2023 Schedule
MARYVILLE – Maryville is digging deep into the football annals to begin the 2023 gridiron schedule.
The Scots open at Sewanee on Sept. 2 and then host Centre one week later. Those are two of the all-time opponents in Maryville College football history.
"We're excited to have the chance to play two traditional rivals to start our nonconference schedule," Maryville head coach
Ben Fox said. "These are two schools we recruit against, two schools that mean a lot to our alumni, and programs we have played for a long, long time.
Maryville and Centre have opposed each other in football 66 times, with the Colonels winning the last six to take a 36-29-1 series lead. Only MC-Emory & Henry at 71 meetings is a more common opponent for the Scots, but that series has been halted since 2017 with E&H's move to the Division II ranks.
This is the first Maryville matchup against Sewanee since 2013, and the Tigers hold a slim 17-14-0 advantage in the series. September's 32nd all-time matchup between the two storied Tennessee programs moves that series into fourth on the Maryville list, with Rhodes holding third place at 38 series games. Millsaps at 31 games rounds out the Maryville top five.
"Opening the season at Sewanee is a great challenge for us with all the positive momentum they have," Fox said. "And then welcoming Centre for our first home game – that's just a tradition-rich program that will be a very good football team."
USA South/ODAC Challenge Part II
The Scots once again are participating in the USA South/ODAC Challenge against Shenandoah, this time Sept. 16 in Northern Virginia. Shenandoah survived a furious Maryville fourth-quarter rally and prevailed 34-29 here last season.
"Shenandoah was really good last year; they will be really good again," Fox said. "We played just a fabulous college football game against them here last year when they made one more play than we did. It will be a great challenge, and the guys are excited for all three of the nonconference game."
After that, its straight into USA South Athletic Conference play for seven of the next eight weeks. The Scots open Sept. 23 at Brevard, and then after a bye week host Greensboro before traveling to defending champion Huntingdon on Oct. 14.
Homecoming is Oct. 21 against LaGrange, and Maryville is home again the next week against Belhaven. After a trip to North Carolina Central, the Scots close out the regular season Nov. 11 at home against Southern Virginia.
"Our guys have worked really hard all through the winter and during spring practice," Fox said. "They know our league is as good as it's ever been, with a lot of depth and a lot of good football teams. Some new coaches who are really fine football coaches are in the league, and they will bring a lot of excitement and have their teams prepared.
"Our guys are desperate to put their best foot forward every Saturday and show how hard we've worked as we try to become the team and program that Maryville College deserves and that our alumni deserve. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but we are excited about doing it together."
