#4 NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING SIOUX

TRADITIONAL POWER North Dakota will seeking a second national title in their last year of Division II play. The Fighting Sioux were national champions in 2001 and runners-up in 2003. Last season, UND finished 11-2 with the school’s 24th North Central Conference trophy. They shared the title with Nebraska-Omaha. The Sioux advanced to the regional final before falling to eventual title-winner, Grand Valley State. They were recently picked atop the NCC Pre-season poll and will be led by senior wide receiver Weston Dressler, junior center Mitch Braegelmann and sophomore running back Ryan Chappell. Dressler, one of 24 national finalists for the 2006 Harlon Hill Trophy as the best player in Division II football, led the nation with 90 receptions for a school-record 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. He also broke his own single-season school record for all-purpose yardage (2,027) and became UND’s all-time leader in career receptions (167) and career touchdown receptions (24). He earned seven different first team All-America honors last season. After missing the entire 2005 season due to injury, Braegelmann returned to the lineup last season and started all games at center, earning All-NCC first team honors. Chappell set UND freshman records with 1,253 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns despite starting just seven games. The Fighting Sioux start the season against D2 Independent Humboldt State before traveling to FCS (formerly I-AA) and future Great West Football Conference foe Southern Utah. The NCC schedule will complete the regular season for UND and is highlighted by a visit from UNO and traveling to South Dakota.