MCAC State Champion team Northland Community & Technical College heads to the Med City to take on Rochester Community & Technical College in opening game action on Saturday. 

NCTC head coach Jim Cox will look to replace three NJCAA All-America honorees from a year ago, including the leader in NJCAA passing yards in 2017, Shannon Patrick.  Patrick now suits up at NCAA Division I University of Arkasas-Pine Bluff.  The Pioneers won 5 of their last 6 games in 2017, winning the MCAC State Championship Game 68-35 over Mesabi Range but falling in the Graphic Edge Bowl opening game to Ellsworth Community College (4-8 overall), 55-14. 

The Yellowjackets will have a familiar face in a new role, with Derrick Hintz moving from coordinator to head coach. RCTC featured a smothering defense last season, led by linebacker Brandon Perce, who now lines up at NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University. The Rochester offense also had it's moments to shine, posting 50 points or more on a pair of occasions in wins over Itasca CC and Vermilion CC. 

For game and facility information, go to: http://www.rctcyellowjackets.com/landing/index

In 2017, NCTC def. Rochester, 23-12 in Thief River Falls.

Central Lakes College, currently receiving votes in the NJCAA national poll, will host Minnesota West CTC, who make the trip from Worthington to Brainerd for week one. 

Minnesota West featured one of the top receivers in the country last year in Reginald Colson III, who earned week four NJCAA National Player-of-the-Week honors in 2017 and is returning one of the most consistent special teams contributors in kicker/receiver Caleb Tinklenberg (Pipestone, MN).

Central Lakes won the Eastern Division regular season title in 2017 and dealt the BlueJays a 28-12 defeat a year ago. Head coach Greg Medeck will look to a blend of newcomers and returners to get off to the right start this fall.  CLC has reached the MCAC post-season for several consecutive years and was the 2016 MCAC State Champion two seasons ago.

For game and facility information go to: http://www.clcraiders.com/landing/index

In 2017, Central Lakes def. Minnesota West, 28-12 in Worthington. 

Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College will feature several new faces, including former Army Paratrooper and current head coach Davin DePoe.  In 2017, FDLTCC  featured a bruising running game early in the season behind All-Division running back Lorrine Parker; Saturday's contest will give fans a look at the new Thunder offensive philosophy as they take on the Warriors.

Ridgewater played their way into the 2017 MCAC post-season, on the strength of a pair of Divisional wins against M State and Minnesota West.  Ridgewater held DCB to 20 points in the 2017 season finale, and the Warrior defense will look to pick up in 2018 where they left off last fall. 

For game and facility information go to: https://ridgewater.edu/athletics/mens-sports/mens-football/

In 2017, Ridgewater def. FDLTCC, 13-6 in Cloquet. 

The Dakota College-Bottineau 'Jacks were a tough team to beat in 2017, earning a 8-2 overall record and falling just short in the MCAC semi-finals.  DCB fared well on the road at Itasca to open last fall and will host the Vikings to start this year.   Early reports out of Grand Rapids point to a large and deep recruiting class, and it is likely a new-look ICC program that will board the bus to Bottineau. 

Both rosters feature several new faces however, and each team will be looking to get into a rhythm offensively on Saturday.  The Vikings were able to find success on the road early in the season last year, gutting out a 21-20 win at Ridgewater in week two, and 2nd year head coach Weldon Braxton will be looking for similar success against the 'Jacks. 

For game & facility information: http://dcbjacks.com/sports/fball/index

In 2017, DCB def. Itasca, 40-19 in Grand Rapids. 

Mesabi Range College will take their 2018 show on the road to open up the season, traveling to Fergus Falls to tangle with the M State Spartans. 

Mesabi Range played their way to the 2017 MCAC State Championship game last fall and will look to build on that momentum when they roll into Fergus Falls.  The Norsemen featured a balanced squad in 2017, showing the ability to win offensive slugfests and grind out success in low-scoring affairs. 

Head coach Korey Fry and his Spartans will be looking to a quick start and chance to write a new story in 2018; several new faces on offensive and defense will look to impress their coaches - and the rest of the league- in this week one match-up. 

For game & facility information: http://athletics.minnesota.edu/landing/index

In 2017, Mesabi Range def. M State, 42-15, in Virginia. 

One of the longest trips in the MCAC is Wahpeton to Ely, and the North Dakota State College of Science Wildcats will traverse that route to take on the Ironmen of Vermilion on Saturday. 

Both programs feature first-year head coaches, with Eric Issendorf running the sideline for NDSCS and Justin Kosik calling the shots for Vermilion. The Wildcat 2018 roster features over 70 student-athletes, including more than 20 sophomores. Several Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin athletes will line up for NDSCS, who will be looking to repeat their playoff performance of 2018. 

Vermilion picked up wins against M State (28-17) FDLTCC (22-18) and Minnesota West (37-29) in 2017, qualifying them for the post-season where they dropped a hard-fought 24-8 contest to Central Lakes. Three of VCC's losses last fall were by less than a touchdown, including a close opening contest in Wahpeton.  The Ironmen will hope to get the Kosik-era off to a good start with home-field advantage on Saturday, in Ely. 

For game & facility information: http://www.vcc.edu/athletics/

In 2017, NDSCS def. VCC, 23-20 in Wahpeton, North Dakota.