University of Mary football coach Myron Schulz called middle linebacker Chris Moody one of the smartest players he ever coached.

That's quite a compliment considering Schulz has coached a wealth of talent in his 10th year at the helm.

"He has a lot of football smarts," Schulz said. "He's able to digest all the verbiage. He's a good football guy."

Moody, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior, entered the season as one of three returning starters on defense. Each week the unit has made improvements, and Moody can be credited with helping bring the unit along.

"It has been a little difficult," said Moody, a business major from La Habra, Calif. "We just have to play four quarters of football. It's a matter of the whole defense playing assignment-sharp football. Every week we're getting better and better."

The Marauders will have their hands full today when they play at MSU-Mankato, a former North Central Conference team.

It will be the first time the teams have met. Both have a 1-0 mark in the Northern Sun and a 1-1 overall record.

Moody will be a big part of U-Mary's game plan in covering the pass and stuffing the run.

In a win against Upper Iowa last weekend, Moody led the Marauders in tackles with nine stops. He also knocked away a second down pass that led to Upper Iowa punting the ball to set up U-Mary's winning touchdown drive.

"He's one of the guys who knows the schemes so well," Schulz said. "He can remind everybody with a verbal cue in what they need to do."

Schulz said the Mavericks field a solid team loaded with talent, from offense to defense to special teams. The Marauders can't key on shutting down one player.

"They don't have a fish, a guy that we put our best guy on and we win that battle,"Schulz said. "They are more of a physical team than we are accustomed to seeing."

Fullback Ernest Walker leads the Mavericks in rushing with 131 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown.

"He's a human cannonball," Schulz said. "He's Jerome Bettis-ish. You don't see a lot of guys like that playing in the backfield."

Quarterback Ryan Fick has completed 35 of 73 passes for 427 yards. He has thrown two touchdown passes and three interceptions. Vincent Flury has been the top ball catcher with 10 grabs for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

Jamal Lomax leads the Marauders on the ground with 141 yards on 36 carries. He scored three times last week at Upper Iowa. Piling up yards won't be an easy task for the sophomore this weekend. The Mavericks field three defensive linemen 280 pounds or heavier.

"The running game will be challenging," Schulz said. "They probably have the best defensive line we have ever faced. They have no fish. They are all good."

U-Mary quarterback Jesse Kozak has completed 38 of 71 passes for 469 yards and three touchdowns. Roman Penirian has 15 catches for 219 yards and one touchdown.