THIS WEEK
The 2024 season for the University of Mary football team wraps up Saturday, November 16, when the Marauders host MSU Moorhead in the Battle for the Paddle on Senior Day. Kickoff between the Marauders and the Dragons is 12 noon at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
THANK YOU SENIORS
17 Marauders football scholar-athletes and two members of the cheer team take to the field for the final time for the Blue & Orange on Saturday. Making their final appearances are Jakob Petry (LB, Henderson, NV), Mujeeb Rufai (WR, Portland, OR), Eli Heinrich (LB, Kindred, ND), Bryce Tate (DB, Phoenix, AZ), Kevin Powell (K/P, Bremerton, WA), Ryan Woroniecki (LB, Hebron, ND), Carter Smith  (OL, Bismarck, ND), Donzell Howard (DL, Florence, AZ), Liam Bannon (OL, Glendale, AZ), Grant Collins (DL, Peoria, AZ), Jaydon Coley (OL, Moorhead, MN), Melvin Hudson (Locust Grove, GA), Luke Bodine (TE, Plymouth, MN), Josh Obisui (DL, Worcester, MA) and Caden Green (DL, Rocklin, CA). Cheer team seniors are Mia Riley (Savoy, TX) and Aubrey Brown (Des Lacs, ND).  
 
PADDLE TROPHY
The first-ever gridiron match-up between the University of Mary and Minnesota State University Moorhead took on a little extra edge in 2006 as both schools battled for The Paddle Trophy in this "River Rivalry" game. UMary is located on the Missouri River and MSU Moorhead is on the Red River. Both are Northern Sun North Division rivals... The Paddle Trophy was developed by the student governments of the two colleges. The team that wins each year is responsible for the safekeeping and delivery of the Paddle Trophy and its case to each game between the Marauders and Dragons. The home team's student body representative will award the Paddle Trophy, which has each school's logo on opposite sides of the blade, with the score of each game being added to the winning team's side after the game... UMary won the first seven paddle games, grabbing initial possession with a 21-20 win in Bismarck in 2006. Marauders linebacker Brian Finnegan preserved the initial UMary win when he deflected a Dragons pass on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:08 remaining in the game. MSUM captured the paddle in 2013 for the first time with a 48-41 win.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 2-8 overall in 2024 with a 1-8 record in the Northern Sun… The Dragons are 5-5 overall and 5-4 in the NSIC.
 
LAST WEEK
Tied 14-14 in the 3^rd quarter, UMary eventually lost 49-21 at #18 Minnesota State… MSU Moorhead fell 25-14 to Bemidji State in the Dragons final home game of 2024.
 
MARAUDERS-DRAGONS SERIES HISTORY

• This is the 18th meeting between the Marauders and the Dragons
• UMary has played MSUM every season since joining NCAA Division II in 2006
• MSUM leads the series 9-8
• The Marauders won the first seven meetings
• The Dragons have won the last eight meetings
• The two schools first met in 2006, which was the start of the Paddle Trophy
• 14 times in 17 games the winning team has scored 30 or more points
• Six times the losing team has cracked 30 points and twice scored 40
• UMary is 5-3 at home and 3-6 at MSUM

 
PAST MARAUDERS-DRAGONS MEETINGS
(MSUM leads series 9-8)
2006 Mary 21 MSUM 20 - Bismarck, ND
2007 Mary 42 MSUM 31 - Moorhead, MN
2008 Mary 24 MSUM 17 OT - Bismarck, ND
2009 Mary 39 MSUM 13 - Moorhead, MN
2010 Mary 43 MSUM 17 - Bismarck, ND
2011 Mary 52 MSUM 13 - Moorhead, MN
2012 Mary 23 MSUM 7 - Bismarck, ND
2013 MSUM 48 Mary 41 - Moorhead, MN
2014 Mary 52 MSUM 45 - Bismarck, ND
2015 MSUM 37 Mary 0 - Moorhead, MN
2016 MSUM 47 Mary 16 - Bismarck, ND
2017 MSUM 51 Mary 19 - Moorhead, MN
2018 MSUM 48 Mary 20 - Bismarck, ND
2019 MSUM 47 Mary 32 - Moorhead, MN
2021 MSUM 35 Mary 31 - Moorhead, MN
2022 MSUM 40 Mary 38 – Bismarck, ND
2023 MSUM 35 UMary 7 – Moorhead, MN
 
