THIS WEEK
The University of Mary football team makes their last road trip of October when the Marauders travel to Duluth, MN. The Marauders face the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at 12 noon on Saturday, October 14, in Northern Sun play at James S. Malosky Stadium.
 
THE RECORDS/LAST WEEK
The Marauders (0-6 overall/NSIC) passed the midway point of their 2023 season last weekend with their best defensive game of the season. UMary held visiting Winona State University to the Marauders lowest point total allowed in a 17-7 loss to the Warriors… Minnesota Duluth is 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC. The Bulldogs, ranked #17 before the game, dropped a 28-18 conference game at Wayne State College.  
 
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 all Northern Sun games is available at https://nsicnetwork.com/goumary and at www.GoUMary.com/coverage 
• Live stats for Saturday's games are available online at www.GoUMary.com/coverage

 
MARAUDERS-BULLDOGS SERIES HISTORY

• This is the 16th meeting between the Marauders and the Bulldogs
• This is the second straight meeting between the two teams taking place in Duluth, MN
• UMD has won every meeting and is 8-0 in Duluth
• The Bulldogs have been nationally ranked nine times when facing the Marauders
• in 2011 Tyler Steffan caught a school-record four touchdown passes in a 41-28 lost to #9 UMD. On the Marauders 1st offensive play Steffan caught a 64 yard TD pass from Josh Edwards, who threw for 318 yards in the game. Steffan caught additional TD passes of 6, 9 and 2 yards in the 4th quarter. He finished with 10 catches for 140 yards.

 
QUICK HITTERS

• This is the second straight season the Marauders are travelling to Duluth, MN
• K/P Kevin Powell was named the NCAA Division II Special Teams Player of the Week by the College Football Network (@thecfbnetwork) for his efforts against Winona State. Powell averaged 48 yards on seven punts, including a career-best 70 yarder to flip the field. The junior had three punts of 50+ yards and placed five inside the 20.
• After the visit to UMD the Marauders will play three straight games at home
• The Marauders defense had its best showing of the season last weekend, holding Winona State to 17 points. It's the fewest points allowed by UMary since week 10 of last year at Minot State.
• The Marauders started four freshmen and redshirt freshmen on offense (RB Andrew Trandahl, RB Jeremiah Moore, OL Elliot Kooker, TE/OL Henri Supenski) and two redshirt freshmen on defense (S Abram Jopp and DL Christian Arteaga)
• UMary will play six home games this season for the second straight year, including four of the last six games
• UMary has won the turnover battle in three of five games and was even at CSP
• The Marauders are +1 on turnovers this season. UMary has forced seven turnovers (5 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions) and have committed six (4 interceptions, 2 fumbles)
• UMary is 23^rd in the nation and 2^nd in the NSIC for fewest turnovers committed (6)
• The Marauders opponents are being whistled for 77.3 yards of penalties/game, 2^nd most in the Northern Sun. UMary is called for 46.8 yards/game, the 4^th fewest in the league.
• One of the least penalized teams in the nation, the Marauders rank 15th in NCAA Division II in fewest penalties/game (4.4) and 22^nd in fewest penalty yards/game (46.8)
• The Marauders are converting 54.8% of their 4th down attempts (7-of-13) to rank 5th in the NSIC
• Mujeeb Rufai ranks 9th in NCAA D2 in receptions/game (7.3). He is 65^th in receiving yards/game (68.2).
• Jason Stoddard has two fumble recoveries this season, ranking 7th in the country
• Sofian Massoud is 29^th in nation in completion percentage (64.1%)

 
WEEK 6 REWIND | UMary 7 Winona State 17

• Marauders allowed a season-low 17 points against the Warriors, a 2022 NCAA playoff participant
• 21 of the combined 24 points were scored in the first quarter
• UMary held WSU to a field goal in the last three quarters
• Jeremiah Moore ran 59 yards for a first quarter TD to tie the game at 7-7.
• Moore's 59 yard TD run is the Marauders longest of the year. He finished the game with a team-leading 69 yards.
• Mujeeb Rufai caught seven passes for 70 yards
• Kevin Powell averaged 48 yards on seven punts, downed five inside the 20, hit three 5+, set a career-record with a 70 yard blast, and forced two fair catches. The lone punt return for WSU lost 7 yards. Powell also made his lone extra point attempt.
• Abram Japp led the Marauders with 7 solo tackles
• Asmerom Mahammad had four solo stops and a pas breakup
• Yuri Brady had two of the Marauders five pass breakups
• Christopher Federico had 1.5 tackles for loss
• Estevan Quintana had the one UMary sack
• Christian Arteaga had three tackles (two solo) and caught a 7 yard pass

 
YOUTH
The Marauders have played more youth as the season has progressed, with as many as a combined 11 freshmen or redshirt freshman on the field playing either offense or defense.
 
