Bagnell continues his playmaking ways on the gridiron at the Univiversity of Mary

BISMARCK, N.D. — Craig Bagnell has been a busy man since graduating from Polson in 2009. Bagnell was a star on the gridiron for the Pirates from 2005-2008, and not much has changed since then.

BISMARCK, N.D. — Craig Bagnell has been a busy man since graduating from Polson in 2009. Bagnell was a star on the gridiron for the Pirates from 2005-2008, and not much has changed since then.

However, what has changed is the scenery. Instead of throwing on Polson’s purple and gold, Bagnell now suits up in the blue and orange of the University of Mary (NCAA Division II) in Bismarck, N.D.

After redshirting his freshman year (2009), Bagnell has quickly become one of the best players in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

He hit the field as the team’s starting quarterback for the first time in 2010, passing for 1,893 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also had four scores on the ground. The team finished 4-6.

If he hadn’t caught everyone’s attention that year, he certainly did in 2011.

Bagnell exploded onto the scene, passing for 2,407 yards, 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He completed 66 percent of his passes, averaged 300 yards per game and again showed off some run skills with two rushing touchdowns.

He was rewarded for his efforts with second team All-Conference recognition and helped the Marauders improve their record to 5-6.

Bagnell looked to be in line for another fantastic season early on this year, passing for 359 yards and four scores in the season opener against Concordia-St. Paul and 409 yards and four more touchdowns against Augustana (S.D.) the following week.

His performance against Augustana even earned him NSIC Player of the Week honors.

His passing yards declined the next week against Southwest Minnesota State, but he still passed for 199 yards and three touchdowns, while scoring another with his feet.

More importantly, Bagnell had led his team to a 3-0 record.

However, things would change significantly the following game against Winona State (Minn.) on Homecoming.

Bagnell tossed for 319 yards and three touchdowns, but the team lost the game 32-23.

The worst news the team got that day, though, was that Bagnell had suffered a back injury that would sideline him indefinitely.

He would go on to miss the next three games, which would all turn out to be Marauders losses.

He returned on Oct. 20 against MSU Moorhead (Minn.) and looked to be turning things around for Mary after passing for 189 yards and a touchdown en route to a 23-7 victory.

Unfortunately, Bagnell never seemed to return to his true form until the final week of the season against Minnesota Crookston, when he threw for 323 yards and five touchdowns.

However, not even in that game, was the team able to pick up a win and the team would finish 4-7.

Bagnell finished the year with 2,101 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions to go along with two rushing touchdowns.

There’s no doubt Bagnell will try to improve on both his performance and his team’s record as a senior after a disappointing end to what looked to be a promising 2012 season.

Pushing himself and his team to succeed is nothing new to Bagnell, as he did just that in all four years at Polson.

As a freshman in 2005, he took over at quarterback and helped propel the Pirates to a Northwestern A conference championship.

He followed that up by earning All-State and first team All-Conference honors as a sophomore after passing for 1,328 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.

Like his “setback” with the Marauders this year, Bagnell’s junior year at Polson was also a “down year” for the quarterback. He passed for 1,188 yards, seven touchdowns and nine interceptions on his way to earning second team All-Conference.

However, it was the Pirates’ 5-4 overall record (3-3 conference) that really put a damper on the year.

In 2008 as a senior Bagnell did what he will also be hoping to do for the Marauders next season. He helped the Pirates get back on their feet, leading the team to another conference title.

He passed for 1,540 yards 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions that year, rushing for 264 yards and three touchdowns as well.

It was good enough to earn him All-State and first team All-Conference recognition, as well as co-Offensive MVP of the conference.

Bagnell made his mark on defense that season also, picking off two passes on his way to a first team All-Conference nod as a cornerback.

If history is any indication of how things will end up for Bagnell, he and the Marauders should be in for a great season next year.

Bagnell will also be trying to cement his place as one of the best quarterbacks in school history after he became just one of three Marauders players to throw for more than 5,000 yards earlier this season.