The University of Mary football team was welcomed into NCAA Division II by highly-regarded Chadron State two years ago.

Some greeting the Marauders received. The Eagles dominated in a 21-3 victory.

"We didn't put our toe in the water,"U-Mary coach Myron Schulz said. "We dove right in. Chadron is probably the toughest team we have played in D-II. We've played a lot of tough teams, but Chadron has been the classiest of them all."

The Marauders have another date with the Eagles tonight in the season opener for both teams. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at the Bismarck Community Bowl.

This year's assignment appears to be just as tough for the Marauders. Chadron State enters the season ranked No. 9 in the nation and has won 24 straight regular-season games.

The Nebraska college was picked to three-repeat as champions in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Despite Chadron State's reputation as a football powerhouse, Schulz likes the matchup over some cupcake team.

"When we do get to where we want to be, we will be ready," Schulz said. "We want to know what it takes to get there. Another reason is they are one of our closest opponents, and the (NSIC) is aligned with the RMAC."

In 2007, Chadron State finished the season ranked fifth. The Eagles advanced to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs before falling to Northwest Missouri State.

The Eagles return 19 starters off last season's team, including quarterback Joe McLain, who is 27-3 as a starter. Chadron State returns nine starters on defense, including the whole defensive line.

"They're a program we need to look at closely,"Schulz said. "They're not on a full-scholarship allotment. They have a small population base, just like us. If they can do it, we can do it."

U-Mary has done fine on its own in the D-II ranks. The Marauders have been 13-3 in the Northern Sun the past two years. The Marauders were a win away from earning a berth into the Mineral Water Bowl last season.

U-Mary finished last season winning seven of its final eight games.

The Marauders return just three starters from a defense that ranked No. 1 in the NSIC last season. The offense brings back nine starters, including the whole offensive line.

Jesse Kozak has been named the U-Mary starter at quarterback.

The senior split time with Blair Sandy in 2006 before being sidelined for the year with an injury. Sandy, who is no longer a team member, started every game last season.

NOTES:McLain is a first cousin of U-Mary men's basketball coach Juno Pintar. … For the first time since moving to D-II, the Marauders will face a team in the national rankings at the time of the game. … One of the big losses for Chadron State is running back Danny Woodhead, winner of the last two Harlon Hill trophies as the best player in D-II. Woodhead is on injured reserve for the New York Jets, according to nfl.com.