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
The Marauders offensive line has had their depth challenged the last three weeks. Sr. Liam Bannon made his third straight start at center against Winona State. R-Fr. Ethan Kooiker has started the last two. Jr. Luke Tuala made his first start of the season against Winona State at guard and has also played tackle the last two weeks. Soph. Jayden Coley has also worked his way into the mix. Freshmen OL/TE Henri Supenski has also started this season at tight end.
 
FUMBLE!
The Marauders have recovered five fumbles this season to rank 35^th in the country. Additionally UMary has fumbled away the ball twice this season to rank 19^th nationally for fewest lost fumbles.
 
CAUGHT
Mujeeb Rufai has made an immediate impact in the Marauders passing game. A transfer from the University of Idaho, the junior from Portland, OR, has 44 catches for 409 yards and two TDs. He had a spectacular 1-handed TD catch at Augie in the opener. Rufai had 12 catches for 88 yards in his home debut against Sioux Falls. In his next home game he added another nine catches for 60 yards against Bemidji State. At CSP he caught nine passes for the second straight week for a season-best 120 yards and a TD.
 
SACKED
LB Mason Phillips ranks 6th in the NSIC in sacks with 3.0. He posted two against Sioux Falls – including one resulting in a recovered fumble – and had one against Bemidji State. The sophomore also posted a pair of sacks last season and has 5.0 for his career. Phillips also leads the team with 4.5 tackles for loss among his 27 stops (14 solo) and is 21^st in the NSIC in TFL.  
 
SCORE
Traivon Dyson is the team leader in touchdowns with four, all on receptions from Jesse Forknell. He caught a pair of touchdown passes in the Marauders home opener against the Cougars when the sophomore from Las Vegas, NV, hauled in a career-best six catches for 88 yards. In five games Dyson has 20 catches for 251 yards and four TDs. As a freshman in 2022 he caught three passes for 40 yards and a TD.
 
BOOM
Kevin Powell is averaging a career-best 40.2 yards/punt on 34 attempts, which ranks 32^nd in NCAA Division II. The junior's previous top average was 35.3 last season. He has a career-best 70 yarder against Winona State this season. With five punts over 50 yards this year in six games he has more than doubled his career total. Powell also has dropped nine inside the 20 yard line… After a 2-for-2 effort at Concordia-St. Paul, he is 5-for-6 on field goals, a career-high for makes. His 83.3% conversion rate on field goals ranks 17^th in the country… Doing a little of everything against Bemidji State, Powell made a field goal and an extra point, punted 8 times for a 33.1 yard average, had a tackle and threw a 25 yard competed pass to convert on a 4th down.
 
EXPERIENCE UP FRONT
The Marauders offensive line is the most experienced starting group, featuring five players who have seen an impressive amount of action. Seniors Drake Lalim (LT) and Conner Paul (G) are four-year starters, keying the Marauders line play since their freshmen season in 2019. Melvin Hudson is a three-year starter at right tackle, moving into the lineup game one as a redshirt freshman. Mika Fuamatu, a junior, saw limited action at guard as a freshman before moving into the lineup last year as a sophomore. Bismarck native Carter Smith earned multiple starts at guard last season as a freshman.
 
FAMILY MATTERS
Ryan Woroniecki's older brother Adam also played football for the Marauders… Cameron Brusven and Karsyn Jablonski are 2nd generation Marauders as both of their father's played at UMary played football for the Marauders.
 
CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN
Seniors Drake Lalim and Ryan Woroniecki are the 2023 team captains. Lalim is entering his 4th year starting at left tackle for UMary and is a native of Saint Stephen, Minn. A linebacker, Woroniecki hails from Hebron, ND, and competed for Richardton-Taylor HS… The Marauders will also select two scholar-athletes to serve as gameday captains each week.
 
