THIS WEEK
Taking advantage of the new Week 0 opportunity, the University of Mary renews an old rivalry when the Marauders host the University of Jamestown in a nonconference contest on Thursday, August 29. Kickoff for the 2024 season is slated for 7 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
 
WEEK 0
New NCAA legislation last January opened up Week 0 opportunities for NCAA Division II football and the Marauders are taking advantage. Separated by 100 miles along I-94, UMary and Jamestown last met on the gridiron in 2005, UMary's final season before completing the journey from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. The Jimmies are now in the process of a similar move and will join the Marauders in the Northern Sun and NCAA Division II in 2025.
 
WEEK 0 IMPACT
The NSIC moved to a 10-game conference schedule in 2023, opening up a single game each season for a non-conference game. Playing a non-conference game a week prior to the traditional opening weekend means the Marauders will have an open week October 26 before closing the season with three more games.
 
THE RECORDS 2023
The Marauders finished the 2023 season with a record of 2-9 overall and 2-8 in the Northern Sun. UMary finished the season with wins in their last two home games (27-23 over Minot State University in the Battle for the Paddle and 32-28 over Southwest Minnesota State University in the final home game of the year)… The Jimmies finished 2023 with a 2-9 record overall and 2-8 in GPAC competition. Jamestown finished the season with five straight losses.   
 
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.
 
BEK TV BROADCASTING THE MARAUDERS-JIMMIES GAME STATEWIDE
The University of Mary Week 0 home football game against the University of Jamestown will be broadcast live statewide by BEK TV. Chris Brintle and former UMary Athletic Director and Hall of Fame coach Roger Thomas will call all the action.
 
DAN DOHERTY JOINS UMARY AS VOICE OF THE MARAUDERS AS ALL LIVE BROADCASTS MOVE TO ONLINE ONLY
Dan Doherty, a voice familiar to many sports fans across North Dakota, joins the University of Mary as the lead broadcaster for Marauders athletics. As UMary moves all athletics broadcasts to streaming online only, Doherty is the new Voice of the Marauders.

"Dan Doherty brings a wealth of broadcasting experience to the University of Mary as Marauders athletics changes how we connect with our fans and deliver our content," said Cooper Jones, the UMary executive director of intercollegiate athletics. "In addition to home football and men's and women's basketball games, you will hear Dan's distinct voice and enthusiasm calling a variety of Marauders action and enhancing the quality of our webcasts throughout all our sports."  

The first Coordinator of Athletic Broadcasts and Live Events at UMary, Doherty will serve as the lead play-by-play announcer for all Marauders athletics.

All home Marauders contests and road Northern Sun games will air exclusively at www.GoUMary.com/coverage and www.NSICnetwork.com/GoUMary.

"I'm very excited to join the University of Mary in this role," said Doherty. "Being the voice of an NCAA Division II school is an incredible honor and one I will not take lightly. The Marauders have one of the top athletics programs in the Northern Sun and I look forward to connecting with all our passionate fans."

Prior to joining UMary, Doherty worked at BEK TV in Bismarck, ND, where he had the opportunity to broadcast Northern Sun basketball, football, soccer, and several Marauders hockey games. While working at BEK TV, Doherty was the voice of the North Dakota High School State Championships in volleyball, wrestling, and softball.
 
MARAUDERS-JIMMIES SERIES HISTORY

• It has been 19 years since the Marauders and Jimmies last played
• This will be the 19^th meeting between the two programs
• UMary defeated visiting Jamestown 16-10 in 2005
• The Marauders hold a 15-3 edge in the series
• The series began in 1988 with the visiting Jimmies claiming a 30-20 win in the first season of Marauders football
• UMary rebounded to claim a 38-14 the following season (1989) to start an 8-game winning streak over Jamestown
• UJ's last win came in 2004
• The Marauders are 7-1 at home against the Jimmies, including seven straight wins

 
QUICK HITTERS

• This is the first Week 0 contest for UMary as the rule was first instituted for 2024
• Located just 100 miles apart from each other on I-94, this is the first meeting between the Marauders and the Jimmies since 2005. The meetings will become more regular with the University of Jamestown joining UMary in the Northern Sun for the 2025-26 athletics season.
• Head coach Shann Schillinger is in his second season at the helm of the Marauders
• The Marauders open game week 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
• Six freshmen and redshirt freshmen earned starts last season for UMary on offense (RB Andrew Trandahl, RB Jeremiah Moore, OL Elliot Kooiker, TE/OL Henri Supenski, WR Karsyn Jablonski, WR Sean Saise) and two redshirt freshmen on defense (S Abram Jopp and DL Christian Arteaga)

 
EXPERIENCE
All 11 projected week one offensive starters for the Marauders earned starts for UMary. Leading the way is Melvin Hudson. The senior right tackle moved into the starting lineup week one of his freshman year in 2021. Hudson started 28 straight games before his streak was halted by injury. He returned two weeks later and has started all 31 games he has played in for UMary. Redshirt junior Luke Bodine was limited to three games in 2023 and enters his 4^th season as a starter at tight end.
 
On defense, linemen Grant Collins and Caden Green enter their 3^rd seasons as starters.
 
K/P Kevin Powell has played in 33 straight games for the Marauders… LB Jakob Petry has played in 31 career games.
 
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. 
 
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)

 
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.
 
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)
Special Teams/Safeties | 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


 
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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