The third-ranked St. Thomas football team earned one of the top four seeds in the NCAA Division III tournament bracket Sunday evening and will play the Upper Midwest Conference Champion Northwestern-St. Paul in the first round of playoffs at home.

Mary Hardin-Baylor, UW-Whitewater and Alfred join St. Thomas in the top four teams.

After Mount Union’s 31-28 loss against John Carroll last Saturday in the final game of its regular season, the now seventh-ranked Raiders lost their chance at a first overall seeding. Mount Union has played in the Stagg Bowl 15 out of the last 16 years.

Watch the interviews with Coach Glenn Caruso, wide receiver Nick Waldvogel, cornerback Michael Alada, running back Josh Parks and quarterback Alex Fenske with their reactions of the selection show.

St. Thomas will face off with Northwestern-St. Paul for a spot in the second round of playoffs Saturday at noon at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. The Tommies will likely have home field advantage every week until they lose or reach the Stagg Bowl.