SERIES HISTORY
Evangel and William Penn are currently tied in the all-time series at one win each. This Saturday will be just the second meeting between the two teams after first meeting in 2015 with the Statesmen joined the conference. Evangel won the first meeting in Springfield, upsetting the 12th-Statesmen, 19-14. William Penn won last year's meeting in Oskaloosa, Iowa, 21-10.
OPENING STORYLINES
► Evangel returns to Tiger Stadium for the first Blackout in its new home stadium. Fans and students are encouraged to wear black to the game as the first 100 students will receive a Blackout T-Shirt sponsored by Johnny Mac's.
► The Crusaders and Statesmen meet for just the second time in football as the first meeting came in 2015 when William Penn joined the conference. Evangel knocked off the 12th ranked Statesmen 19-14 in Springfield as the defense pitched a second-half shutout for the upset of 12th-ranked William Penn.
► Evangel is coming off a blowout road win at Culver-Stockton, 51-14, to move to 2-2 on the season with two games left in Heart Cross-Division play. In the win over Culver-Stockton, it was the first time since a 59-13 victory over the Wildcats last season that Evangel scored 50 or more points in a game.
► Sophomore quarterback Cameron Hardesty is tied for second in the Heart with the fewest interceptions this season. Hardesty is coming off a five-touchdown performance against Culver-Stockton where he tied the school record previously held by Jake Anders from the 1989 season also against Culver-Stockton. The Norman, Okla., native also ranks seventh among conference QBs in passing yardage and total offense.
► Defensively, Evangel has been led by seniors Josh Evans (Pleasant Hope, Mo.) and Isaiah Daniels (Branson, Mo.). Daniels leads the team with 30 tackles, while Evans - the all-time tackle for loss leader at EU - leads the team with 8.5 tackles for a loss this season and 4.5 sacks along with 29 tackles. Evans also ranks first nationally in total tackles for a loss and third in the NAIA in sacks.
► Junior defensive end, Josh Evans continues to climb the Evangel record books. After setting the all-time school record for tackles for a loss and single-season record with 21, Evans has 8.5 TFL through four games this season. He also has 4.5 sacks moving his career total to 23.5 sacks which ranks fourth all-time.
All-Time Sack Leaders
1. Jay Hellwig, 1991-94............. 45.5
2. Lamont Wynn, 1998-01......... 30
3. Harvey Berrien, 1994-97........ 27
► Sophomore returner Jansen Acklin has helped boost the special teams for Evangel as the Mtn. View, Mo., native ranks second nationally in average kick return yards and 18th in total return yards with 208. Among those yards, include an 85-yard return last week at Culver-Stockton.
► After just two touchdowns last season, junior Dallas Hester already has two scores as his ten career TDs rank ninth all-time at Evangel. Hester scored six in his freshman season earning all-conference honors.
LOOKING AHEAD
Evangel head into its bye week next weekend before hosting Graceland, Saturday, Oct. 7 for Homecoming. The game will also be the Heart Game of the Week airing regionally on Mediacom 22 and nationally on ESPN3.
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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