The Basics
Evangel vs. Central Methodist
Date/Time: Saturday | October 22 | 4:30 p.m.
Location: Ozark, Mo. | Tiger Stadium
Broadcast: Evangel Game Central
Live Stats: EvangelAthletics.com
Game Notes: Evangel | Central Methodist
Ticket Information: $10 Adults | 12 under free | Evangel students, staff and faculty free with Evangel ID
OZARK, Mo. – The Evangel University football will host Central Methodist Saturday for Homecoming at Tiger Stadium in Heart of America Conference action.
Saturday's game will kickoff at Tiger Stadium in Ozark at 4:30 p.m. and will be broadcast exclusively on Evangel Game Central and EvangelAthletics.com. The game broadcast can be seen around the world for free through EvangelAthletics.com and through the Evangel Athletics Mobile App available on iPhone and Android.
OPENING STORYLINES
► Evangel hosts Central Methodist on Saturday for the 40th Homecoming for Evangel football. The Crusaders are 18-20-1 all-time during Homecoming games and have won four of the last five.
► Evangel will also honor the 1996 Crusader football team as part of their 20th-year reunion. The '96 Crusaders won the Heart regular season title finishing 9-0 and posted an 11-1 mark under Keith Barefield making the program's second semifinal appearance. Evangel won playoff games over William Jewell, Hardin-Simmons (Texas) and Lambuth University (Tenn.) before falling to eventual national champion Sioux Falls in the NAIA National Semifinals.
► On Saturday Evangel will look to continue its dominant streak over Central Methodist as the Crusaders lead the all-time series 25-6 and 14-2 in home games vs. the Eagles. However Central Methodist was a 34-28 winner in last year's meeting in Fayette, Missouri.
► The Evangel defense has been one of the strong points for the Crusaders this season as Josh Evans (Pleasant Hope, Mo.) leads the conference in sacks and Devon Overall (Monett, Mo.) ranks fifth in tackles. Evans is also just four sacks away from cracking the all-time top 10 in sacks at Evangel and also ranks 12th nationally in total sacks.
► Senior linebacker Devon Overall (Monett, Mo.) is also close to breaking into the all-time top 10 for Evangel in tackles. Despite missing one game this season, Overall has 57 total tackles and ranks fifth in the league. He is also 48 tackles away from 10th on the Evangel all-time tackles list.
► Special Teams has been outstanding for Evangel this season as the Crusaders have blocked four kicks so far. In addition to the blocked kicks, Dallas Hester (Strafford, Mo.) ranks second in the conference in punt returns and second in return yards.
► Evangel kicker, Derek Roberts (Springfield, Mo./Glendale HS) also ranks in the top five in the Heart and ninth nationally with six field goals made. Roberts is also perfect on the season for extra points with a perfect 18-of-18.
For the latest information on Evangel athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EvangelAthletics or go to www.EvangelAthletics.com.
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