The Deep Threat Who Rewrote the Record Book: Jake Pfau’s Marauder Legacy

When the University of Mary needed a big play in the early 2000s, everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going—and there still wasn’t much anyone could do about it.

Jake Pfau, a dominating wide receiver from Beulah, North Dakota, became one of the most feared playmakers in NAIA football. A two-time NAIA First Team All-American, he left UMary as the all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns and still sits second in career receptions. His career was so impactful that he was later named to the NAIA All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

From Beulah to Bismarck: A Perfect Fit

Pfau arrived at the University of Mary with the size, hands, and toughness that fit perfectly with the Marauders’ tradition of explosive offenses and disciplined football.

A two-time All-DAC-10 selection, he developed into the go-to target in an offense that expected to move the ball through the air and on the scoreboard.

2003: First All-American Season and an Elite Eight Run

Jake’s national breakout came in 2003.

That season, he:

• Caught 59 passes
• Racked up 1,038 receiving yards
• Hauled in 16 touchdown receptions

Those numbers helped power the Marauders to:

• A 10–2 overall record
• A trip to the NAIA Elite Eight

For his efforts, Pfau earned:

• NAIA First Team All-American honors
• All-DAC-10 recognition

He had become one of the premier receivers in the country—and he was just getting started.

2004: MVP, Champion, and Back-to-Back All-American

Pfau’s senior season in 2004 cemented his place among the all-time greats.

That year, he:

• Caught 67 passes
• Totaled 1,042 receiving yards
• Scored 10 receiving touchdowns

Led by his production, the Marauders:

• Won the DAC-10 title
• Returned to the NAIA playoffs

Individually, Jake added to his résumé:

• Named DAC-10 Most Valuable Player
• Earned NAIA All-American honors for the second straight year

He became just the second player in UMary history to earn First Team All-American recognition.

A Career Etched in the Record Books

By the time he played his final down, Pfau had stacked up numbers that still define Marauder excellence at wide receiver:

• 2,682 career receiving yards – 1st all-time at UMary
• 34 career touchdown receptions – 1st all-time
• 161 receptions – 2nd all-time
• 208 career points scored

He’s also the only UMary player to record two 1,000-yard receiving seasons, an incredible measure of consistency and dominance.

And on a single Saturday, he put together one of the greatest receiving performances in program history:

• 13 receptions vs. the University of Sioux Falls in 2002 – still the single-game record for catches.

Every stat line, every record, and every big moment tells the same story: when the ball went his way, good things happened for the Marauders.

Life After Mary: Tech, Teaching, and Family

Football wasn’t the only area where Pfau excelled.

The son of Robert Pfau and Mary and Rick Miller, Jake graduated from the University of Mary in 2005 with a degree in business administration.

He later transitioned into the world of technology and education:

• Works as a computer labs consultant at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
• Is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science

At home, Jake’s most important role is dad:

• He is the father of Gabriella Duncan

Just as he once balanced academics and athletics in Bismarck, he now balances work, advanced study, and family life in St. Louis.

A Standard for Marauder Wide Receivers

For current Marauder wideouts and alumni, Jake Pfau’s career is both a benchmark and an inspiration:

• Two-time NAIA First Team All-American
• Conference MVP and two-time All-DAC-10 selection
• All-decade recognition at the national level
• School records in career receiving yards, touchdowns, and a host of single-game and single-season feats

His story shows what’s possible when talent, work ethic, and opportunity come together—and it’s a reminder that some of the best wide receivers in small-college football history have worn Marauder orange and blue.