PAST MARAUDERS-DRAGONS MEETINGS
2006: The Marauders and Dragons first met in the inaugural Paddle Trophy game with Mary pulling out a 21-20 win despite throwing five interceptions, including a string of four in four pass attempts. Justin Fleck ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns and Matt Wall had seven catches for 140 yards and a score. MSUM scored with 1:08 left in the game but went for a two point conversion and the win. Brian Finnegan tipped the pass in the end zone to preserve the lead and the Mary victory... 2007: Bayland Rippenkroger and Erik Kruse both scored two touchdowns in a 45-31 Mary road win... 2008: Jamal Lomax scored his 2nd TD of the day in overtime and Phil Thomas secured a 24-17 Marauders win when he knocked down a Dragons 4th down pass attempt on the final play of the game... 2009: Cameron Gatling ran for 184 yards and caught two scoring passes in a 39-13 Marauders road win. Mary outgained MSUM 379-250, including a 258-46 edge in rushing. The Marauders forced six turnovers and committed one... 2010: Craig Bagnell passed for two TDs and Jamal Lomax ran for 169 yards and two TDs in a 43-17 Marauders win. John Oyloe has two of UM's four sacks. The Marauders had a 194- 40 edge in rushing... 2011: Tyler Steffan tied his school record with four TD receptions and the Marauders set a school record with 683 yards of offense in a 52-13 win. Steffan caught nine passes for 123 yards. Josh Murray ran for 216 yards on 16 carries and scored three TDs, all in the 3rd quarter, and Evan Gross ran for 107. Bagnell was 24-of-35 for 319 and four TDs... 2012: Bagnell threw for 189 yards and a TD and the Marauders defense limited the Dragons to 225 yards in a 23-7 Mary home win. Dariouse Gravely scored two TDs and Tyler Steffan had four catches for 80 yards. Grant Singer posted 3.5 tackles for loss and John Oyloe had 3.0, including two sacks... 2013: Mary lost the Paddle Trophy for the first time in a 48-41 road loss. Down 27 points in the 1st half, the Marauders rallied for a 41-41 tie in the 4th quarter. MSUM won the game on the next possession when backup QB Ryan Toelle hit Adam Jiskra for a 39 yard TD catch. MSUM outgained Mary 582-522. Bagnell was 34-of-57 for 399 yards, 5 TDs and one INT. Nick Jolliffe caught 12 passes for 148 yards and two TDs. Jiskra posted a line of 7-131-2 and Cory Ambrose was at 7-136-1. Jake Hodge was 15-of-25 for 301 and three TDs. He also ran for two TDs. Grant Singer posted 15 tackles for Mary... 2014 Zach Roberson completed 27-of-45 passes for 460 yards and a school record-tying six touchdowns plus ran for a TD in a 52-45 Mary home win. Roberson earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. Dragons QB Demetrius Carr ran for 208 yards and passed for 188 and rallied MSUM from a 44-17 deficit to a 45-44 lead. Roberson hit Elby Pope for a 45-yard TD to win the game with 4:26 remaining. Pope caught 11-169-2. Jake East went 7-93-2 and Myron Baldoz-McArn was 4-87-1. Troy Guptill had 2.0 sacks - both on MSUM's final drive of the game - and 4.0 TFL. Preston Tescher added 12 tackles. The squads combined for 1,095 yards of offense... 2015 MSUM's Kayne Griffith bolted 72 yards for a TD on the third play of the game in a 37-0 MSUM home win. Preston Tescher made a career-high 17 tackles... 2016: Brothers Zack and Connor Graves each scored a touchdown for the Marauders in a 47-16 home loss to the Dragons. MSUM QB Demetrius Car ran for 143 yards and two TDs and passed for 166 yards and a TD. Gibson caught 10 passses for 131 yards and a TD... 2017: FR WR Luke Little and Anthony Shepherd both caught touchdowns and UMary ran for 270 yards in a 51-19 loss at MSU Moorhead. QB Garrett Weissinger ran for 92 yards a TD. Jakup Siani ran for 94 yds and 2 TDs and passed for 205 yards and a score for MSUM... 2018: Bryan Lumsden ran for 81 yards and two TDs and Chase Kopp caught a 59 yard touchdown from Garrett Wessinger for the Marauders in a 48-20 home loss. Siani threw for three TDS and ran for two for MSUM... 2019 A furious 4th quarter rally left the Marauders just short in a 47-32 road loss to the Dragons. The Marauders scored 17 straight points on a Brody Riggs field goal and two Bryan Lumsden TDs to pull within 40-32. MSUM sealed the game with a TD with 1:39 left in the game. Danny Kittner had 7 catches for 121 yards and a TD plus 242 all purpose yards. Lumsden ran for 84 yards and 2 TDs. Jordan Velarde passed for 252 yards and 2 TDs. Grady Bresnahan had 3 TD catches for MSU... 2021 In a game of two ties and five lead changes, Bryon Boll scored with 10 seconds remaining to give MSU Moorhead a 35-31 home win. Dave Small Jr. provided the Marauders a 31-28 lead with 4:33 in the game. Smal ran for 102 yards. Logan Nelson threw for 299 yards and 3 TDs. Luke Little caught 5-85-2 and Danny Kittner 10-80-1. Nate Eschleman 2 tackles for loss… 2022 Danny Kittner broke his own school record for all-purpose yardage in a game that featured five lead changes in a 40-38 MSUM win to spoil the Marauders homecoming game. Kittner caught 13 passes for 131 yards and 2 TDs and returned a kick 92 yards for a TD. In the game he broke NSIC records for career catches and yards. Dave Small Jr. ran for 130 yards and 1 TD. Johnny Tillman had two interceptions. MSUM receiver set NSIC single game record for catches with 21. He had 215 yards receiving and 3 TDs, including the winner with 4:43 to play in the game… 2023 Major Kelly had two sacks and Traivon Dyson caught 9 passes for 137 yards for UMary in a 35-7 loss at MSUM. The Marauders held a 387-344 edge in yardage but was -4 in turnovers. The Dragons started fast, scoring 21 points in the 1^st quarter.
 
