BISMARCK, ND –
Logan Nelson and
Dave Small Jr. capped off stellar collegiate careers for the University of Mary with first half touchdown runs, headlining the efforts of 24 Marauders in their last game wearing the Blue & Orange. UMary hosted Bemidji State University in a cold Senior Day season finale for the Marauders on a field surrounded by snow following a blizzard two days earlier but the 13 degree temperatures did nothing to slow the visitors. An explosive opening quarter for the Beavers carried BSU to a 51-14 win, a share of the Northern Sun championship and the NSIC North title.
The Beavers found the end zone four times in the first quarter before Nelson found the end zone for the Marauders. UMary's All-American quarterback scored on a 2 yard run to cap a 12 play 75 yard drive with 35 seconds left in the quarter.
As the Marauders began to find their footing, UMary fell short of scoring on its next possession when a field goal attempt just missed. The Marauders offense continued to move the ball with a 65 yard drive that ended with Small in the end zone on a 1 yard run to score his 10
th touchdown of the season and his ninth on the ground.
The UMary attack slowed in the second half as the Beavers continued to surge to a 9
th straight win.
Small, an All-NSIC performer, finished the game with 61 yards rushing and one touchdown.
All-American
Danny Kittner wrapped up his career with nine catches for 59 yards. He also had 54 yards on kick returns. Fellow senior
Jaden Andresen had 83 yards receiving on three catches, including a 40 yard reception.
Devyn Charles led UMary with eight tackles (three solo). Fellow seniors
Johnny Tillman had seven stops and
Nate Eschleman six, including a tackle for loss.
Mason Phillips added the team's lone sack.
Brandon Alt led BSU with 243 yards passing and four touchdown strikes, including three to Brendan Beaulieu. Beaulieu finished with five catches for 128 yards. Sage Booker ran for 114 yards. Zollie Kaplan led BSU with three sacks and four tackles for loss.
Marauders seniors who concluded their careers today include WR
Jaden Andresen (Mandan, ND), LB
Devin Beck (Bismarck, ND), LB
Sonny Brown (Wichita, KS), LB
Devyn Charles (Riverside, CA), OL
Ronald DiMatteo (Orlando, CA), LB
Nate Eschleman (Placerville, CA), DB
Marquell Evans (North Las Vegas, NV), LB
William Federson (Las Vegas, NV), WR
Jacob Fray (Spokane, WA), QB
Avery Gould (Yuba City, CA), OL
Sam Harris (Bismarck, ND), LB
Jamire Jackson (Minneapolis, MN), WR
Danny Kittner (Gilbert, AZ), K
Dylan Missoul (Simi Valley, CA), WR
Brandon Morris (Redlands, CA), QB
Logan Nelson (Billings, MT), DB
Toure' Oliver (Hayward, CA), WR
Riley Potthast (Paradise, CA), RB
Dave Small Jr. (Lauderhill, FL), DL
Jacob Thomsen (Thompson, ND), OL
Nick Thune (Hibbing, MN), DB 10
Johnny Tillman (Orlando, FL), DB Xzavier Wilkens (San Jose, CA), LS
Josh Zakavec (Arvada, CO).
Morris concluded this season as a member of the Marauders coaching staff.
Marauders who played their entire collegiate careers at UMary are Andresen, Beck, DiMatteo, Evans, Federson, Fray, Kittner, Nelson, Thomsen and Tillman.
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