BISMARCK, ND – In a game filled with big plays and record-setting performances, the University of Mary was unable to hold off a late surge by Winona State University in a 48-38 loss to the visiting Warriors.
 
Danny Kittner, who broke the school record for receptions in the opening game of the season, established a new mark for all purpose yards in a single game with 371. He caught 13 passes for 235 yards and three scores and returned seven kickoffs for 143 yards. Additionally Kittner threw a pass for another 41 yards.
 
The 235 yards receiving also set a new Marauders NCAA era mark, topping the 222 yards by Tyler Steffen against Northern State University in 2010. And with his fourth straight game cracking 100 yards receiving, Kittner equaled the NCAA era mark of Elby Pope. Pope exceeded 100 yards receiving in each of the last four games of the 2014 season.
 
The Marauders had another huge game offensively with 544 yards, including 444 through the air. It was the first time UMary had exceeded 500 yards of offense in a game since 2014.
 
Logan Nelson had another big game under center. The senior quarterback set a career-high with 403 yards passing. For the third time in four games Nelson finished with four touchdown passes. He also completed 31 of 43 passes.
 
Luke Little also had another huge game for the Marauders. The senior wideout caught a career-high 13 passes for 174 yards and a score, his sixth touchdown of the season. Additionally this was the third time in four games Little has cracked the century mark in receiving yards. He has also caught a scoring strike in all four games.
 
A wild opening quarter found the Marauders trailing 14-10 with UMary scoring on a 25 yard field goal by Kevin Powell and a 12 yard scoring strike from Nelson to Little.
 
The Marauders surged ahead to take a lead twice in the second quarter. UMary jumped ahead when Nelson, under heavy duress, fired a strike at the goal line to a well-covered Kittner for a 27 yard touchdown. After Winona State evened the game at 17-17, the Marauders regained their advantage with a 7 yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Kittner down the right sideline to provide UMary a 24-17 lead at half.
 
Wild scoring swings continued in the second half as Winona State struck twice to retake the lead at 31-24 with the second score on a 61 yard punt return by Jake Balliu.
 
Knocked back but not out, the Marauders retaliated with consecutive touchdowns of their own. Late in the third, Nelson found a wide open Kittner down the middle of the field and delivered a 58 yard strike to tie the game. UMary took the lead again early in the fourth when Dave Small Jr. found the end zone from 4 yards out, capping a 9 play 70 yard drive and giving the Marauders a 38-31 lead.
 
From there the Warriors took control, rolling off 17 straight points. Winona State tied the game on a 3 yard run by Noah Carlson before Dominik London ripped off a 78 yard scoring run for a 45-38 Warriors lead with 4:02 left in the game.
 
Small nearly cracked the century mark for a second straight game, falling just shy with 95 yards on 21 carries.
 
Defensively Isaiah Pittman led the Marauders with seven tackles. Jonah Krebs and Tylen Small both had five.
 
The Warriors, who generated 505 yards of offense, was paced by London with 158 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Owen Burke passed for 286 yards and Ethan Wittenberg had five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
 
The Marauders next visit Northern State University on Saturday, Oct. 2.
 
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