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.
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.
Jake’s national breakout came in 2003.
That season, he:
Those numbers helped power the Marauders to:
For his efforts, Pfau earned:
He had become one of the premier receivers in the country—and he was just getting started.
Pfau’s senior season in 2004 cemented his place among the all-time greats.
That year, he:
Led by his production, the Marauders:
Individually, Jake added to his résumé:
He became just the second player in UMary history to earn First Team All-American recognition.
By the time he played his final down, Pfau had stacked up numbers that still define Marauder excellence at wide receiver:
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:
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.
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:
At home, Jake’s most important role is dad:
Just as he once balanced academics and athletics in Bismarck, he now balances work, advanced study, and family life in St. Louis.
For current Marauder wideouts and alumni, Jake Pfau’s career is both a benchmark and an inspiration:
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.