The Basics
Score: Evangel 47, Missouri Valley 33
Records: Evangel (2-4, 1-2), Missouri Valley (1-4, 0-3)
Location: Gregg-Mitchell Field

Box Score

MARSHALL, Mo. – Behind a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes from Dyllan Decker, the Evangel football team pulled out a 47-33 victory over Missouri Valley Saturday at Gregg-Mitchell Field.

After Missouri Valley took a 33-26 lead on an Isaac Bausley 34-yard scoring pass from Darrion Cole, EU scored the final 19 points of the contest to lock up their second win of the season. Decker connected with Haaken Friend on a 54-yard TD pass, then hit Josh Tips for another scoring toss just two minutes later to hand EU the lead for good.

Decker completed 15-of-24 passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns, while Tips hauled in six receptions for 103 yards to lead EU's attack.

EU seized a 10-point lead late in the second period, thanks to a pair of Decker scoring passes and a 90-yard Josh Dennie kickoff return for a touchdown. MVC answered with a touchdown just 57 seconds before the half, as Wayne Grant caught a 13-yard pass from Cole to trim the deficit to 20-18 at intermission.

The Vikings added another score on Cole's 2-yard pass to Keenan Cole, handing the home club a 25-20 advantage with just under 10 minutes to play in the third period.

The Crusaders responded with a Darrius Lee one-yard scoring run to reclaim the lead.

MVC answered with a 63-yard drive, capped by Bausley's reception and a successful two-point conversion on Jordon Londo's run, for a 33-26 MVC advantage with 14:53 left in regulation.

But the Crusaders offense took over from there, using a 54-yard strike from Decker to Friend to take the lead with 13:32 to play, then scored again on a 25-yard toss to Tips following a fourth-down stop from its defense.

After a three-and-out from its defense to force a punt, EU put the game away with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that ended with Nicos Oropeza's six-yard scoring run with 1:38 to play, handing EU its first road win of the season.

The Crusaders (2-4, 1-2) limited the Vikings to 318 yards of total offense and just 98 yards on the ground.

Will Anoa'i led EU with eight tackles, including a sack, 3.5 tackles for losses and a forced fumble.

Decker threw for four touchdowns on 15-of-24 passing for 219 yards, including two fourth-quarter scoring tosses, and Josh Tips caught six passes for 106 yards and a touchdown as the Crusaders outscored the Vikings by a 21-8 margin in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT
Evangel returns home to Tiger Stadium for a 1 p.m. contest against Central Methodist next Saturday (Nov. 7).

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or visit EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the new Evangel Crusaders GamedayApp through Google Play. 

—EvangelAthletics.com—