For the second year in a row, the Montana Tech Orediggers will host the Dickinson State Blue Hawks in the first round of the NAIA football playoffs.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Frontier Conference champion Orediggers (9-1), winners of nine straight, crushed the Blue Hawks 44-10 last year on the Bob Green Field.
The Blue Hawks (9-2) won the NorthStar Athletic Association title with a 9-1 record. Dickinson lost 33-20 to Black Hills State on Oct. 29. The Blue Hawks fell 29-13 to Montana Western in the season opener in Miles City.
This will be the third first-round meeting between the Orediggers and Blue Hawks this century. Tech fell 30-13 at Dickinson in 2004.
Dickinson State played in the Frontier Conference in 2012 and 2013. After going 1-19 in conference play those two seasons, the Blue Hawks left for the NorthStar, which they have won the last three seasons.
Eastern Oregon is the only other team to make the playoffs. The Mountaineers will head to Doane (Nebraska) in the first round.
Despite jumping up to No. 19 in the final poll of the regular season, Montana Western was left on the outside looking in for the second straight year.
The top nine teams remained the same in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Tech remains at No. 6, while Eastern Oregon is No. 9.
The playoff teams and pairings were announced this afternoon. The playoffs will be reseeded after each round.
The Montana Tech tailgate opens at 10:30 a.m. All VIP Tailgate Pass holders have first rights to their tailgate spots for the postseason. All VIP Tailgate Pass Holders will be contacted before any spots are released to the general public.
Season tickets holders have first right of refusal for their seats for the first-round playoff game. All season ticket holders will be contacted or can call the Montana Tech Athletics office to reserve their seats. Tickets go on sale to the general public Wednesday at noon. Premium reserved tickets are $30 and reserved are $20. General admission tickets will be sold as walk up only for $12. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 496-4105.
NAIA Playoffs
First-round pairings
Robert Morris at Marian (Indiana)
Sterling (Kansas) at Baker (Kansas)
Southeastern (Florida) at Reinhardt (Georgia)
Missouri Valley at Saint Francis (Indiana)
Tabor (Kansas) at Morningside (Iowa)
Dickinson State at Montana Tech
Eastern Oregon at Doane (Nebraska)
Grande View (Iowa) at Lindsey Wilson (Kentucky)
2016 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Final (Nov. 13)
| RANK | LAST TIME | SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES) | 2016 RECORD | TOTAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Marian (Ind.) (15) | 10-0 | 340 |
| 2 | 2 | Baker (Kan.) | 11-0 | 327 |
| 3 | 3 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 11-0 | 306 |
| 4 | 4 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 9-1 | 298 |
| 5 | 5 | Morningside (Iowa) | 9-1 | 293 |
| 6 | 6 | Montana Tech | 9-1 | 278 |
| 7 | 7 | Doane (Neb.) | 9-1 | 254 |
| 8 | 8 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 10-1 | 248 |
| 9 | 9 | Eastern Oregon | 8-2 | 240 |
| 10 | 11 | Grand View (Iowa) | 9-2 | 221 |
| 11 | 12 | Missouri Valley | 9-2 | 208 |
| 12 | 13 | Tabor (Kan.) | 8-2 | 205 |
| 13 | 15 | Sterling (Kan.) | 8-2 | 178 |
| 14 | 15 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 9-2 | 170 |
| 15 | 19 | Robert Morris (Ill.) | 7-3 | 146 |
| 16 | 18 | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) | 8-3 | 143 |
| 17 | 10 | Kansas Wesleyan | 9-2 | 125 |
| 18 | 21 | Concordia (Neb.) | 7-3 | 108 |
| 19 | 22 | Montana Western | 7-4 | 106 |
| 20 | 14 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 6-2 | 104 |
| 21 | 23 | Langston (Okla.) | 7-2 | 71 |
| 22 | 25 | Arizona Christian | 7-3 | 70 |
| T23 | 24 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 7-4 | 40 |
| T23 | 20 | William Penn (Iowa) | 7-4 | 40 |
| 25 | 17 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 7-4 | 37 |
Dropped from Top 25: none
Others Receiving Votes: Saint Mary (Kan.) 23; Warner (Fla.) 9; Pikeville (Ky.) 3.
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