Dickinson State Blue Hawks

Location: Dickinson

Coach: Hank Biesiot, 33rd season (228-86-1)

2007 record: 3-4 DAC (fifth), 3-7 overall.

Top offensive returnees: James Macey, sr., RB (244-889, five TD); Clint Grosz, jr. WR (33-474, two TD). Derek Pauley, so., TE (22-294, three TD). Brandon Bishop-Parise, sr., QB (76 completions, 1,125 yards, 11 TD in 2006).

Top defensive returnees: Ryley McPeters, sr., DB (40 tackles, two interceptions). Kyle Pennington, sr., LB (46 tackles, two sacks). Carl Gauthier, sr., DE (32 tackles, two sacks).

Top special teams returners: McPeters, sr. (8.1 punt return average). Derion Williams, so. (15.8 kickoff return average).

n NOTES: Led the DAC in pass defense and fewest passing touchdowns. … Bishop-Parise returns to DSU after taking the 2007 season off. … Have won four DAC championships this decade.

Black Hills State

Yellow Jackets

Location: Spearfish, S.D.

Coach: John Scott, sixth season at BHSU (31-20), 19th season overall (106-68).

2007 record: 6-1 DAC (tied for first), 7-4 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Jason Boeding, jr., OL. Josh Breske, jr., OL. Tanner Ehrlich, so., RB (176-983, six TD).

Top defensive returnees: Wacey Coleman, jr., DE (48 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, nine and one half sacks). Tyler Tetrault, sr., LB (52 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, two and one half sacks). Tony Dill, sr., DB (45 tackles, seven interceptions).

Top special teams returner: None.

n NOTES: Defeated 42-0 by Carroll College of Montana in the first round of the NAIA playoffs. … Qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season. … Led the DAC in eight different team categories. … Former U-Mary receiver Jamie January will be playing for the Yellow Jackets.

Dakota State Trojans

Location: Madison, S.D.

Coach: Tom Shea, fifth season at DSU (102-69-3)

2007 record: 2-5 DAC (sixth), 3-6 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Donald Strand, sr. QB (62 completions, 571 yards, six TD)

Top defensive returnees: Brenton Hunter, sr. DB (33 tackles, two interceptions). Chris Schiller, jr., DL (32 tackles, four and one half tackles for a loss). Aaron Aylward, sr., DE (46 tackles, eight and one half tackles for a loss, one sack).

Top special teams returner: None.

n NOTES: Strand didn't finish the 2007 season because of a broken bone in one of his feet. … Shea coached Peru State to an NAIA Division II national championship in 1990 and was named national coach of the year. … Shea was once U-Mary head coach.

Jamestown Jimmies

Location: Jamestown

Coach: Bud Etzold, first season (24-26)

2007 record: 6-1 DAC (tied for first), 9-2 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Josh Kittell, sr., QB (196 completions, 2,320 yards, 22 TD). Clint McGovern, jr., OT.

Top defensive returnees: Cody Sailer, sr., LB (55 tackles, three and one half sacks, one blocked field goal). Tim Moch, sr., NG (41 tackles, five sacks).

Top special teams returner: None.

n NOTES: Defeated 45-14 by Morningside of Iowa in the first round of the NAIA playoffs. … Made their second consecutive trip to the playoffs. … Led the DAC in five different team categories. … Kittell was the DAC's Co-Most Valuable Player. … Etzold, who was on U-Mary's staff for five years, served as Jamestown's head football coach from 1995-99, coaching the Jimmies to conference championships in 1997 and 1998.

Mayville State Comets

Location: Mayville

Coach: Nathan Chin, first season.

2007 record: 1-6 DAC (seventh), 2-8 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Kevin Loncosky, sr., OL. Keith Christopher, sr. WR (36-327, one TD).

Top defensive returnees: Steven Elkins, sr., DL (68 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, five sacks). Tyler Green, sr., DB (47 tackles). Johnny Stillwell, sr., LB (24 tackles). Mike Pollard, sr., DB (51 tackles)

Top special teams returner: None.

n NOTES: Coach Chin replaces Jody Ford at the helm. Chin served as MSU's offensive coordinator for the past two years. … Returns 16 starters.

Minot State Beavers

Location: Minot

Coach: Paul Rudolph, second season (6-4)

2007 record: 6-1 DAC (tied for first), 6-4 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Nick Banks, sr., RB (232-1,259, 10 TD). Johnny Lester, so. WR (15-223, four TD). Jon Meier, jr., QB (163 completions, 1,951 yards, 13 TD).

Top defensive returnees: Chris Bowden, sr., DL (43 tackles, five sacks). Martel Pope, jr., LB (58 tackles, four interceptions).

Top special teams returner: Johnny Lester, so., KR (26.7 kickoff return average, one TD, six and one-tenth-yard punt return average).

n NOTES: Led the DAC in interceptions (24) and set a conference record for interceptions per game with 2.4. Banks led the DAC in rushing with 139.9 yards per game. He was the DAC's Co-Most Valuable Player. … Lester led the DAC in kick returns. … Meier led the DAC in pass attempts with 307. … Rudolph spent eight years as head coach at Upper Iowa.

South Dakota Mines Hardrockers

Location: Rapid City, S.D.

Coach: Dan Kratzer, fourth season (56-74).

2007 record: 1-6 DAC (eighth), 3-7 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Joshua Jones, sr., RB (142-561, five TD). Ed Waliczek, so., TE (18-214).

Top defensive returnees: Tyrell Anderson, jr., LB (123 tackles, one interception). Tom Lunzman, so., DB (73 tackles, five interceptions). Colton Clark, sr., DE (63 tackles, three interceptions).

Top special teams returner: None.

n NOTES: Seventeen starters return. … Lost running back Lukas Munsell, the DAC's Most Valuable Senior in 2007. … Kratzer has been a head coach at Hastings College and Ohio Northern University.

Valley City State Vikings

Location: Valley City

Coach: Dennis McCulloch, 12th season (64-47)

2007 record: 3-6 DAC (fourth), 4-6 overall.

Top offensive returnees: Chauncey Calhoun, sr., WR, (26-637, seven TD). Jason Beilke, sr., QB (139 completions, 2,011 yards, 10 TD). Dustin Brandt, sr., OL. Jason Hollett, sr., TE (9-138).

Top defensive returnees: Kevin Strang, so., LB (91 tackles, one sack). Coty Beck (76 tackles, one sack).

Top special teams returner: Calhoun, P (39.3 average-led DAC).

n NOTES: The Vikings return 14 starters.

Compiled by Cindy Peterson