HICKORY, N.C. -- The Lenoir-Rhyne Football Team has announced its 2021 schedule this evening. The 10-game slate kicks off on September 4 at Virginia St. with the home opener scheduled for Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. against Mars Hill. 

The 102nd season in program history is just under four months away as the Bears search for the 24th conference championship in team history. The only non-conference contest on the slate is opening weekend when the Bears travel to Virginia St. for a 6 p.m. kick off against the Trojans. This will mark just the third head-to-head matchup between the two programs and the first in Petersburg since 2014. 

SAC play opens on Sept. 18 when LR travels to Newberry. The Bears handed Newberry a 27-20 defeat in overtime this spring in the head-coaching debut for Mike Jacobs. 

The Bears will then play host to Mars Hill at 6 p.m. on September 25 as the Bears look to improve upon their 52-34-4 all-time mark in home openers. LR also opened at home against Mars Hill in 2018, coming away with a decisive 59-27 victory. 

After a trip to UVA Wise, the Bears will host Tusculum on Oct. 9 in a rematch of this spring's SAC Championship game. The following week, LR travels to Carson-Newman to renew a rivalry with the Eagles. 

Homecoming is set for Oct. 23 as Limestone comes to Hickory before the Bears hit the road for back-to-back weeks. LR will play at Wingate (Oct. 30) and at Barton (Nov. 6) before a historic matchup with long time rival Catawba. The Indians are set to come to Hickory on Nov. 13 to close out the regular season which will mark the 100th all-time meeting between the historic programs.

To view the full schedule, click here.