VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – The Valley City State University football program has finalized its 2018 schedule, head coach Dennis McCulloch announced Tuesday.

The Vikings open the season by continuing their historic rivalry with the University of Jamestown. The Vikings and Jimmies kick off the 2018 season Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. in Jamestown. It will be a non-conference contest as Jamestown moves to the Great Plains Athletic Conference next season.

The Aug. 25 opener will be the 120th meeting of the Viking-Jimmie rivalry, which dates back to 1909 and has been played every year continuously since 1946.

VCSU starts the 2018 season with three straight non-conference games, including the home opener on Sept. 1 against Northwestern College (Iowa), a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. VCSU also hosts Minnesota-Morris on Sept. 8 in a night game.

“We’re excited about our non-conference schedule,” said head coach Dennis McCulloch. “Continuing the rivalry with Jamestown is a big positive, and then hosting a high-caliber team like Northwestern is a great opportunity for our guys.”

Northwestern was ranked No. 8 in the final Top 25 Coaches’ Poll last season after advancing to the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs.

The Vikings begin conference play by hosting Mayville State on Sept. 22. Also visiting Valley City will be Presentation College (Sept. 29) and Waldorf University (Oct. 13). Valley City State’s Homecoming game will be Oct. 13 against Waldorf University.

After the season opener at Jamestown, VCSU is home for four straight games. Other road contests come later in the season at Dakota State (Oct. 6), Dickinson State (Oct. 20), Mayville State (Oct. 27) and Presentation College (Nov. 3).

The Vikings have seven conference games on the schedule, including two conference games each with Presentation College and Mayville State.

VCSU’s longest road trip of the season is the four-hour drive to Dakota State, meaning the team will have no overnight trips this season.

All games this season can be on KOVC 1490AM/96.3FM and NewsDakota.com

2018 VCSU Football Schedule

Aug. 25             @ University of Jamestown, 1 p.m.

Sept. 1             vs. Northwestern College, 1 p.m.

Sept. 8              vs. Minnesota-Morris, 7 p.m.

Sept. 22            vs. *Mayville State, 1 p.m.

Sept. 29            vs. *Presentation College, 1 p.m.

Oct. 6               @ *Dakota State, 4 p.m.

Oct. 13              vs. *Waldorf University, 2 p.m.

Oct. 20              @ *Dickinson State, 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT

Oct. 27              @ *Mayville State, 1 p.m.

Nov. 3               @ *Presentation College, 7 p.m.

*NSAA conference game