SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 10th-ranked Evangel football team heads back on the road Saturday for a Heart South Division rivalry meeting at MidAmerica Nazarene for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
SERIES HISTORY
MidAmerica Nazarene leads the all-time series 19-11-1 including a 33-26 win in Ozark over Evangel last season. The Crusaders did snap a 14-game losing streak to the Pioneers in 2017 with a 31-29 win at the MNU campus. The Crusaders are also 6-6-1 all-time in Olathe compared to a 5-13 record in home games against MNU.
OPENING STORYLINES
► The No. 10th-ranked Evangel football team heads on the road Saturday for a matchup at MidAmerica Nazarene. The Pioneers fell from the AFCA/NAIA Top 25 after a 49-20 loss at Baker last weekend.
► Evangel is coming off a 35-21 win over previously 5th-ranked Benedictine. The Crusaders dominated most of the game leading 21-0 at the end of three quarters before the Ravens managed to score in the fourth.
► Evangel is still one of the top defenses in the nation holding opponents to 249 yards per game, which ranks sixth-best nationally. The Crusaders are also seventh nationally holding teams to 12.6 points per game.
► Sophomore Anthanie Leeviraphan continues to lead the nation in interceptions with six, after picking off a Benedictine pass in the fourth quarter on Saturday. He is three behind the single-season record holders at Evangel, Otis Calhoun ('88), and Omari Zackery ('01). Senior Andrew Poppen ranks ninth nationally with four interceptions.
► Senior defensive back Dalton Taylor (Strafford, Mo.) blocked the eighth kick of his career against Benedictine to break the all-time Evangel record for blocked kicks in a career. Taylor passed Daryl Dollar (95-98), who blocked seven during his career.
► Senior quarterback Cameron Hardesty threw four touchdowns for the second consecutive week to earn Heart Offensive Player of the Week honors. Hardesty ranks 4th all-time with 45 touchdowns and is 5th all-time with 4,501 yards through the air.
► Senior linebacker Sam Morton (Strafford, Mo.) continues an impressive senior season after recording three sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss against Benedictine. Morton ranks fourth in NAIA in tackles for a loss at 18.5 and sixth in sacks with 7.5.
► Senior wide receiver Jansen Acklin (Mtn. View, Mo.) made news with a one-handed catch that appeared on ESPN's Sports Center as well as their social media channel going and viral on several other accounts. Acklin ranks 23rd in the NAIA with 543 receiving yards and is fourth in the Heart averaging 76 yards per game.
► New to the 2019 season, fans can purchase tickets online at www.EUAthletics.com/Tickets. Tickets can either be presented by a smartphone at the gate or by printing the ticket from an email and having it scanned at the gate.
LOOKING AHEAD
Evangel returns home next Saturday for Senior day against Missouri Valley. Kickoff from Tiger Stadium in Ozark is scheduled for 1 p.m.
For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics 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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