MADISON, N.D. -- Dickinson State football coach Pete Stanton was named the North Star Athletic Association coach of the year and 18 of his players earned all-conference recognition, the league announced Monday.
Stanton, a Baker native, guided the Blue Hawks to a 9-0 record this fall and their sixth consecutive conference championship. The NAIA national playoffs are scheduled for the spring of 2021, culminating with the national championship game on May 10.
"We are very proud of all of our players and would like to congratulate our players who were named to the 2020 NSAA football all-conference teams," Stanton said in a media release. "We were very blessed to be able to play all nine games this season leading to our sixth consecutive NSAA football conference championship."
Of the 18 players to earn all-conference honors, eight played high school football in Montana. Six Blue Hawks were first-team all-conference choices on offense, including running back Riley Linder, who played high school football at Scobey, lineman Blade Miller of Billings West, lineman Matt Dey of Sidney and Tyger Frye of Billings Senior. Quarterback Drew Boedecker and receiver Jaret Lee were also named to the all-conference first team, with Lee also being recognized as the NSAA's offensive MVP.
DSU linemen Presley Piliati and Aaron Faletoi and defensive back Javonte Oliphant were also named first-team all-conference on defense, while Isaiah Kuldt was a first-team special teamer.
Four Blue Hawks earned second-team all-conference recognition: offensive lineman Blake Murray, linebacker Nick Miller, defensive back Dawson McGlothlin and punter Jeremiah Paine. McGlothlin is a Sidney product, while Paine was an all-state, record-setting 6-Man player at Westby-Grenora in high school.
Derek Tabor, Jared Smith, Paxton Miller and Krew Mathern were honorable mention all-conference choices. Smith is from Glasgow and Miller is from Savage.
Aaric Spring, a Joliet native who played high school football at Billings West, was DSU's NSAA Football Champions of Character recipient.