FOLLOW LIVE

• All Marauders home games and home and away Northern Sun games are streamed live online at www.nsicnetwork.com/goumary and at www.GoUMary.com/coverage 

• Live stats for Marauders football are available online at www.GoUMary.com/coverage

 
MARAUDERS ATHLETICS MOVES ALL LIVE ATHLETICS BROADCASTS ONLINE
Beginning with the 2024-25 athletic season, the University of Mary is moving all athletics broadcasts to online streaming only. All Marauders home games and home and away Northern Sun games will stream live and free of charge at www.nsicnetwork.com/goumary and at www.GoUMary.com/coverage. Join Dan Doherty, the Voice of the Marauders, and Hall of Fame football coach and former UMary athletic director Roger Thomas on the call for all home football games. 
 
GAME 10 REWIND | #18 Minnesota State 49 UMary 21
Trailing 14-0 in the first quarter, the Marauders scored the next 14 points to pull even before #18 Minnesota State pulled away with touchdowns on five straight possessions.

• Down 14-0, a 4^th down stop by Adam Knowles turned momentum towards UMary
• Carl Henry caught a shovel pass from Jordan Polo-Solomon and powered his way into the end zone for a 3 yard TD at 8:10 of the 2^nd quarter.
• Mason Phillips sacked the MSU quarterback in the end zone and forced a fumble that was recovered by Josh Obisui in the end zone to pull UMary even 14-14 in the 3^rd quarter.
• The Obisui fumble recovery is the 5^th defensive TD for UMary this season
• After four TDs by the Mavericks, Mujeeb Rufai caught a 4 yard TD pass from Polo-Solomon
• Andrew Trandahl ran for 45 yards and Henry ran for 39 yards and added 24 yards receiving
• Polo-Solomon passed for 204 yards and two TDs

 
POINT PRODUCER
Josh Obisui scored for the Marauders for a second straight week. The defensive lineman produced a safety at SMSU in game nine. He followed in week ten with a touchdown when he recovered a fumble in the end zone at Minnesota State.
 
