VIDEO: Ken Sparks Interview

For a fifth consecutive year, Carson-Newman will open up on a Thursday night, Sept. 1 in this instance, under the lights at Burke-Tarr Stadium. 

The Eagles welcome the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State from Arcata, Calif. The matchup could potentially pit two top 25 programs against one another in week one.  The Jacks finished the year ranked No. 16 in the AFCA poll and No.12 in the D2Football.com poll after an appearance in the second round of the playoffs and a loss to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State.

They return Ja'Quan Gardner, a running back who tallied 2,266 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns en route to a runner-up finish in the Harlon Hill Trophy balloting last year. 

"This gives us an opportunity to work hard in the offseason to play a team that's pretty special," Sparks said. "To be as young as we'll be in places, we'll have to grow up real fast in fall camp to get ready for that ballgame."

HSU featured an offense last year that rolled up 60 points twice and more than 50 on five occasions. 

The matchup will be the first for the Eagles and Jacks.  It will mark just the second meeting for Carson-Newman with a school from California.  The Eagles defeated UC Davis 29-26 in the semifinals of the 1996 NCAA playoffs at Burke-Tarr Stadium in the other meeting with a school from the Golden State.

The Eagles then hit the road the next two weeks starting with a Sept. 10 trip to Raleigh, N.C. for the renewal of a series with St. Augustine's.  The Hawks and Eagles last played in 2007 with Carson-Newman coming away with a 45-6 victory. C-N is 2-0 in the all-time series.

The Hawks scored 92 points last season and were shut out three times en route to a 1-9 finish while giving up 36 points per game. 

Week three send Carson-Newman to reigning South Atlantic Conference champion Catawba to open up league play with a pivotal showdown. 

"This schedule allows us great opportunities," Sparks said. "We will have some teams test our mettle right off the bat, then you won't have to worry about whether or not thing are going to play out because you'll know as soon as those first three ball games are over. We'll get to spread our feathers, or we'll have feathers ruffled."

C-N then closes out the month of September at home against Mars Hill on the 26^th before opening up October at home against Lenoir-Rhyne.  The Bears, who will be in their first season under new head coach Mike Kellar, have won four straight games against Carson-Newman. 

The Eagles find themselves back on the road as they hit the midpoint of their schedule.  Week six takes Carson-Newman to Brevard for the final time, as the Tornados finish their time in Division II.  On Oct. 15, the Eagles venture to the Palmetto State to face Newberry.  A 4 p.m. kickoff marks the Wolves' homecoming as the Eagles look for their first win at Newberry since 2010.

The Eagles wrap up the home portion of their schedule Oct. 22 and 29.  The 22^nd sees Wingate make the trip to Burke-Tarr Stadium for a 1 p.m. kick, while the Eagles will celebrate homecoming two days before Halloween against nonconference foe Limestone.  Carson-Newman beat the Saints in the first meeting between the programs last season 69-28. 

Carson-Newman plays its final two games on the road.  C-N heads to North Greenville Nov. 5 before closing out the year with archrival Tusculum Nov. 12 at Pioneer Field.  It will be the 47th recorded meeting between the Pioneers and Eagles and it will mark the 10th time the teams have met in the season finale.  The renewal of the second oldest collegiate football rivalry in the State of Tennessee will see the Eagles challenge new Pioneer head coach Jerry Odom.

"I don't know any easy game on our schedule," Sparks said. "Last year we had one or two that we thought we could win without it being too tough. This year we have 11 straight games that are going to be a good challenge for us."

All games will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network's flagship station Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), while the first 10 games of the season will be carried by affiliated Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville).  All games will also be streamed with audio at cneagles.com/live while video will be available for the home games.