2023 NUMBERS

• 37 Senior captain and left tackle Drake Lalim has started 37 straight games for the Marauders since moving into the lineup the third game of his freshman season in 2019 and has played in 39 straight games
• 33 Senior guard Conner Paul has started 33 games in his Marauders career. His string of 28 straight was interrupted by injury late last season.  
• 28 Junior Melvin Hudson has the 2nd longest starting streak on the Marauders with 28, starting every game at right tackle since his freshman year in 2021
• K/P Kevin Powell has also played in 28 straight games for the Marauders with Jakob Petry (26) close behind.
• 11 Marauders made their starting debuts for UMary in the opener at Augustana, including seven on defense
• 6 starters made their Marauers debut against Augustana, including a pair of true freshmen – RB Andrew Trandahl and OL/TE Henri Supenski
• 30 Marauders saw their first-ever action at UMary in the opener, including seven true freshmen and 10 redshirt freshmen
• 50 Marauders return from last season
• 16 returners have started one or more games for UMary and 32 have taken to the field for the Marauders
• 9 seniors, 19 juniors, 15 sophomores, 17 redshirt freshmen and 31 true freshmen

 
THEY'RE BACK
Among starters returning on defense are DL Grant Collins, DL Caden Green and LB Mason Phillips. Offensive returning starters include offensive linemen Drake Lalim, Conner Paul, Melvin Hudson, Carter Smith and Mika Fuamata, TE Luke Bodine and WRs Collin Gapen, Traivon Dyson and Jaxon Young… JR QB Jesse Forknell started two games in 2022, both Marauders wins. He earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors for delivering an overtime win over Northern State. 
 
NSIC CHANGES
In 2023, Northern Sun football will consist of 13 teams with each team playing 10 conference games over an 11-week schedule. The NSIC will award an overall champion based on win percentage over the 10 NSIC contests. Ties will not be broken for the overall champions. This is the first time since 2010 NSIC teams will not play 11 conference contests. There are no North or South divisions for the first time since 2007, the first season the Marauders officially competed in the NSIC… The Marauders will take advantage of the open weekend in the conference schedule to host Davenport University in a nonconference contest on October 21, providing the Marauders six home dates with five road games in 2023.
 
LALIM NAMED MARAUDERS NSIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH
A senior from Saint Stephen, MN, Drake Lalim has anchored the Marauders offensive line at left tackle since he was a true freshman. After serving as a reserve his first two collegiate games, he moved into a starting role in his third game and has started 32 straight games for the Marauders. Lalim, a team captain since his sophomore year, earned All-NSIC honorable mention selection as freshman in 2019 and protected the Marauders quarterback's blind side as UMary led the nation in passing in 2021. He is also an NSIC all-academic team member.
 
COLLINS NAMED MARAUDERS NSIC DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH
Grant Collins moved into a starting spot on the defensive line last season as a sophomore after playing a key role on the line as a redshirt freshman in 2021. Now a junior, he native of Peoria, AZ, started all 11 games in 2022 and recorded 24 tackles. He had 2.5 tackles for loss – including a sack – and recovered a fumble. An NSIC All-Academic Team selection last fall, Collins set a career-high for tackles with five in the Marauders home win in overtime against Northern State.
 
MARAUDERS FOOTBALL QUICK FACTS
History | 35th varsity season (JV season 1987, varsity 1988)
Record - overall (through 2022) | 189-172-1
Record - conference | 130-137
Record - postseason | 6-10
Playoff appearances | 9 (1993, '95, '96, '98, '99, '00, 01, '02, '03)
Conference Titles | 7 (1992, '96, '98, '99, '01, '02, '04)
Home Field (capacity) | MDU Resources Community Bowl (7,000)
Surface | FieldTurf
 
FOOTBALL STAFF
Head Coach | Shann Schillinger, 1st year (Montana)
Offensive Coordinator | David Schramm, 1st year
Defensive Coordinator | Ben Davis, 9th year (MacMurray, '11)
Offensive Line | Mark Martin, 5th season (St. Cloud St., '01)
Wide Receivers | Jack Neuheisel, 1st year
Special Teams/Safeties | Van Cooper, 1st year
Tight Ends | Tom Johnson, 2nd year (UMary, '17)
Running Backs | Markell Pete, 1st year
Secondary | Jayden Dawson, 1st year
 
Head Athletic Trainer | Rhonda Olson
Strength Coach | Michael Silbernagel
Asst. Strength Coach | Danielle Mize
Equipment Manager | Wayne Norman
Chaplain | Father Jarad Wolf
 
SHANN SCHILLINGER – YEAR 1 LEADING THE MARAUDERS
Former NFL player and Baker, MT, native Shann Schillinger leads the Marauders onto the field for the first time in front of the home fans on Saturday when UMary hosts the University of Sioux Falls in week two of the 2023 season. A former star at the University of Montana and the 8th head coach in UMary program history, Schillinger has coached in both the NCAA Division I Big Ten and Big Sky conferences and is a Montana Football Hall of Fame inductee.
 
