University of Mary senior Willie Wenschlag watched his injury on film for the first time this week.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker from Underwood tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee. Watching the replay of the gruesome injury was gut-wrenching for Wenschlag.

The injury happened early in the third game of last season against MSU-Mankato, which pounded the Marauders 40-0.

"On the first punt, I got cleaned up pretty good on a block," Wenschlag said. "On the second one, I was keeping my head on a swivel, looking for that guy to come up and clean me again. He didn't show up. I was planting to make a tackle. Some guy came flying down full speed. The way I was planting and the way he hit me, my cleat just kind of stuck in the ground, and the whole weight of my body came over my knee. After I watched it a couple times, it was a fluke accident."

The Marauders (1-0 Northern Sun, 1-1 overall) play host to the No. 8-ranked Mavericks (1-0, 2-0) today at the Community Bowl.

Wenschlag will try not to think of the injury when he suits up against the Mavericks, but that's easier said than done.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't (going to affect me), but it's not really going to hinder me," he said. "It will be more motivation than anything."

Wenschlag made 11 tackles last season before his season-ending injury. He was told that it was career-ending, and he still had doubts about a return during the first week of fall camp.

The fact that Wenschlag has returned to the gridiron is nothing short of a miracle.

Wenschlag has earned back his starting position and has collected six tackles so far this season.

"I'm happy for him, and for the team,"U-Mary coach Myron Schulz said. "We have a person working that spot with experience. He's moving good and playing well. I wouldn't have ever known he had that (injury) right now."

Wenschlag has been part of U-Mary's program for the past five years. Wenschlag was coached in Underwood by Kevin Dockter, whose brother Jeff coaches the U-Mary defensive line.

"The (U-Mary) defensive coordinator showed up at one of my classes and asked to meet with me,"said Wenschlag, a business management major. "At the time Mary was an NAIA national competitor almost every single year."

Getting Wenschlag to campus for a recruiting visit was more of a challenge.

He needed to reschedule his visit because the Minnesota Vikings were playing on television.

"My mom said 'I can't go, the Vikings are playing,'"Wenschlag said. "My mom is a die-hard Vikings fan. I had to reschedule with Schulz."

Schulz now laughs at the situation.

"That means that he loves football," Schulz said.

U-Mary is expecting the same thing it saw from MSU-Mankato last season two backs running at them. Defending the run plays to Wenschlag's strength.

"I'd rather have a run game and play physical than try to cover wide receivers down the field," he said.

And Wenschlag is hoping for different results.

"We know what went wrong last year," he said. "We're a way better team this year. We're a lot more experienced."

n NOTES: MSU-Mankato starting quarterback Ryan Fick (lower body injury) and receiver Vincent Flury (upper body injury) aren't listed on the depth chart for this week's game. … MSU-Mankato running back Ernest Walker scored three touchdowns against Bemidji State, including the game-winner in overtime. … The Mavericks are aiming for their first 3-0 start since 1993. … U-Mary faces three ranked teams in the opening top 25 poll Chadron State, Minnesota-Duluth and MSU-Mankato. Wayne State and St. Cloud State received votes in the initial poll. … Through two games, the U-Mary defense has already forced five turnovers, including four interceptions. In 2008, the Marauders forced just 12 turnovers in 11 games. … Fourteen Marauders have been in on 16 tackles for a loss.