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CITY (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City State football team is ranked No. 24 in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Spring Poll released on Monday.

The Vikings went 7-3 last season and finished the year No. 24 in the postseason poll, and they hold that spot as NAIA teams enter spring practices.  

Defending national champion Marian (Ind.) is ranked No. 1 in the spring poll, followed by national runner-up Morningside (Iowa). VCSU will play at No. 2 Morningside in their second game of the season Sept. 7.

Missouri Valley, Saint Xavier (Ill.), and Southern Oregon round out the Top 5.

VCSU is the only team in the Dakotas to be ranked or receive votes in the poll. The Vikings lost about a dozen seniors to graduation, many of whom started. They open the season Aug. 31 at rival Jamestown College.