Living in the Backfield: The Record-Breaking Career of David St. Clair

In a program rich with defensive tradition, few players have terrorized opposing offenses the way David St. Clair did.

One of the most disruptive defensive forces in University of Mary football history, St. Clair earned All-American honors, set the single-season and career sack records, and helped lead the Marauders to the NAIA playoffs in both of his seasons in Bismarck.

When you talk about pass rushers in Marauder history, you start with No. 99.

From California to the Cold: An Immediate Impact

A native of Modesto, California and Denair High School graduate, St. Clair arrived at UMary as a transfer prior to the 1998 season.

It didn’t take long for him to make himself known.

In his first year as a Marauder:

• Played defensive end in a physical, attacking scheme
• Posted 10 sacks
• Earned All-North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) honors

Team success followed his production:

• The Marauders won the NDCAC title
• Advanced to the NAIA playoffs
• Finished the season 8–3 overall

It was clear: St. Clair wasn’t just another piece—he was a difference-maker.

1999: A Record Season and a Final Four Run

If 1998 was impressive, 1999 was historic.

Anchoring a defense that:

• Set a team record for fewest yards allowed per game (178)

St. Clair unleashed one of the most dominant pass-rushing seasons the NAIA had seen:

• 20 sacks – a single-season school record that still stands
• Constant pressure that forced offenses to gameplan around him

With St. Clair leading the way up front, the Marauders:

• Captured another NDCAC title
• Won two NAIA playoff games
• Reached the NAIA semifinals, becoming just the second UMary team ever to do so

That 1999 squad earned a place in the Marauders Hall of Fame, and St. Clair was at the heart of its defensive dominance.

His individual honors matched the impact:

• Named to Don Hansen’s First Team All-American list
• Earned Second Team NAIA All-American recognition
• Repeated as an All-NDCAC selection

By the end of his two-year career, he held the UMary career sack record with 30.

Etched in Marauder History

St. Clair’s numbers speak for themselves:

• Single-season sacks: 20 (school record)
• Career sacks: 30 (school record)
• Two-time All-NDCAC selection
• Multiple All-American honors

But beyond statistics, his legacy is felt in how Marauder defenses are still measured today. When coaches and alumni talk about high-motor, high-impact defensive linemen, St. Clair is one of the first names mentioned.

Life After Football: Building in a Different Way

The son of Willard and Ellen St. Clair, David carried the same work ethic that defined his playing days into the next chapter of his life.

Today, he is:

• Owner of Carpet Man Pro Flooring in Turlock, California, where he builds and serves in his community through business and craftsmanship
• Married to Victoria Young

From collapsing pockets to building floors, St. Clair has stayed true to who he is: detailed, relentless, and committed to doing the job right.

A Standard for Future Marauder Pass Rushers

For current and future Marauder defensive linemen, David St. Clair’s career is more than a line in the record book—it’s a challenge:

• Can you bring that level of relentless effort snap after snap?
• Can you elevate a good defense into a dominant unit?
• Can you help lead your team deep into November football?

From Modesto to Bismarck, from local standout to record-setting All-American, David St. Clair showed what it looks like when talent, opportunity, and toughness all come together in a Marauder uniform.