SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game will be the 16th meeting between Evangel and Avila. The Crusaders lead the all-time series 13-3 after winning last year's win at Tiger Stadium, 44-17. Evangel will try to erase memories of a failed comeback the last time in Kansas City when the Crusaders were stopped on the 1-yard line in the final moments of a 34-27 loss to Avila.
OPENING STORYLINES
► Evangel heads to Kansas City for the final road game of the regular season and the final conference meeting against Avila. The Eagles will leave the Heart and join the KCAC at the conclusion of the 2017-18 academic year. The Crusaders aim for their fifth straight victory this Saturday after starting 3-0 in conference action for the first time since 2003.
► The Crusaders moved into the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 this week after receiving votes last week. The return to the top 25 is the first time back in the polls since the 2014 season when Evangel spent one week at No. 25.
► Saturday's shutout against Missouri Valley is the first for the Crusaders since Sept. 8, 2007 in a 24-0 win over Langston. Evangel held the Vikings out of the end zone with three stops inside the red zone including two at the 4-yard line.
► The defense continues to put up impressive numbers ranking seventh in the NAIA in sacks with 26. The Crusaders lead the South Division in scoring defense holding opponents to 21.8 points per game.
► Takeaways have also been a big part for the Evangel defense. Ranking second in the Heart at +0.9 per game, Evangel ranks only behind Benedictine at 1.6 takeaways per game.
► Josh Evans (Pleasant Hope, Mo.) is also making his mark on the Evangel record books. The senior already holds the career and single-season tackles for a loss record after recording 21 last year and currently with 61.5 for his career. He has recorded 10.0 sacks (7th in single-season) so far this season giving him 29.0 for his career moving him into third all-time at Evangel.
All-Time Sack Leaders
1. Jay Hellwig, 1991-94 45.5
2. Lamont Wynn, 1998-01 30
3. Josh Evans, 2014-present 29
► After missing the CMU game, sophomore Cameron Hardesty has six touchdown passes in his last two games. He has completed 21-of-37 through those games as his 14 TD's this season is just three away from 10th most in a single-season.
► After just two touchdowns last season, junior Dallas Hester (Strafford, Mo.) caught his fifth touchdown of the season on Saturday. Hester now has 13 scores for his career moving into 9th all-time in the Evangel record books. The all-time leader is James Feazell (29) and next on the list is current assistant coach Edward Sands with 16.
LOOKING AHEAD
Evangel heads to Avila for the final meeting as members of the Heart with the Eagles who will become members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference next season. The game will be broadcast locally on Mediacom 22 and nationally on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN App. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.
For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EvangelAthletics or go to www.EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Go Evangel Front Row App at EvangelAthletics.com/FrontRow available on Google Play and in the App Store.
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