The Basics
Score: Benedictine 34, Evangel 0
Records: Evangel (5-5, 2-2); Benedictine (6-4, 2-2)
Site: Eagle Stadium

Final Statistics

NIXA, Mo. – Benedictine scored a pair of touchdowns in the first nine minutes before relying on dominant performances from its defense and special teams to lock up a 34-0 victory over Evangel Saturday afternoon in Heart of America Athletic Conference divisional plat at Eagle Stadium.

The Ravens limited Evangel to just 164 yards of total offense and blocked three Valor kicks on special teams to hand EU its first shutout setback under head coach Chuck Hepola.

Garrett Kettle completed his first eight passes of the afternoon, racking up 138 first-quarter passing yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Benedictine offense to an early double-digit advantage. The BC quarterback tossed a 70-yard scoring strike to Tre Adger just over two-and-a-half minutes into the game, then made it a 14-0 game with his two-yard TD pass to Harry Balke with 6:15 left in the first quarter.

In all, Kettle would complete 23-of-34 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, while Adger reeled in seven receptions for 133 yards.

Rayshon Mills rushed for a game-high 64 yards on 18 carries to lead the Ravens' ground attack.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jalen James led Benedictine with six stops, while the Ravens' special teams blocked a pair of punts—one of which led to a BC touchdown—and a field goal to help keep the Valor off the scoreboard for the first time since November 2011.

Derome Williams provided one of the few bright spots for the Evangel offense, recorded 63 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards for the game.

BC needed just three plays to find the end zone on its opening possession of the day, as Kettle found a wide-open Adger down the far sideline for an early 7-0 Ravens lead. The visitors struck again on their second drive, marching 50 yards on seven plays to extend their margin to 14 points on Kettle's shovel pass to Balke.

Next, Spencer Whitt broke blocked a Ryan Conner punt near the 10-yard line, and Caleb Taylor scooped up the loose ball in the end zone to give BC a 21-point cushion, just three plays into the second period.

Evangel's offense drove to the BC 15 on its next possession before the Raven defense stiffened to force a 32-yard Jonah Edwards field-goal attempt. Matt Kobs blocked the kick however, as Benedictine took a 21-0 cushion into halftime.

The second half featured a similar pattern, as Sam Wilber added a 39-yard field goal for Benedictine with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter. Kettle then connected with Damon Wigand out of the BC backfield on a 10-yard scoring toss less than three minutes into the fourth.

Wilber then added his second field goal of the day, this one from 27 yards out to cap a 59-yard scoring drive with 4:17 to play.

EU quarterbacks Dyllan Decker and RJ Wakley combined to complete 15-of-32 passes for 111 yards. Joshua Tips paced the Valor with five receptions for 38 yards, while Joey Sylvester led all tacklers with 10 stops, including 3.5 tackles for losses.

UP NEXT
Evangel concludes the 2021 regular season next Saturday (Nov. 13) with a 1 p.m. Heart South Divisional game against Central Methodist at Eagle Stadium.

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—