Story Courtesy of the Heart of America Athletic Conference

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Heart of America Athletic Conference has announced its broadcast schedule for the 2017 football season with all 12 teams hosting one contest. Central Methodist University games will be broadcast twice, including the Sept. 23 game at Graceland and the Sept. 30 contest at home against Benedictine College.

The games will be carried live on ESPN3, KSMO and Mediacom, with kickoff for 11 of the 12 games scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT.

Entering its third season in conjunction with its broadcast partners as well as the Niles Media Group, Heart Football will continue to showcase the talented student-athletes of the league's institutions. The upcoming campaign comes on the heels of a 2016 television slate that included a pair of one-point games.

"The 2016 season was historical for a number of reasons, and having the ability to show off our student-athletes with great broadcast partners is something we are excited to continue in 2017," said Commissioner Lori Thomas. "We are committed to showcasing each campus in the conference as well as providing the best matchups on a weekly basis."

The 2017 television schedule will kick off at Larry Wilcox Stadium in Atchison, Kansas as Benedictine hosts Missouri Valley, renewing one of the great rivalries in the conference. The month of September opens with a showdown between two-time divisional winners as Baker travels to Grand View in a matchup of 2016 NAIA Football Championship Series qualifiers. The Wildcats will be on the air in back-to-back weeks, heading to Culver-Stockton on Sept. 16.

Divisional play will open and close with a pair of fierce rivalry games from the South Division. MidAmerica Nazarene travels to Baker on Oct. 14, while the Pioneers will host Missouri Valley in the season finale on Nov. 11. Prior to a rematch between Evangel and Avila from one of the 2016 broadcasts, the North Division will be on display as William Penn travels to Peru State on Oct. 21 before hosting Benedictine the following Saturday.

2017 HEART FOOTBALL
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 – Missouri Valley at Benedictine, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 2 – Baker at Grand View, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 9 – Baker at Culver-Stockton, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 16 – Peru State at Missouri Valley, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 23 – Central Methodist at Graceland, 11:00 a.m.
Sept. 30 – Benedictine at Central Methodist, 11:00 a.m.
Oct. 7 – Graceland at Evangel, 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 – MidAmerica Nazarene at Baker, 11:00 a.m.
Oct. 21 – William Penn at Peru State, 11:00 a.m.
Oct. 28 – Benedictine at William Penn, 11:00 a.m.
Nov. 4 –Evangel at Avila, 11:00 a.m.
Nov. 11 – Missouri Valley at MidAmerica Nazarene, 11:00 a.m.

CMU Football Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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