MADISON, S.D. (PlayNorthStar.com)- Dickinson State (N.D.) was tabbed to win the fourth consecutive Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Football conference title, the coaches’ preseason poll was released Monday.  The 2018 preseason poll was voted by the league’s head coaches.

The Blue Hawks tallied five first-place votes and collected 35 points in the Dacotah Bank/NSAA Football Coaches’ Preseason Poll.  Dickinson State won their third straight league title last season, completing the conference season with a perfect 8-0 record.  DiSU is currently on a 15-game NSAA conference winning streak since 2015-16 season.

Dickinson State was 9-2 overall record and ranked No. 14 in the final football national poll.  The Blue Hawks lost to No. 5-ranked Southern Oregon 55-24 in the 2017 NAIA Football Opening Round Playoffs.

Valley City State (N.D.) picked up the final first-place vote in the poll, but ended up in a tie for second-place with Dakota State (S.D.).  The Vikings and Trojans each collected 25 points in the poll.

Waldorf (Iowa) placed fourth with 20 points, followed by Presentation (S.D.) fifth with 13 points and Mayville State (N.D.) sixth with eight (8) points.

To earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Football Playoffs, a team need to be in the ‘Top 20′ in the national poll and win the conference title.

Dakota State kicks off the 2018 season on Thursday, Aug. 23, visiting Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in Mitchell.  Waldorf (Iowa) opens their season on Aug. 25 (Saturday) at Briar Cliff (Iowa), while Presentation (S.D.) travels to Trinity International (Ill.) on the same day.

The Dacotah Bank/NSAA conference season kicks off on Sept. 22 with the Blue Hawks hosting the Saints, the Comets hosting the Vikings and the Trojans visiting the Warriors.  Each North Star member will be playing a total of seven conference games in 2018.

Below is the complete results of 2018 NSAA Football Coaches’ Preseason Poll: