There is a familiar look to the 2013 University of La Verne football schedule as the Leopards will face the same nine opponents from the 2012 season.
In 2013, La Verne will play a total of five home games at Ortmayer Stadium, including the home opener against NAIA opponent Menlo College on September 28 and the Homecoming contest against Whittier on October 12. Other home games include Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Oct. 5), Chapman (Nov. 2) and defending league champion Cal Lutheran (Nov. 9).
La Verne will make its 2013 debut on September 21 against Northwest Conference member Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash. The Leos come home the following week against Menlo before commencing conference play against CMS.
"There's some familiarity to knowing we're facing the same two non-conference teams from last season in Whitworth and Menlo," said head football coach Chris Krich. "Whitworth finished 7-3 overall last season, and Menlo is a scholarship program with a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, so the two games will definitely provide a challenge before the start of conference play."
SCIAC road games include Redlands (Oct. 19), Pomona-Pitzer (Oct. 26) and the regular season finale at Occidental (Nov. 16). The Leopards' road tilt against the Bulldogs along with the home game against Cal Lutheran serve as the only two night games on the schedule with both starting at 7:00 pm.
"Our conference is getting better top-to-bottom and each team in our league will provide a different challenge on a week-to-week basis," Krich said. "We know that the league is improved but we'll look to be competitive within the SCIAC once again."
La Verne is coming off a 2012 season in which it finished 4-5 overall including a 4-3 mark in SCIAC games.