The Basics
Score: No. 4 Grand View 23, Evangel 6
Records: Evangel (3-2); Grand View (5-0)
Site: Williams Stadium

Final Statistics

DES MOINES, Iowa – Fourth-ranked Grand View scored 16 unanswered points over a five-minute stretch of the first quarter, then relied on a shutdown effort by its defense to complete a 23-6 victory over Evangel Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium.

The Vikings limited the Valor to 170 yards of total offense, including just 46 rushing yards for the afternoon. EU converted only 3-of-13 third-down attempts and matched a season high by committing three turnovers.

Nate Wieland led the Viking defense with 10 tackles to go along with a critical forced fumble that led to a defensive touchdown that capped GVU's first-quarter scoring flurry. On the offensive side of the ball, Johnny Sullivan completed 17-of-26 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, and Casey Hill led the GVU ground attack with 61 yards on 13 carries.

The setback for Evangel followed a strong showing by the Valor defense, which allowed just 310 yards of offense and forced four GVU fumbles, two of which it recovered.

After Evangel stopped the Vikings on their initial offensive possession of the afternoon, GVU scored on its next drive—and its two subsequent series as well—to take control of the game. Sullivan connected with Seth Juhl on a nine-yard scoring toss with 5:54 left in the opening quarter to open the contest's key stretch.

GVU added to its lead with just over two minutes to play in the period on a 40-yard Nathan Hamilton field goal that made it a 10-0 game. Next, the Vikings capitalized on another big play from its defense on EU's ensuing drive, as Wieland stripped an EU ball-carrier near midfield and David Tolentino picked up the football and rumbled 54 yards for a touchdown to extend the GVU lead with just under a minute to play in the period.

Evangel would fumble on two of its next three drives as well, but came up with a takeaway of its own when the Vikings coughed up a punt return and Haaken Friend fell on the loose ball at the GVU 22. Jonah Edwards drilled a 33-yard field goal four plays later to slice the margin to 16-3 with 2:56 left in the half.

The Valor had an opportunity to pull closer in the final minutes of the period after a short GVU punt handed it the ball at the Vikings 36. Dyllan Decker hit Chris Doran for a 16-yard gain, before a pair of Jachin Like' carries moved the ball to the GVU 11.

But Cole Rollinger came up with a critical fourth-down stop of Decker for no gain, halting the Valor's scoring bid.

EU cashed in on another Edwards field goal midway through the third period, following yet another takeaway by the Valor defense. KK Moe stripped Ali Scott of the football, and Clayton Uber scooped it up at the EU 33. Decker helped engineer the Valor's scoring drive that ended with a 32-yard field goal with just over five minutes left on the clock. The senior quarterback completed 3-of-5 passes for 32 yards on the drive, including a third-down completion to Bowen Preddy that helped move EU into field goal range.

Grand View responded with what would prove to be the key drive of the second half, marching 87 yards on 17 plays over nearly nine minutes for a back-breaking Hill one-yard TD run with 11:07 to play.

EU never seriously threatened from that point, as Grand View turned in another lengthy drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock to help seal the outcome.

Decker completed 14-of-27 passes for 124 yards, while Dillon Hester led EU in receiving with four catches for 57 yards. Athanie Leeviraphan led the defense with 11 tackles.

UP NEXT
Evangel returns to Eagle Stadium next Saturday for a 6 p.m. contest against Peru State.

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

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