MARAUDERS 2^nd IN NATION IN DEFENSIVE TDS
The University of Mary are 2^nd in NCAA Division II in touchdowns scored by the defense with five. Ony Emory 7 Henry with seven defensive TDs have scored more. Justus Breston returned two interceptions to the house in the opener, Jaylen Martin had a 43 yard fumble return for a touchdown against Minnesota Duluth and Maleik Bradford returned a fumble 60 yards for a touchdown at Southwest Minnesota State. Josh Obisui recovered a fumble in the end zone at  Minnesota State.
FOURTH AND FINAL
Opponents are converting only 18.8% of their 4^th down attempts against UMary, the top defensive conversion rate in the NSIC and 2^nd best in NCAA Division II. Teams have earned a first down just three times in 16 opportunities.
 
THE TURNOVER TOUCH

• The Marauders have forced 20 turnovers this season, the 19^th most in the nation
• UMary ranks 6^th nationally in fumbles recovered (10) and 46^th in interceptions (10)
• During a three-game stretch against #RV Minnesota Duluth (3 turnovers), #21 Bemidji State (4 turnovers) and Concordia-St. Paul (3 turnovers), UMary forced 10 turnovers.
• 5 times this season UMary has forced 3 or more turnovers (3 v Jamestown, 3 v Minnesota Duluth, 4 at Bemidji State, 3 at SMSU)
• UMary ranks 1^st in the NSIC in fumble recoveries and 3^rd in interceptions

 
PRECIOUS COMMODITY
The Marauders are +3 in turnover margin this season. UMary has committed 17 turnovers (13 interceptions, 4 fumbles lost) while forcing 20 turnovers (10 interceptions, 10 fumbles recovered).

• UMary is 47^th nationally in turnover margin (+.30 per game) 

 
IN A (PASS) RUSH
The Marauders have 15 sacks through ten games after posting 13.5 sacks in the 2023 season. Mason Phillips leads the way with 5.5. Grant Collins is right behind with 3.0. Josh Obisui has 2.0 while Christopher Federico, Tofa Wilson, Christian Arteaga and Cameron Brusven own 1.0 sacks each while Jakob Petry has 0.5 sacks.
 
RETURNED FOR A TOUCHDOWNNNNNN!
The Marauders have six touchdowns on returns this season:

• Justus Breston returned two interceptions to the house in the opener against Jamestown
• Andrew Trandahl returned a kickoff 89 yards for the score at Sioux Falls
• Jaylen Martin had a 43 yard fumble return for a touchdown against Minnesota Duluth
• Maleik Bradford returned a fumble 60 yards at SMSU
• Josh Obisui recovered a fumble in the end zone at Minnesota State

 
RANKED
Six of the Marauders nine NSIC opponents this season were either nationally ranked (#14 Augustana, #21 Bemidji State, #24 Wayne State, #18 Minnesota State) or receiving votes (Minnesota Duluth, Sioux Falls) at game time.
 
DYNAMIC DUO
Mujeeb Rufai and Karsyn Jablonski give the Marauders two of the top 20 players in the NSIC in receptions this season. Rufai is 7^th in receptions with 50 catches for 491 yards and three TDs. Jablonski is 18^th in receptions with 30 catches for 452 yards and two touchdowns.
 
STOP!
Christian Federico is 5^th in the NSIC with 7.5 tackles per game. The sophomore linebacker has 75 total tackles (50 solo). He has 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks.
 
BLOCK PARTY
Ian Kopf is the Marauders all-time NCAA leader in blocked kicks with six. He set the record when he rejected a Jamestown extra point attempt in the opener for the 5^th of his career and added a PAT block at SMSU. The junior from Walla Walla, WA, posted a pair of blocks each of the previous two seasons to go with two this year. Kopf was named the NSIC Player of the Week in his freshman season of 2022 when he blocked a pair of extra points in a 27-26 UMary overtime win over Northern State. His second block of the game came in overtime. The Marauders previous NCAA-era leader in blocked kicks was defensive lineman Brock Pittsley. The all-NSIC performer had four from 2014-17.
 
