OSKALOOSA — The William Penn football team will open its 2024 campaign with the birth of a rivalry game as it faces off in the first annual Billy Bowl.

The Statesmen and the Owls will meet in Statesmen Community Stadium next Thursday at 7 p.m.  This season is the first for William Woods and administrators from both institutions collaborated on ideas to promote the inaugural contest between the two schools.

Along with labeling the matchup the Billy Bowl in reference to the name that both sides share, the squads will be competing for a professional wrestling-style championship belt.

“As William Woods joins the Heart of America Athletic Conference, we extend a warm welcome and look forward to the energy and competitive spirit they will bring,” William Penn Athletics Director Aleesha Rabedeaux said.  “With that being said, we are ecstatic to kick off the inaugural Billy Bowl, a new tradition between our university and William Woods.  We are eager to bring this tradition to the lives of our student-athletes, our campuses, and our communities.  Together, we will make history and create unforgettable moments for our student-athletes for years to come.”

The Statesmen are coming off a 2023 season in which they were 4-6 overall with a 2-3 record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division.

Friday’s game will be broadcast on KBOE 104.9 FM and kboeradio.com. Pregame is slated to start at 6:30pm.