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S.D. (NSAA) Valley City State (N.D.) is the preseason pick to win the 2014 North Star Athletic Association Football Conference, the preseason coaches’ poll announced Thursday.

It was the second straight season that the Vikings had been tabbed as the league’s favorite. VCSU earned 43 points and three first-place votes to finish first in the poll. Jamestown (N.D.) was second with 37 points. Both Valley City State and Jamestown were the first NSAA Football co-champions last season with a 3-1 record.

Dickinson State (N.D.), newcomer to the NSAA conference, collected two first-place votes and recorded 36 points to finish third in the poll.

Mayville State (N.D.) was fourth with 26 points, while Presentation was fifth with 24 points. Dakota State (S.D.) was picked sixth with 22 points.

Waldorf (Iowa), a new member to the NSAA football-only conference, received nine points to finish seventh.

The preseason poll was voted by the league coaches. To earn an automatic bid to the NAIA Football Playoffs, a team needs to be in the ‘Top 20’ in the national poll and win the conference title.