BALL SECURITY
After six games without losing a fumble, the Marauders lost a fumble for the first time this season in game seven at Winona State. UMary was one of the last nine teams in the nation to not lose a fumble. For the season the Marauders have only lost four fumbles.
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Mason Phillips owns 10.0 tackles for loss this season, including 5.5 sacks. He ranks 4^th in the NSIC with 1.0 TFL/game. He is also 4^th in the NSIC in sacks/game (.55)… Josh Obisui owns 9.0 tackles for loss and ranks 9^th in the NSIC with .90 TFL/game.
 
AIR GUARD
Justus Breston, the NSIC and D2Football.com Player of the week after retuning two interceptions for touchdowns in the Week 0 season opener, is among the NSIC leaders in passes defended. He is 6^th in the NSIC with three interceptions and has also broken up five other passes for eight total passes defended. His average of .80 is 4^th in the NSIC… Jakob Petry ranks 10^th in the NSIC at 0.70 passes defended/game (5 breakups, 2 interceptions).
 
SACKED
With two sacks in the season opener and 5.5 total in 2024, Mason Phillips is on his way to cracking the Marauders All-Time career leader board. In his third season, the junior linebacker has corralled opposing QBs 14 times in his career (2.0 in 2022, 6.5 in 2023, 5.5 in 2024). All-American LB Grant Singer is #12 all-time at UMary with 16. 
 
EXPERIENCE
Several Marauders have played at least 25 games for the Marauders:

• Kevin Powell has played in every game since his freshman season in 2021 as the Marauders punter and kicker, a string of 43 straight games
• A starter at right tackle since game one as a freshman, senior Melvin Hudson has played in 40 games, all starts. Hudson has also gone two years without allowing a sack.
• Sr. LB Jakob Petry has been a part of 41 UMary football games
• Sr. DL Grant Collins has competed in 36 UMary games
• Junior tight end Luke Bodine has played 33 games
• Sr. Caden Green has appeared in 32 games on the defensive line
• KR Jaxon Feller has appeared in 30 games
• WR Jaxon Young has played in 31 games, missing just one contest in three seasons
• Jr. Mason Phillips has played 30 games at linebacker
• Ian Kopf has played in 30 games on the defensive line
• Jr. LB Eli Heinrich has been in 26 career games
• JR OL Mika Fuamatu has played in 25 games

 
NCAA LEADER BOARD
Mujeeb Rufai

• #38 receptions/game (5.0)

Christopher Federico

• #24 solo tackles (5.0/game)

Matty Horne

• #15 fumbles recovered (2)

Ian Kopf

• #14 Blocked Kicks (2)

 
NCAA TEAM RANKINGS
#2 defensive touchdowns (5)
#2 4^th down conversion % defense (18.8%)
#6 fumbles recovered (10)
#16 fewest penalties/game (5.00)
#19 turnovers gained (20)
#25 completion percentage (.641)
#28 fewest fumbles lost (4)
#29 blocked kicks (4)
#34 Fewest penalty yards/game (50.2)
#46 passes intercepted (10)
 
CAPTAINS
Sofian Massoud, Jakob Petry, Mujeeb Rifai and Mason Phillips have served as the Marauders captains this season.
 
UMARY FOOTBALL'S STEFFAN AMONG 2024 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Tyler Steffan (Football 2008-12), the 1st UMary football player to earn NCAA All-American honors, was enshrined in the Marauders Hall of Fame during homecoming on October 4. A devastating weapon at wide receiver, Tyler used his size, speed, and athleticism to make big plays all over the field. He led the nation with 17 TD catches in 2011 and ranks 2nd in career TD catches (30) and 4th in catches (162) and yards (2,494).
 
