SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For a third consecutive season, the 17th-ranked Evangel Crusaders and 15th-ranked Baker Wildcats will meet in the regular-season finale for the Heart South Division Championship and a berth to the NAIA Postseason Playoffs.
SERIES HISTORY
Baker leads the all-time series 20-11 and has won seven straight against the Crusaders. The last win for Evangel was in 2011 and the last time the Crusaders won in Baldwin City, Kansas was in 2006 when Evangel blanked the Wildcats, 24-0. Baker won last year's meeting 19-7 in Baldwin City.
OPENING STORYLINES
► The No. 17-ranked Evangel football meets its fifth-ranked team of the season with No. 15 Baker on Saturday. The game will be a winner take all of the Heart South Division for a third consecutive season, as the Wildcats have won the previous three.
► Evangel and Baker will play for the Heart South Division automatic berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series playoffs. The Crusaders are looking for their first postseason appearance since the 2005 season, while Baker is looking for its fifth consecutive appearance.
► Evangel fell in the regular-season finale last year at Baker, 19-7. A first-quarter INT for a touchdown and a fourth-quarter field goal proved to be the difference in the game.
► Evangel defensively continues to rank among the nation's leaders at 6th in total defense, 7th in rush defense, and 12th in scoring defense holding opponents to 15 points per game.
► The Evangel offensive line has also been one of the best units in the NAIA. The Crusaders rank 7th in fewest sacks allowing just nine sacks all season.
► Senior linebacker Sam Morton (Strafford, Mo.) has continued to be one of the best defensive players not only in the Heart but in America. Morton leads the NAIA in tackles for a loss with 25.5 and ranks seven in sacks with 10.
► Senior quarterback Cameron Hardesty has also been climbing the Evangel record books. Hardesty has thrown 17 touchdowns this season making him one of four players to throw for more than 50 touchdowns in Evangel history. The Oklahoma native has also thrown for more than 5,100 yards for his career ranking 5th all-time.
► Senior wide receiver Jansen Acklin (Mtn. View, Mo.) has crossed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for his career. Acklin who leads the Crusaders with 42 catches for 695 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He also ranks 15th nationally in punt return yards and total punt returns, while ranking 37th in all-purpose yards with 1,051.
► The Evangel defense ranks second in the Heart behind Grand View in total defense and rush defense. The test on Saturday will again be the league's leading rusher, JD Woods who is averaging 132 yards per game and has 13 touchdowns and 1,056 yards.
► The Crusader receiving core has been one of the most versatile in the league as seven different players have caught a touchdown pass. Led by Acklin's eight, Sam Buckner has six, followed by Josh Tips and Haaken Friend (Springfield, Mo.) with two each.
► Download the new Heart Conference Network App for AppleTV, Amazon, or Roku and watch Evangel football games on your smart TV or smart streaming device. All Evangel home games are streaming online at www.EvangelAthletics.com/Watch and are compatible with smartphones.
LOOKING AHEAD
A win for Evangel would give the Crusaders one of the two automatic bids to the NAIA Playoffs, while a loss would make the Crusaders wait and hope for an at-large during Sunday's NAIA Football Championship Series selection show at 6 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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