Lamoni, Iowa – Evangel lost their final game of the 2014 season as Graceland put together a second half rally for a 30-20 win in the snow over the Crusaders Saturday in Lamoni, Iowa. 

Evangel built a 20-0 lead in the first half overcoming three first quarter turnovers, two of them that gave Graceland the ball inside the Crusaders' 25 yard-line. The Crusaders got a first quarter touchdown on Brett Diers' 82 yard touchdown pass to Otis Brown. Evangel added another score on a two yard TD run by RB Cade Wilke, then, with 31 seconds left in the first half, Diers hit Michael Bowman for a 21 yard scoring throw putting the Crusaders ahead 20-0. 

The Yellowjackets started to rally in the second half scoring 10 points in the third quarter and they pulled within three points of the lead on a one yard touchdown run by Dileel Bartley with 12:33 left in the game to make the score 20-17. 

It appeared Evangel preserved their lead midway through the fourth quarter when Cody Thornton's 37 yard field goal attempt was blocked by Kenney Bennett. With Evangel's offense on the field, an officials' conference resulted in the announcement of a roughing the kicker penalty against the Crusaders giving the Yellowjackets a first down and the ball on the Evangel five yard line. 

Graceland QB Myles King scored on a five yard run on the next play giving Graceland their first lead, 23-20, with 6:27 left in the game. 

The Yellowjackets added another TD on a 15 yard run by Bartley three minutes later. 

Evangel had six turnovers in the game with four lost fumbles and two interceptions. 

WR Otis Brown led the Crusaders offense with 12 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown while RB Brock West had 90 rushing yards on 17 carries. Diers went 22 for 49 passing for 251 yards, 2 TD and 2 interceptions. Josh Evans led the defense with nine tackles while Kenney Bennett had eight tackles, one sack, 3.5 tackles for loss and a recovered fumble. 

The game started with between two and three inches of snow on the ground and snow fell throughout the game. It marked only the third time in program history Evangel has played during snowfall. 

The Crusaders end the season 5-6 and 3-6 in the Heart of America conference while Graceland went to 6-5 and 5-4 in the conference.

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