QUICK HITTERS

• Among the 58 Marauders who played in the season opener, 16 were playing in their first game for the Orange & Blue
• 10 of the Marauders 11 game 1 starters on offense started games last season with senior transfer WR Kalani Washington (transfer from Sacramento State) the lone newcomer. Since then Jaydon Coley (TE/G) and OL Leo Togia have also earned starts. 
• 10 of the 11 Marauders game 1 starting defenders also played for UMary last season with JR LB Tuakoi Mahe (transfer from Chabot College) the lone new face. Since then CB Justus Breston has also earned a start. 
• WR Karsyn Jablonski, LT Elliot Kooiker and RB Jeremiah Moore – all sophomores – are the lone underclassmen in the offensive starting lineup
• Defensively the Marauders have started four sophomores – LB Chris Federico and DBs Antwon Jenkins Jr., Abram Jopp and Treyton Horstman
• Head coach Shann Schillinger is in his second season at the helm of the Marauders
• The Marauders opened the season with 98 players on the roster
• UMary returns 64 players from last fall, including 47 Marauders who saw action last season
• BY CLASS: 18 true freshmen, 13 Redshirt Freshmen, 24 sophomores, 25 juniors, 18 seniors/graduate students. 
• 26 players who started at least one game for UMary in 2023 return (15 offense, 11 defense)
• The incoming class features 18 freshmen and 16 transfers

 
FAMILY MATTERS
Ryan Woroniecki's older brother Adam also played football for the Marauders… Cameron Brusven and Karsyn Jablonski are 2nd generation Marauders as their father's played football for the Marauders.
 
TWO TRAVELING TROPHIES
The Marauders play two games annually for travelling trophies. UMary is a combined 12-15 in trophy games. The Marauders are 8-9 in the "Battle for the Paddle" with MSU Moorhead and 4-6 in the "Battle for the Big Lake" against Minot State.
 
DEFENSE!
The UMary defense limited Southwest Minnesota State to 6 points, 12 first downs and 224 total yards, one of the Marauders best efforts of the NCAA era starting in 2006.

• The 224 yards allowed is the fewest given up since Northern State gained just 219 in 2010
• The 6 points allowed is the least allowed since holding Minnesota Crookston to 6 points in 2016
• The 12 first downs is the fewest by an opponent since limiting UMC to 11 in 2018

 
CENTURY MARK
Carl Henry ran for a career-high 108 yards at SMSU. The Bismarck, ND, native is the first UMary runner to crack the century mark since Dave Small Jr. ran for 147 yards against Concordia-St. Paul on Oct. 29, 2022.
 
OBISUI NAMED NSIC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Defensive lineman Josh Obisui was rewarded with Northern Sun Football Defensive Player of the Week honors after dominating the line of scrimmage in the Marauders 15-6 win at Southwest Minnesota State University. A relentless performer all game, Obisui forced two fumbles, including one returned for the Marauders lone touchdown of the day, sacked the Mustangs quarterback in the end zone for a safety and made four tackles behind the line of scrimmage. The senior from Worcester, MA, finished with eight tackles on the day, including six solo stops.
 
Obisui changed the dynamic of the game on a 4^th down and 1 yard to go for SMSU at the UMary 41 yard line. Virtually untouched, Obisui knifed into the backfield and separated Mustangs quarterback Wyatt Oak from the ball. UMary defensive back Maleik Bradford scooped up the ball and raced 60 yards for a touchdown to give UMary a 7-6 lead in the second quarter.
 
In the third quarter with the ball on the SMSU 2 yard line, Obisui sacked Kendon Krogman in the end zone for a safety to boost the UMary lead to 12-6.
 
Late in the game Obisui eliminated any chance for a Mustangs rally when he forced a fumble that was recovered by Travis Biery at the SMSU 28 yard line with less than a minute on the clock to cinch UMary's first NSIC win of the season.
 
4.0
The 4.0 tackles for loss by Josh Obisui in a victory at Southwest Minnesota State is the is the most by a UMary defender since Troy Guptill posted 4.5 TFL against Minnesota Crookston in 2013… For the season Obisui is tied with teammate Mason Phillips for fourth in the NSIC in tackles for loss with 9.0. He also has two sacks and two forced fumbles among 28 tackles (21 solo).
 
BRESTON NAMED NSIC, D2FOOTBALL.COM DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Justus Breston picked up a pair of impressive honors following his stunning Marauders debut. The junior defensive back from Atlanta, GA, returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns (25 and 47 yards) and broke up another pass in UMary's 23-6 Week 0 win over the University of Jamestown.
 
