LA PLUME, Pa. - Keystone College and head football coach Justin Higgins are excited for the inaugural season of Giants football, as well as joining the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC).
In 2019 Keystone played a sub-varsity schedule and now turns its sights on growing in the NCAA ranks.
"Like most people around the country, we are eager to get back to a playing season," said Higgins. "For us, there is extra excitement as we enter our inaugural NCAA season. It's been a unique path to this point, but getting a chance to get out there on the field and compete, especially this first season in the ECFC, is exciting. We know we have ways to go, as a new and young program, but we look forward to every step in the journey."
The Giants open the season on Sept. 4 in a road non-conference clash against Wilkes.
On Sept. 11, for the first time in 74 years, Keystone College will host a football game, when Misericordia comes to La Plume. The week following, William Patterson comes to town on Sept. 18.
The Giants head to New York on Sept. 25 to face Division III power Hobart. The Statesmen have seen much success including five NCAA Division III Football Championship bids in the 2010's, two of which saw quarterfinal appearances.
Keystone returns home and kicks-off its ECFC tenure on Oct. 2 against Anna Maria, followed by its first road conference matchup against Gallaudet on Oct. 9 in Washington, D.C.
The Giants celebrate homecoming on Oct. 16 when Dean College comes to town. Alternating home and road matchups follow, starting with a trip to Castleton, Vt. to face Castleton on Oct. 23 and then back home for the final home game of the season on Oct. 30 against Alfred State.
Keystone wraps up the regular season on Nov. 6 when it travels to Throggs Neck, N.Y. to face Maritime.
"As a new program we are not only trying to build success on the field, but establish a culture off," Higgins explained. "Our guys have done a great job with that here at Keystone, and especially with so many obstacles created through COVID. It's how they handled this time that makes me confident we will work to building the program we envision in all aspects. We understand one of the next challenges is this upcoming season and going through a full NCAA Division III schedule, which none of our guys have done. Our goal will be to focus on getting better as a program each day."
All home contests will be streamed live on the Keystone College Giant YouTube page.
