The Basics
Score: Evangel 37, MidAmerica Nazarene 29
Records: Evangel (5-4, 2-1); MidAmerica Nazarene (2-7, 0-3)
Site: ODAC

Final Statistics

OLATHE, Kan. – Evangel forced four MidAmerica Nazarene turnovers and scored the first 20 points of the second half to pull out a 37-29 Heart of America Athletic Conference divisional victory over the Pioneers Saturday afternoon at the Olathe District Activity Center.

After MNU rallied from a 10-point, second-quarter deficit to score a pair of touchdowns in the final nine minutes of the first half, the Valor offense returned the favor in the second stanza to take control for good.

Nicos Oropeza capped off a 13-play, 86-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon with 3:53 left in the third, giving EU a 24-21 advantage. Dyllan Decker, who tossed a first-quarter scoring pass to Dillon Hester for the game's first touchdown, caught one of his own from Demareus Little to extend the lead to nine points with 6:31 left in the game.

The Evangel defense forced its third fumble of the afternoon on the Pioneers ensuing possession, as Jalen Harris scooped up the loose football and took it to pay dirt from 30 yards out.

Koel Orchard led the Valor's defensive effort with 13 tackles, including 11 solo stops, and 2.5 tackles for losses. Harris also turned in a big afternoon, adding a 48-yard interception return that set up a 28-yard Jonah Edwards field goal for the game's first points.

Decker led the offense, completing 13-of-19 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 30 yards on seven carries. Oropeza paced the ground attack with 46 yards and two touchdowns.

Evangel bolted to an early 10-0 lead, thanks to Harris's interception return, as well as a 57-yard Nate Swofford punt return that set up the Valor offense at the Pioneer 32. Four plays later, Decker found Hester on a 25-yard scoring pass to make it a 10-point game, less than 10 minutes into the contest.

MNU, which received a 366-yard passing day from Blake Atkins, rebounded with an 80-yard scoring drive, capped by a Caleb Tanis seven-yard TD reception with just two seconds left in the opening period.

The Valor answered with a two-yard Oropeza run following a key 33-yard Decker-to-Joshua Tips pass, once again extending the lead to 10 points.

But the duo of Atkins and Tanis connected again, this time on a 33-yard scoring pass with 8:41 left in the half. After a three-and-out by the EU offense, Atkins and the MNU offense engineered another scoring drive that ultimately ended with a Jairan Manning two-yard run that put the Pioneers on top for the first time at 21-17 heading into halftime.

MNU would threaten early in the third period as well, moving the ball to the EU 14, before Dalton Cloyd forced a drive-halting fumble. The Valor offense cashed in on the miscue, driving 86 yards for Oropeza's go-ahead touchdown with 3:53 left in the quarter.

The EU defense came up with fourth-down stops on MNU's next two drives, before Decker dealt the Pioneers a back-breaking blow with a 44-yard completion to Haaken Friend, followed by his own 12-yard scoring reception from Little with 6:31 to play.

Harris then iced the game with his second critical turnover, picking up Atkins' fumble on MNU's next play from scrimmage for the Valor's fourth defensive touchdown of the season.

UP NEXT
Evangel returns to Eagle Stadium next Saturday (Nov. 6) for a 1 p.m., kickoff against Benedictine.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, visit Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EvangelValor), or EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on their favorite EU teams by downloading the new Evangel Athletics Gameday App through Google Play.  

—#OneValor—