaughan, LB Nate Eschleman, LB Jack Berry, DB Jacob Romero and DB Isaiah Pittman.    

BY THE NUMBERS | ROSTER BREAKDOWN

• 108 players
• 6 seniors
• 27 juniors
• 17 sophomores
• 6 redshirt freshman (on 2019 roster and did not play)
• 52 freshman (16 returning freshmen from 2020, 36 new freshmen in 2021)
• 28 players previously played in a UMary regular season game

TICKETS: Game tickets for Marauders home games are available online at www.UMaryTickets.com and at the door. 
Adult tickets are $15 and youth (13-18) and senior citizens are $8. UMary students with their M-card and children 12 and under are free. UMary faculty and staff are admitted free with their M-Cards and get 50 percent off all tickets purchased. Tickets are also for sale on gamedays at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. 

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 33 This is the 33rd 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. 
• 15 This is the Marauders 15th season competing in the NSIC and NCAA Division II