THIS WEEK
The University of Mary football team is back home for the third time in four weeks when the Marauders host the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Northern Sun contest kicks off at 2 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. 
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 1-2 overall in 2024 with a 0-2 record in the Northern Sun… The Bulldogs are 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC.
 
LAST WEEK
In their first road game of the season UMary dropped a 35-33 decision at the University of Sioux Falls… UMD lost 30-29 to MSU Moorhead as the visiting Dragons scored with a touchdown with no time on the clock and converted a 2-point conversion for the win.
 
UMARY-UMD HISTORY LESSON

• This is the 17th meeting between the Marauders and the Bulldogs
• This is the first meeting between UMD and UMary in Bismarck since 2021
• The Bulldogs have won all 16 previous meetings including all seven in Bismarck
• 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.

LAST MEETING (Oct. 14, 2023) Kevin Butler made 12 tackles and broke up a pass for the visiting Marauders in a 46-0 loss to Minnesota Duluth.  

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 3 REWIND | SIOUX FALLS 35 UMARY 33
The Marauders battled until the closing seconds of a wild 35-33 road loss to the University of Sioux Falls. UMary scored two fourth quarter touchdowns and had possession of the ball in the ball in the final minute of play but ran out of time.

• The Marauders took a 7-0 lead on a 45 yard TD run by Jeremiah Moore. Moor ran for 51 yards on three carries in the game.
• The first of two Kevin Powell field goals gave UMary a 7-0 lead
• Andrew Trandahl's 89 yard kick return for a touchdown – his first TD in college – gave UMary its final lead of the day at 17-14
• Justus Breson's 3^rd interception of the season set up a Powell field goal just before half to pull UMary within 28-20
• The Marauders scored touchdowns in the 4^th quarter on a 2 yard run by Sofian Massoud to close within 35-26
• Mujeeb Rufai caught a 6 yard TD pass from Massoud with 5:07 left in regulation for the final points of the day
• UMary's took possession for the last time at its 1 yard line with 53 seconds on the clock
• Massoud passed for a career-high 305 yards, completing 32-of-48 passes. He both threw and ran for touchdowns and finished with 31 yards on the ground.
• Rufai caught 12 passes for 124 yards and scored a touchdown for the second straight game
• Karsyn Jablonski added seven catches for 103 yards and Luke Bodine added six grabs for 47 yards.
• Christopher Federico led the Marauders with 10 tackles (nine solo). Tuakoi Mahe had six stops with one for loss.
• The Marauders rolled up 21 first downs and a season-high 393 total offensive yards, including 92 on the ground. The Cougars (3-0, 2-0 NSIC) finished with 22 first downs and 468 yards of offense.

 
IN A (PASS) RUSH
The Marauders have six sacks through three games after posting 13.5 sacks in the 2023 season. Mason Phiilips leads the way with 3.0. Grant Collins is right behind with 2.0. Josh Obisui has the other UMary sack.
 
GROUNDED
The UMary defense allows 115.7 yards rushing per game to rank #4 in the NSIC. Opponents average just 3.8 yards/carry.
 
OUR BALL
The Marauders have committed just two turnovers in three games, both on interceptions. UMary has yet to lose a fumble. For the season the Marauder are +2 overall in turnovers, interception four passes.
 
CONNECTION
The Marauders are 14^th in the nation in completion percentage at 69.2% with Sofian Massoud completing 69.8% of his pass attempts (#11 nationally). The junior quarterback is 42-of-58 for 418 yards, two TDs and one interception.
 
BLOCK PARTY
Ian Kopf became the Marauders all-time NCAA leader in blocked kicks with five when he rejected a Jamestown extra point attempt in the opener. The junior from Walla Walla, WA, posted a pair of blocks each of the previous two seasons to go with one 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
The Marauders have not lost a fumble this season, one of only 40 teams.
 
KNOW THE RULEBOOK
The Marauders are 19^th nationally in fewest penalties committed per game (4.67) and 30^th in fewest penalty yards/game (47).
 
NCAA LEADER BOARD
Sofian Massoud

• #11 completion percentage (69.8)
• #9 completions/game (24.7)
• #29 Passing yards/game (241.0)

Mujeeb Rufai

• #23 receptions/game (5.0)

Mason Phillips

• #22 sacks/game (1.0)

Kevin Powell

• #22 field goals/game (1.33)

Justus Breston

• #3 interceptions/game (1.0)

Christopher Federico

• #22 solo tackles (6.0/game)

 
CAPTAINS
Sofian Massoud, Jakob Petry, Mujeeb Rifai and Mason Phillips have served as the Marauders captains this season.
 
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

 
SACKED
With two sacks in the season opener and another in game two, 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 11.5 times in his career (2.0 in 2022, 6.5 in 2023, 3.0 in 2024). All-American LB Grant Singer is #12 all-time at UMary with 16. 
 
EXPERIENCE
All 11 projected 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 34 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 36 straight games for the Marauders… LB Jakob Petry has played in 34 career games.
 
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.
 
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)
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
 
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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