For his efforts Breston was named the D2Football.com national defensive player of the week, a first for a UMary player. The only other Marauders to previously claim D2Football.com weekly honors were Tyler Ryan (special teams in 2013) and Danny Kittner (offense 2021).
 
The transfer from Chabot College was also the Northern Sun defensive player of the week. Breston was the UMary player to earn NSIC weekly accolades since Kittner earned offensive honors on October 24, 2022. The last UMary player to earn defensive honors was Paul Guptill in the final game of the 2019 season.
 
MUJEEB RUFAI NAMED MARAUDERS OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH IN NSIC
A transfer from the University of Idaho, Mujeeb Rufai immediately played a major role in the Marauders offense in 2023. The senior wide receiver from Portland, OR, caught a team-high 65 passes for 569 yards and three touchdowns. Rufai snared a season-high 12 passes against the University of Sioux Falls and posted nine receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown at Concordia-St. Paul.
 
MASON PHILLIPS NAMED THE MARAUDERS DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH IN NSIC
Mason Phillips provided tremendous pressure in opponent's backfields last year as the junior linebacker led the Marauders with 6.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss. The native of Gilbert, AZ, also forced and recovered a fumble. Phillips posted a pair of sacks and forced a fumble against USF while making a sack and forcing a fumble in a win over Southwest Minnesota State University. He was 5th in the NSIC in sacks and 13th in tackles for loss.
 
UMARY PICKED 13^th IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
UMary was picked to finish 13th in the 2024 NSIC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll. Minnesota Duluth sits atop the rankings, followed by Augustana, Minnesota State, Wayne State, Bemidji State, MSU Moorhead, Winona State, Sioux Falls, Northern State, Concordia-St. Paul, Southwest Minnesota State, Minot State and UMary. 
 
MARAUDERS FOOTBALL QUICK FACTS
History | 36th varsity season (JV season 1987, varsity 1988)
Record - overall (through 2023) | 191-181-1
Record - conference | 132-145
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, 2^nd year (Montana, '10)
Offensive Coordinator | David Schramm, 2^nd year (San Diego State, '88)
Defensive Coordinator | Ben Davis, 10^th year (MacMurray, '11)
Offensive Line | Mark Martin, 6^th season (St. Cloud State, '01)
Wide Receivers | Renato Diaz, 1^st season (University of South Florida, '83)
Defensive Backs/Asst. Special Teams Coordinator | Van Cooper, 2^nd year (Montana, '07)
Inside Linebackers | Tom Johnson, 3^rd year (University of Mary, '17)
Outside Linebackers / Pro Scout Liaison | Eli Alford, 1^st year (Montana, '23)
Running Backs / Recruiting Coordinator | Gavin Robertson, 1^st year (Montana, '22)
Tight Ends | Eli Stewart, 1^st year (United States Naval Academy, '22)
 
Equipment Manager | Wayne Norman
Chaplain | Father Jarad Wolf
 
STAT CITY | NCAA DIVISION II FINAL 2023 RANKINGS FOR RETURNERS
Mujeeb Rufai #19 receptions/game (5.9)
Eli Heinrich #22 fumble recoveries (2)
Jaxon Feller #6 combined kick return yards (772)
Ian Kopf #16 blocked kicks (2)
Kevin Powell #47 in punting (39.1 yards/punt)
Kevin Powell #14 field goal percentage (.769) and #38 in field goals made/game (0.91)
Sofian Massoud #36 completion percentage (0.619)
 
TEAM STAT CITY | NCAA DIVISION II FINAL 2023 RANKINGS FOR RETURNERS
#20 4^th down conversion (.591)
#16 Blocked kicks allowed (1)
#49 Blocked kicks (3)
#33 Completion percentage (,619)
#16 Fewest penalties/game (4.82)
#28 fewest penalty yards/game (48.3)
#28 Fumbles lost (5)
#32 fumbles recovered (9)
#14 kickoff return defense (16.0) 
#36 Turnovers lost (15)
 
SHANN SCHILLINGER – YEAR 2 LEADING THE MARAUDERS
Former NFL player and Baker, MT, native Shann Schillinger leads the Marauders onto the field for his second season in 2024 after taking over as UMary head coach in 2023. 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.
 
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