RFC Small College Preview: North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)--(NAIA)

North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)

2014 Football Standings

Looking back: The Valley City State University Vikings suffered one during the regular season--a 56-14 setback to Morningside--en route to nine wins and a North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) title in 2014. They were eliminated by Carroll (Mont.), 49-0, in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.

Looking ahead: Look for Valley City to reach the summit of the NSAA, as the fledgling league begins its third season of play.

Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):

1. Valley City State (9-2): As mentioned above, the Vikings will be the team every NSAA opponent will be chasing this fall. Enough said.

2. Dickinson State (7-4): The Blue Hawks were the only team in the NSAA to end the 2014 season with least two straight wins, as they won four straight games to close out the year. Hopefully, that streak will carry over into the 2015 campaign.

3. Presentation (6-4): The Saints got off to their best start in their brief four-year history at 6-1, only to lose their final three games of the 2014 season. The local faithful in Aberdeen, S.D. hope their team can finish strong at the end of the 2015 season. 

4. Dakota State (6-5): The Trojans will look to improve on a 2-4 mark in NSAA play from 2014.

5. Jamestown (5-5): The Jimmies hope to build on a third-place conference finish in which they finished 4-2 in NSAA action last season. 

6. Waldorf (3-7): The Warriors are in "uphill battle" mode after struggling to a 1-5 record in conference play a year ago.

7. Mayville State (2-9): Same situation applies for the Comets, who ended the 2014 campaign with seven straight setbacks.

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