A Season of Dominance: Remembering the 1999 Marauder Football Powerhouse

Some seasons are good. A few are special. And then there are seasons like 1999—when a team doesn’t just win, it dominates.

The 1999 University of Mary football team stands as one of the greatest squads in Marauder history. A true powerhouse from opening kickoff to final whistle, this group stormed its way to the NAIA national semifinals, becoming one of only two UMary teams ever to reach that level.

Under the direction of Hall of Fame Head Coach Myron Schulz, the 1999 Marauders didn’t just raise the bar—they rewrote it.

An 11–2 Season and a Conference Run for the Ages

The 1999 team finished with an 11–2 overall record, tying the school record for most wins in a season. In North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) play, they were perfect:

• 5–0 in the NDCAC
• Conference champions
• Eight of nine regular-season wins by 21 points or more

The only “close” call in conference play came in a 24–17 home win over Dickinson State, sealing a flawless league run. Week after week, the Marauders left little doubt about who owned the field.

The exclamation point on the regular season came in the finale:

• A 56–7 blowout win over national power Carroll College, sending a clear message heading into the postseason.

A Postseason Run to the National Semifinals

Once the NAIA playoffs began, the Marauders kept their foot on the gas.

1. First Round – vs. Si Tanka
   UMary rolled to a 34–3 win, dominating in all three phases and announcing themselves as true title contenders.
2. Second Round – vs. Rocky Mountain College
   In a gritty defensive battle, the Marauders earned a 7–3 victory, avenging their only loss of the regular season.
3. National Semifinals – at Northwest Oklahoma
   The magical run ended one step shy of the championship game with a loss at Northwest Oklahoma, but by then the 1999 team had firmly cemented its place in program history.

Their 11–2 record and national final four appearance stand alongside 1995 as the best marks in UMary football history.

Records That Tell the Story

The 1999 Marauders didn’t just win—they dominated statistically on both sides of the ball. They set multiple team records that showcased their balance, toughness, and explosiveness:

• Fewest yards allowed per game: 178
• Fewest rushing yards allowed per game: 35.6
• Most touchdowns scored in a season: 65
• Most total points scored in a season: 460

Those numbers paint a clear picture: an offense that could score in bunches, and a defense that suffocated opponents.

Star Power: All-Americans and Honors

As you’d expect from a team this dominant, individual honors followed.

All-Americans in 1999 included:

• Eric Volk
• David St. Clair
• Seth Maier
• Quintin Cradle
• Kyle Sires
• Jason Davis

Senior quarterback Chris Schwab also joined the national honor roll, earning First Team All-NDCAC honors while steering the offense of one of the most explosive teams in school history.

The People Behind the Powerhouse

Great seasons are built by more than a starting lineup. The 1999 roster was deep and committed, featuring a long list of players who contributed on offense, defense, and special teams, including:

Team Members (partial list):
Will Albrecht, Joey Andersen, Graham Andrist, Jon Artz, Calvin Bacon, Kevin Banken, Jim Barrett, Collin Bell, Brady Brophy, Shad Brophy, Michael Brunner, Jason Buono, Cody Burnett, Eric Burns, Nolan Canright, Marshall Clemons, Jason Collopy, Quentin Cradle, Johnny Crawford, Jason Davis, Chris Demichaelis, Reed Dietrich, Ryan Dietrich, Matt Dietrich, Ben Dobbins, Ryan Doll, Bryan Durda, Casey Ell, James Fettig, Brian Fettig, Ben Floyd, Ty Francis, Mike Fritz, Scott Fuhrman, Robert Fuller, Steve Gerhardt, Marlon Glaspie, Matt Glass, Paul Goiceochia, Art Goldhammer, Jamie Grismer, Chad Hafner, Jesse Hager, Rocky Hand, Charles Hardesty, Shane Hartman, Adam Heil, Seth Helgeson, Jess Helvik, Lamar Hill, Doc Holliday, Crede Horton, Cole Houchen, CJ Huber, Brian Hytinnen, Ross Jepson, Stofer Johnson, Chad Kalmbach, Darin Keller, Brian Kimball, James Kimura, Mark Kraft, Robert Kremers, Sean Levesque, Ely Luckett, Bill Lytle, Seth Maier, Brandon Mathern, Luke McKay, Bob Meckle, Troy Merkle, Ben Myers, Andy Nelson, Jacob Niemitalo, Eric Nyback, Pat Nygaard, Mark Oliver, Jared Olson, Verna Owens, Chris Papenfuss, Greg Paramore, Nikia Parson, Josh Peldo, Corey Perman, Justin Pesta, Jake Peterson, Jay Phalen, Jeff Podzimek, Samuelu Poueu, Josh Quivey, Keith Rangel, Nick Raugust, Robert Renschler, Randy Rhinehoffer, Bryce Ritter, Brent Ritter, Reed Ruggles, Justin Russotti, Alejandro Salazar, Seth Sandness, Derek Schatz, Beanie Scherr, Joseph Schneider, Chris Schwab, Darryl Shavings, Josh Shaw, Kyle Sires, Josh Smith, David St. Clair, Tim Strauser, Anthony Jermaine Street, Dallas Stuker, Stormy Vickers, Eric Volk, Eric Wilting, Kyle Wilting, Justin Wittmayer.

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach Myron Schulz and assistants Paul Schaffner, Chris Clements, Scott Edwards, Steve LeGrand, Brent Johnson, DJ Johnson, Todd Sheldon, Jason Wagner, Ryan Geerdes, Tony D’Amico, Kylan Sayler.

Support Staff:
Tim Cariveau, Anne Hutchinson, Michael McCrory, Louise Wetzel.

Every practice rep, film session, scout team look, and support role helped shape that 11–2 season.

A Legacy That Still Inspires

For today’s Marauders and alumni, the 1999 team is more than a line in the record book—it’s a standard:

• Tough, dominant defense
• High-powered, relentless offense
• Championship expectations every time they took the field

When we talk about where UMary Football has been and where it’s going, the 1999 Marauders remain one of the clearest examples of what’s possible when talent, coaching, culture, and belief all come together.