BISMARCK, ND – Taking advantage of a new opportunity to face an old foe, the University of Mary football team opens the 2024 season at home against the University of Jamestown. In the first season of Week 0 play for NCAA Division II, the Marauders host the Jimmies at 7 pm on Thursday, August 29.
 
This will be the first meeting between the two I-94 foes who last met on the gridiron 19 years ago when the Marauders downed the Jimmies 16-10 in 2005, UMary's final season prior to moving to NCAA play. This non-conference will be the 19^th meeting between UMary and Jamestown with the Marauders holding a 15-3 edge in the series.
 
 
With the addition of the University of Jamestown to the Northern Sun in the summer of 2025, the Marauders-Jimmies contest gives the two schools located 100 miles apart a jumpstart on the renewal of a rivalry that started in 1988, the first season of varsity football at UMary.
 
The Week 0 games, approved at the NCAA convention in January, allows for football contests to be played the week prior to the official opening weekend. The new regulation provides scheduling flexibility for NCAA Division II football programs but not any additional games over the maximum of 11.
 
UMary head coach Shann Schillinger leads his team onto the field with a second straight Thursday night home game at the MDU Resources Community Bowl follows the next week as UMary hosts defending Northern Sun champion Augustana to open a 10-game conference schedule on September 5, at 6 pm
 
Following their first road game (and first Saturday contest) of the season at the University of Sioux Falls on September 14, the Marauders host the University of Minnesota Duluth on September 21. For the third time in four NSIC games, UMary faces a team that finished either first or second in 2023 league standings when the Marauders travel to Bemidji State University on September 28 (BSU and UMD finished in a 3-way tie with Minnesota State University for 2^nd place).
 
Homecoming 2024 kicks off a new month when the Marauders host the Golden Bears of Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, October 5. Game time is 2 pm.
 
After playing four of their first six games at home, UMary plays three of its next four on the road. UMary visits Winona State University October 12 before coming back to the Bowl for a matchup in the Capital City with Wayne State College on October 19.
 
An off week follows the Marauders home game with the Wildcats before two games on the road at Southwest Minnesota State University (November 2) and Minnesota State University (November 9).
 
The Marauders wrap up the 2024 regular season with Senior Day on Saturday, November 16, against MSU Moorhead, the sixth home game of the year.
 
Tickets for the upcoming football season will be available online at www.UMaryTickets.com in July. Ticket packages and pricing will be announced in upcoming weeks.
 
2024 Marauders Football Schedule
Aug. 29    University of Jamestown                           Bismarck, ND
Sept. 5     Augustana                                                 Bismarck, ND
Sept. 14   University of Sioux Falls                            Sioux Falls, SD
Sept. 21   University of Minnesota Duluth                 Bismarck, ND
Sept. 28   Bemidji State University                            Bemidji, MN
Oct. 5       Concordia-St. Paul (Homecoming)           Bismarck, ND
Oct. 12     Winona State University                           Winona, MN
Oct. 19     Wayne State College                                Bismarck, ND
Nov. 2      Southwest Minnesota State University     Marshall, MN
Nov. 9      Minnesota State University                       Mankato, MN
Nov. 16    MSU Moorhead                                         Bismarck, ND
 
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