Long before Marauder Football was regularly in the national rankings, the program had a workhorse in the backfield who could change a game every time he touched the ball. His name: Bobby Wagner.
A dynamic running back with breakaway speed and incredible vision, Wagner powered the University of Mary offense in the early 1990s, helping turn a young program into a conference champion and national playoff contender—and leaving his name all over the record book.
After an outstanding high school career in California, Wagner signed with Modesto Junior College, a Central Valley Conference member in his home state. There, he continued his strong play for two seasons, setting the stage for his move to Bismarck.
In 1992, Bobby enrolled at the University of Mary, and the Marauders offense changed overnight.
Wasting no time, Wagner immediately became the focal point of the UMary offense:
That season, Wagner:
He turned routine handoffs into big gains and gave Mary a true home-run threat any time the ball was in his hands.
If 1992 was special, 1993 was legendary.
That year, the Marauders:
Wagner’s numbers were staggering:
In two separate games in 1993, he scored four touchdowns:
Defenses knew exactly who was getting the ball. They still couldn’t stop him.
Incredibly, Wagner compiled these numbers in just two seasons at UMary, yet he remains one of the most prolific offensive players in school history.
Career records and rankings:
He also owns one of the most explosive special-teams plays in school history:
Bobby wasn’t just a great running back; he was a one-man scoring engine.
Wagner’s on-field dominance did not go unnoticed:
For a back who only played two seasons in Bismarck, that level of national recognition speaks volumes about just how much impact he had.
For today’s Marauder tailbacks, Bobby Wagner’s career offers a blueprint:
From California high school star to Modesto standout to UMary legend, Wagner helped launch the Marauders onto the NAIA stage and set standards that backs still chase today.