Coach Brenton Illum Postgame Interview

Full Game Central Broadcast

Springfield, Mo. – Evangel fell short in a 6-3 loss to Graceland Saturday at Plaster Stadium in Springfield. 

Yellowjackets place kicker Cesar Silva connected on a 40 yard field goal with 12:05 left in the game that gave Graceland a 6-3 lead they held onto for the win. 

Evangel mounted a late drive and got as far as the Graceland 11 yard line with a minute remaining. The Crusaders fumbled on the Yellowjackets nine and CJ Counts recovered the ball for Graceland at the one yard line stopping Evangel's threat. 

The Crusaders took a 3-0 lead on a second quarter field goal by Derek Roberts from 36 yards away. Graceland tied the game 3-3 on Silva's 25 yard field goal with three seconds left in the first half. 

The game featured more missed field goals than made ones and neither team found the end zone. Evangel missed field goal tries from 37 and 35 yards and away while Graceland misfired from 28, 43 and 31 yards out. 

Graceland running back Marlon Bailey had 211 yards on 37 carries. 

Evangel QB Brett Diers went 20 for 29 passing for 163 yards. Brady Collier had five receptions for 37 yards. 

Evangel fell to 3-3 while Graceland improved to 3-3. 

The Crusaders are idle next week but return Oct. 17 when they open divisional play at MidAmerica Nazarene. Evangel faces the Pioneers for a 2 p.m. kickoff in Olathe, Kansas.

###