After weeks of preparation, the Sul Ross State football team has finally reached Week 1 of the 2022 season.

The Lobos are getting a big test to begin the year in the form of the Trinity University Tigers, which are ranked No. 9 in the d3football.com top 25 preseason standings.

"There's definitely a different type of excitement for our guys, and you can just tell the focus is laser-like," said interim head coach Barry Derickson. "I think we're ecstatic.

"We want to go out there, play our best and do everything we can to show that we're going to be competitive in this conference."

>> HEAD TO HEAD: The series between Sul Ross and Trinity dates back to 1939, with the Tigers leading the series 12-9.

Both teams haven't played each other since Sept. 19, 2015.

A decade ago, the Lobos pulled off the upset of Trinity at Jackson Field on Sept. 15, 2012, by a score of 62-35. That season Sul Ross finished 5-5 overall with one of the best offense's in program history.

The Tigers were ranked No. 16 in the preseason poll back in 2012.

Sul Ross met the Tigers four straight times from 2012-2015 before the series went on a seven-year hiatus.

>> THE TIGERS: Under ninth-year head coach Jerheme Urban, the Tigers return a lot of firepower on both sides of the ball.

Senior Tucker Horn, who threw for 2,478 yards last season with 33 touchdowns, is back under center as the starting quarterback.

On the defensive side, senior linebacker Caleb Harmel, a d3football.com preseason first-team All-American, spearheads the secondary after recording 36 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions last season.

Trinity flirted with perfection last season before dropping its first game during the opening round of the NCAA Division III playoffs to national champion University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

"We're getting the opportunity to prove ourselves or at least get tested very well against the No. 9 team in the nation," Derickson added.

>> NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENTS: This is one of three games in which the Lobos take on a nationally-ranked opponent.

Conference foes Hardin-Simmons and UMHB are ranked No. 6 and No. 1, respectively, in the d3.football.com preseason poll.

>> TEAM OUTLOOK: The Lobos got to suit up and play under the lights in front of fans during their intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 20.

There was plenty of high energy and big plays on both sides of the ball.

"For the most part, it was very promising," said Derickson. "I loved our approach. It was awesome. They took it with a lot of seriousness.

"The sky's the limit. We got to get them all in the same direction and hopefully we can get them to where they need to go, which is being successful in their life and on the field."

>> WEEK 2: Sul Ross travels to Texas A&M-Kingsville for a 7 p.m. CST kickoff on Sept. 10.
 
Game DAY INFO
WHO: Sul Ross State at Trinity University
WHERE: Multi-Sport Stadium (E.M. Stevens Stadium), 637 Kings Court in San Antonio
WHEN: 6 p.m. CST, Saturday, Sept. 3
LIVESTATS LINK: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=410479
LIVESTREAM LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FLDhLW48iI