BABSON PARK, Fla. (August 22, 2019) – The 2019 Webber International University football season is set to kick off on the road at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, against the No. 10-ranked team in the NAIA, Reinhardt University, in Waleska, Georgia.

After finishing as the NAIA National runners-up with a record of 12-1 back in 2017, Reinhardt lost their season opener last season before finishing 9-2 overall but again qualifying for the NAIA Football Championship Series. This season, the meeting between the Warriors and the Eagles will be the first game for any team from the Mid-South Conference in 2019.

After that, the Warriors will play back-to-back home games inside Denison Stadium at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 31, against Middle Georgia State University and again at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, against Union College.

Then, after another road matchup against another nationally-ranked team in the NAIA, No. 17 the University of the Cumberlands, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, in Williamsburg, Kentucky, Webber will look to open Mid-South Conference Sun Division play with its first ever game on its new Warrior Field located on campus on Saturday, October 5, at 1:30 p.m. against St. Thomas University.

It will be the 14th season for Webber football under Head Coach Kelly Scott.

Scott and his Warriors are coming off a great 2018 campaign that saw the team start 4-0 for the first time in program history and reach the seven-win mark (7-3 overall, 3-3 MSC Sun Division) for the third time under Coach Scott. The Warriors also achieved national rankings as high as No. 23 and No. 22 throughout the season.

"We have the potential to be a very good team, but we haven't accomplished anything yet," said Coach Scott. "I really like what we have on both sides of the football and am excited about our new Warrior Field on campus, but we still have to play the games and how we limit mistakes throughout the season will determine our level of success."

Top returners on the offensive side of the ball in 2019 include senior Tyler Roden and sophomores Samuel Schrager and Devin Primiano on the offensive line along with sophomore running back Davonte Williams. Roden and Schrager are both returning starters on the line while they and Primiano will look to fill the large shoes left by captain Charles Bernard, who graduated last year. Williams, meanwhile, rushed for over 60 yards a game and 4.8 yards per touch last season as a freshman while also reaching the end zone a team-best nine times overall.

One position the Warriors are expected to be deep at is that of wide receiver. First-Team All-MSC Sun Division pick Timothy Miller is back to lead the group in his senior season while others fighting for playing time at the position include senior Christian Acevedo and juniors Jeremiah Lucas and Kadarrius Carley. Additionally, tight end Bryce Briggs-Pierre is expected to be in the mix.

Yet another position battle that will be extremely interesting to watch is that of the quarterback. Redshirt freshman Cody Braden has the early lead on the position group, but Brycen Lee, a senior transfer from The University of Virginia's College at Wise is imposing at 6-foot-5. Additionally, rookie Elijah Stimmell (6-4) from West Orange High School in Florida is expected to get a chance as well.

On the defensive side of the ball, top returners include junior linebacker Travonte Haynie and defensive backs Brandon Bell, James Mallory, Isaiah Trexler and Alexander Blackmore in the secondary. Haynie finished with a team-best two interceptions on the year and was fifth in tackles with 52 last season.

Both Haynie and Williams were named Second-Team All-Mid-South Conference Sun Division back in 2018.

Overall on the defensive side, Webber will be once again be looking to prove that it can be one of the best defensive units in all of the NAIA. The Warriors ranked fifth in the NAIA in total defense per game two years ago in 2017, Webber's first season as a member of the MSC, and were sixth in the nation in total defense last season in 2018. However, this year, the task will be much harder for the Warriors' defense without their three all-conference picks from a year ago, Aaron Givens, Dequan Harvin and Antonio Brown.

New coaching additions for Webber in 2019 include new Quarterbacks Coach Jake Russell, new Offensive Line Coach Caylin Hauptmann, Assistant Defensive Line Coach Brett Carpenter and graduate assistant coaches Tyson Burch (Defense) and Caleb LaFleur (offense).

To follow the action during the Warriors' season opener on Saturday and all season long, please visit Webber's Stretch Internet and Live Events pages above for all of the video and live stats details.