ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine football team has released its 2017 schedule, the team announced today.

The 2017 season once again kicks off under lights with a Thursday night contest against in-state rival Manchester. This year's edition will be played Aug. 31 in Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium. The Thunder and Spartans have opened the season with each other every year since 2006. Trine has won the last two meetings, including a 23-9 victory in last year's opener.

Following the season opener, Trine hits the road for another contest against Bluffton, another Heartland Collegiate Athletic Association foe. The Beavers won last season's meeting in a thriller and finished the year 7-3 overall.

The Thunder then return to Fred Zollner Athletic Stadium for Homecoming Saturday, Sep. 16. Trine will host Wisconsin Lutheran in this year's Homecoming game. The Thunder won the last meeting between the two teams in 2014.

After a bye week, Trine wraps up non-conference play at Concordia Chicago. The Thunder won last season's meeting, the first all-time between the two schools.

The conference slate includes home games against Hope and Kalamazoo. Defending MIAA champion Olivet comes to Angola for Senior Day and the final home game of the regular season. Trine hits the road for conference contests against Albion, Adrian and Alma.

Trine concluded last season 6-4 overall and placed fourth in the MIAA with a 3-3 conference mark. The Thunder produced two All-Region performers and had seven players earn conference recognition from the MIAA.

The complete schedule is listed below. Please note that kickoff times for several away games will be determined at a later date. The schedule can also be viewed HERE.

ALL CAPS denotes HOME event
! denotes Homecoming
* denotes MIAA conference game
All kickoff times EST/EDT