The Upper Iowa Peacocks seem to bring out the best in University of Mary running back Jamal Lomax.

The 5-foot-8, 190-pound junior from Las Vegas helped lead U-Mary to a 48-31 victory over the Peacocks on Saturday in the Northern Sun and home opener.

Lomax carried the ball 29 times for 199 yards. He scored on a 50-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter that started a 21-0 scoring spree for the Marauders.

Lomax broke through two tackles to rumble in for the score.

"I just kept my legs going, and the next thing I knew I was in the end zone,"Lomax said. "It was all the O-line."

Lomax rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner, last season in Fayette, Iowa.

"I don't know what it is,"he said. "It's not like they're a bunch of cupcakes. They a quality opponent."

Lomax struggled to get yards in this season's opener against No. 10 Chadron State. He had nine touches for 27 yards.

Lomax said said he didn't allow himself to get frustrated. He wanted to focus on Upper Iowa.

"We executed our game plan better,"Lomax said. "The offensive line did an amazing job. The O-line to the defense to the coaching staff calling the right plays. It was called a team effort. I was just a little bit of help, that's it."

U-Mary improved to 1-0 in the Northern Sun and to 1-1 overall.

Milestone victory

U-Mary coach Myron Schulz notched a milestone victory on Saturday by recording his 80th win his 10th anniversary of being the program's head coach.

Sixty-two of Schulz's wins came at the NAIA level. Schulz took over head coaching reins in 1999, and 2005 was U-Mary's NCAA exploratory year but it played an NAIA schedule.

Schulz carries a .727 win percentage.

Schulz didn't view his 80th win as a special moment in his career. He sees it as a special moment for the whole program.

"I don't view myself as a head coach," Schulz said. "I view myself as part of the U-Mary football program. That's what makes it special."

Shea returns to Bismarck

Upper Iowa coach Tom Shea found himself in familiar territory on Saturday.

Shea was the head coach of U-Mary from 1991-97, where he led the Marauders to a 46-15-1 record in six seasons.

"Iusually come to Bismarck once or twice a year," said Shea, who noted he still keeps in touch with some of his Bismarck friends.

Under Shea, the Marauders won two conference titles and were ranked nationally in the NAIA from 1991-96. U-Mary qualified for the playoffs three times under Shea, reaching the quarterfinals in 1993 and the semifinals in 1995.

Schulz served as a positions coach and as a coordinator under Shea.

"Myron is a good coach," Shea said. "Otherwise I wouldn't have hired him."

Martin gets involved

Brady Martin entered the season as U-Mary's top receiver. The 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore from Aurora, Colo., was held without a catch against Chadron State.

Martin became more involved against Upper Iowa with four catches for 40 yards and two touchdowns.

"I had a good week of practice,"Martin said. "Getting that first catch was nice. It gives you confidence."

Martin's first touchdown, from Henry Lau, was an 8-yarder to the back of the left side of the end zone.

Sean Ziehlke's interception set up Martin's second touchdown at 5:39 of the third quarter. He reeled in a 20-yard pass in the right corner from Lau to put U-Mary up 34-24.

Lau completed passes to nine different people.

"This just shows the depth we have at receiver,"Martin said.

Newsome and Steffan make some big plays

Terry Newsome and Tyler Steffan didn't see action against Chadron State, but made an impact against Upper Iowa.

Newsome, who took a summer class at Bismarck State, had to get things squared away with his transcript.

Steffan, for the past two seasons, missed spring football and the first week of fall camp because of baseball.

Newsome had five catches for 128 yards and a 47-yard touchdown.

Steffan had made key back-to-back grabs for 57 yards on fade patterns. Steffan, a 6-4, 190-pound redshirt freshman from Dickinson, hauled in a 20-yard touchdown strike from Lau with 19 seconds remaining in the first half.

"Hank (Lau) likes to throw it up there,"Steffan said. "Hank was reading the defense."

It was Steffan's first collegiate touchdown.

"It was so amazing," Steffan said. "When the official raised his arm, I didn't know what to do."

This and that

n Linebacker Kopono Kaawa will not play this season. Kaawa became a father the weekend of the Chadron State game and decided to fulfill duties with his family instead of playing football.

n Saturday was the first of three televised games for U-Mary.

The Marauders will play MSU-Mankato on Saturday on KFYR-NBC.

n Caleb Thompson led U-Mary on Saturday with nine tackles.