Missing a number of key components, the Wisconsin Wolfpack failed to score in the first half and suffered the worst loss in its brief existence, falling to the Marion Mayhem, 59-19, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum Saturday night.

Quarterback Tom Kudyba, running back and kick returner Derek “Tex” Brown, linebacker James Kamoku and defensive back Trey Bell were all unavailable to the Wolfpack (5-3) for a variety of reasons.

Attempting to replace Kudyba, absent for personal reasons, was his brother, Chris, but as the fourth Wolfpack quarterback in four games, Chris struggled to connect with his receivers in the same way his brother did in the Wolfpack’s 69-26 win over the Milwaukee Bonecrushers on May 2. 

The Wolfpack trailed 26-0 at halftime and did not score their first touchdown, a 25-yard pass from Chris Kudyba to Reggie Davis, until the score was 32-0 late in the third quarter.

Will Norwood led the Wolfpack with touchdown catches of 13 and five yards.  Kurt Ware had a sack for the Wolfpack defense.  Stanley Jackson had three touchdown passes for the Mayhem (6-2).

The loss puts the Wolfpack three and a half games behind the undefeated Chicago Slaughter in the Continental Indoor Football League’s Western Division.  The Slaughter defeated the Rock River Raptors, 77-47, in Rockford, Ill. to go to 9-0 on the season, while the Raptors’ loss makes them 4-5 and leaves them a game and a half behind the Wolfpack for the second and final playoff spot in the West.  The Slaughter have clinched a berth in the playoffs while the win for Marion made them the first team in the Eastern Division to lock up a playoff bid.

The Wolfpack and Slaughter will meet Sat., May 16 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill.  Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m.  The Wolfpack will be back at home, meanwhile, on May 23 to face the Miami Valley Silverbacks.  Originally scheduled to be a road game for the Wolfpack, the site of the non-conference game was moved in an agreement between the two teams and the CIFL.  Tickets are available online via ticketmaster.com.

The Continental Indoor Football League’s Website and Brian Ruth contributed to this story.