The Statesmen, who finished their 2008 campaign at 7-4 (5-2 Midwest League), will travel to Dyersburg, Tenn. for the bowl game against perennial NAIA powerhouse Georgetown (Ky.) on Saturday, August 29 at JC Sawyers Stadium. Game time has yet to be decided.

The game has been sanctioned by the NAIA, therefore allowing Penn to play a 12th game. The NAIA currently limits its members to only 11 regular-season football games.

Penn's opponent, the Georgetown Tigers, have a tremendous history on the gridiron, owning 14 Mid-South Conference titles and three NAIA national championships in 1991, 2000, and most recently in 2001. The Tigers are the all-time winningest football program in the Mid-South Conference.

It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

"We are very excited to get the opportunity to play in the Big River Bowl," Penn Head Football Coach Todd Hafner said. "We are also excited because we are playing such a quality opponent in Georgetown. It will be quite a challenge because of their tradition, but we expect it will be a great experience and will help us down the road."

According to its website, http://www.dyersburgfootball.com/pages/bigriverbowl.htm, the Big River Bowl began as a vision by Dyersburg High School Head Football Coach James Counce to bring "something positive and wholesome that families could attend along with promoting our community".

"Our selection committee is extremely excited that William Penn will showcase its program here in Tennessee," Big River Bowl Spokesperson Mark Grant said. "We are aware they have a lot of talented players on their roster from down here in Tennessee and Mississippi, so it will be great for their fans to be able to come here for the game."

"We have great respect for both William Penn and Georgetown and are happy that they have accepted our invitation to what we hope will be the first of many Big River Bowls," Grant added.

Team Dyersburg was formed in January 2008 with the purpose of bringing positive sports events to Dyersburg. The group quickly formed a partnership with the NAIA and petitioned the organization for a preseason bowl game and in April of 2008, the NAIA sanctioned the town's bid. The theme "Big River" was established in honor of the rich tradition and history of the Mississippi River which forms Dyer County's western border.

Dyersburg is located in northwest Tennessee and has a population of about 20,000.

Both programs are required to sell 500 tickets each at $10 per ticket ($10 is presale price; $15 at the door). To purchase tickets for the game, contact Coach Hafner at 641-673-2160 or by email at hafnert@wmpenn.edu