ARCATA, Calif. – The Humboldt State football program kicks off the 2018 season with a trip to Wichita Falls, Texas, to face Lonestar Conference opponent MSU Texas (formerly Midwestern State University) Saturday. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. PT.

Saturday's game will be the first for new Head Coach Damaro Wheeler, who served as defensive backs and special teams coach for the Green and Gold since the spring of 2017.

Wheeler will lead a young group of Lumberjacks into the program's final season as only nine starters return from last year's squad, a group that produced a pair of NFL talents. HSU finished with an 8-2 record last season, 6-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play and were tabbed to finish fourth in the conference's preseason poll released on Tuesday.

After four years of Robert Webber under center and Ja'Quan Gardner in the backfield, HSU will turn to Joey Sweeney at signal caller and a talented group of running backs. Sweeney, who saw action in five games last season, impressed the coaching staff with his knowledge of the offense and his ability to execute in the preseason. But Wheeler acknowledges that any of his three quarterbacks will be ready to step in at a moment's notice.

"I think all three of the guys we have can play," explained Wheeler. "But Joey showed the most consistency so far. I have no doubt that whoever is in there can get the job done. He has great knowledge of his position and the offense. It wasn't an easy decision, but I have confidence in all three."

Gardner's graduation to the pro ranks leaves an opportunity for the Jacks running back room. Fans can look for junior Isaiah Malachi Hall to be an impact player for the group after appearing in 10 games last season and rushing for 320 yards and four touchdowns on 58 carries. A newcomer that should make an impact in the backfield is Tyree Marzetta. Marzetta played in 24 games for the City College of San Francisco (2014-16) and helped the program to a 2015 National Championship.

With so many dramatic changes to the offense, the Jacks will lean on the other side of the ball to lead them to victory. The defense has returners at many different positions, but the linebacking corps will look most familiar when the team takes the field on Saturday. Curtis Williams, Connor Cox and Demetrick Watts are returning impact players at linebacker. Cox and Williams are seniors and both earned All-GNAC honors in 2017.

"All of those guys played a significant amount of downs for us last year," said Wheeler. "We look to lean on those guys heavily. We also have Moses Finau, a freshman that plays like an upperclassman."

MSU Texas has received national hype entering the season and was ranked 11th in the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Poll. The Mustangs went 10-1 last year and lost their only game in the NCAA Playoffs versus Minnesota State. A high-powered offense and a speedy and versatile defense were the hallmarks of last year's team, which scored 40 or more points seven times and held opponents to 13 or fewer points on four occasions.

"Midwestern is a veteran group, athletic and physical with good size," said Wheeler. "They are a well-coached group with some athletes. That's nothing we aren't used to from opponents in our own conference."

The Mustangs lead the all-time series, 1-0. MSU Texas defeated HSU 35-10 during the 2015 season.