Winning is a common theme throughout Schillinger's career. Between high school and college Schillinger's teams posted 100 victories and only seven defeats. A team captain, Schillinger won three state titles during his four years at Baker HS (2001-04) as quarterback and defensive back while coached by his uncle Don Schillinger, one of the winningest prep coaches in Montana history.
 
Dubbed "the fastest man from Baker, MT," his accolades made him a highly recruited college prospect before signing on with the Grizzlies as a safety. Schillinger helped lead the Grizzlies to two Football Championship Series (FCS) title games while also earning All-Big Sky Conference honors. Twice he was honored with the Tony Barbour Award, given annually to the "player who best exemplifies outstanding practice habits and makes an unselfish contribution to the betterment of the Grizzly football team." He ranks among the best in Montana history with 257 career takedowns and 11 career interceptions.
 
After a star-studded career with the University of Montana Grizzlies, NFL fans heard Schillinger's name called on national TV by the Atlanta Falcons in the 6th round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Drafted as the 171st overall pick, Schillinger played four years in the NFL as a safety from 2010 to 2013 with the Falcons and Tennessee Titans.
 
Schillinger's full-time coaching career began after the NFL in 2015 as a special teams and defensive backs assistant for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. He returned to his alma mater in Missoula to coach special teams and safeties from 2016 to 2021 and served as the team's pro scout liaison.
 
2022 REWIND

• All-NSIC performers WR Danny Kittner, Logan Nelson and Dave Small Jr. wrapped up impressive carers with the Marauders at the end of the 2022 season.
• Kittner, Small and Ty'Rhae Gibson earned All-NSIC honors
• All-American WR Danny Kittner shattered NSIC and Marauders career records for receptions (291) and receiving yards (3,651) while catching 29 receiving touchdowns. He is 4th all-time in school history in receiving touchdowns (29) and 3rd in total touchdowns (31)… He had 90 catches for 986 yards and 5 TDs in 2022.
• All-American QB Logan Nelson passed for 6,417 yards and 62 touchdowns in his career at UMary, completing 60.0% of his passes (499-of-825) with just 26 interceptions. He is 3rd all-time at UMary in passing yards and TD passes. In 2021 he triggered the Marauders passing attack that led the nation in yards passing/game.
• Kittner (Bears) and Nelson (Vikings) both earned NFL Rookie Camp invitations in May 2023
• The Marauders played eight teams with winning records at game time
• Marauders opponents had a winning percentage over .550 for the year
• 7 of 11 Marauders games in 2022 were one possession games, including 6 of 9 losses
• During the 2021-22 seasons UMary played ten contests decided by one possession (8 or fewer points)
• UMary owned second half leads in losses to Wayne State, Winona State, #23 Minnesota State, #14 Sioux Falls and MSU Moorhead. Wayne State scored the winning touchdown with 1:46 left in the game and Minnesota State with 1:57 remaining.

 
2023 MARAUDERS FOOTBALL TICKETING FAQs

• Tickets are $20 at the gate (cash only) and $15 (plus fees) online
• Tickets purchased online at www.UMaryTickets.com or via the HomeTown Fan app (iOS and Android) receive a $5 discount (minus fees) per ticket vs. cash purchases at the gate
• Tickets purchased at the gate are CASH ONLY transactions
• ATMs are located near the main ticketing gates for Marauders home games
• Debit and credit card purchases are ONLINE ONLY at www.umarytickets.com or via the HomeTown Fan App
• UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard are admitted FREE
• Youth 12 and younger with an adult are admitted FREE
• Any youth 12 and under unaccompanied by an adult are charged a $5 admission fee at the gate (cash only)
• All ticket sales are FINAL at time of purchase, whether online or at the gate

 
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