SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel Valor football team heads to Kansas Saturday for a pivotal Heart South Division matchup at Baker. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
Evangel will not only be looking to snap a nine-game skid but also trail the all-time series with Baker 22-11. The last win for Evangel came in 2011 when the Valor took a 34-27 win from the Wildcats. Last year the Wildcats held off the Valor 34-21 at Eagle Stadium.
OPENING STORYLINES
? Saturday, Evangel and Baker will meet in Baldwin City, Kansas, for a week seven Heart South Division showdown. The Valor is looking to snap a nine-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
? Last week, the Valor rallied to earn a 21-16 win over Missouri Valley. Evangel intercepted the Vikings twice and recovered a fumble to help complete the comeback.
? Athanie Leeviraphan added to his interception total with his fifth pick of the season. Leeviraphan sits at 14 interceptions during his career, moving into a tie for second all-time with Derrick McBride (93-94) and Cam Bruffett (09-13). Eric Collins (1977-80) holds the all-time record with 16.
? Will Anoa'i now ranks third all-time in tackles for a loss with 42.5. The former Kickapoo Chief sits behind Sam Morton's second-place mark of 43.0, while Josh Evans (2014-17) holds the record with 64.5.
? RJ Wakley helped the Valor in the air and on the ground in Saturday's win over Missouri Valley. Wakley threw for 126 yards and one touchdown, while he also led the team in rushing with 48 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown.
? The passing game saw seven different receivers catch a pass in the win. Dillon Hester caught eight passes to lead the team with 72 yards. Josh Tips and Michael Murray also caught multiple passes, while Murray added a 44-yard touchdown catch against the Vikings.
? Wide Receivers Dillon Hester and Michael Murray have also provided a 1-2 punch for the Evangel offense, ranking 4th and 7th in receiving yards per game. Hester and Murray are also tied for fifth in the Heart with five touchdown receptions.
? Evangel seventh-year head coach Chuck Hepola enters Saturday's contest with a 39-29 mark as EU's sideline boss; his win total ranks third in school history, trailing only Keith Barefield (66) and Scott Metcalf (44).
? All Evangel home games in 2022 will be streamed live on the Evangel Sports Network in conjunction with the Heart Network. Fans can download the Heart Conference Network App for AppleTV, Amazon, or Roku and watch Evangel football games on their smart TV or streaming devices.
LOOKING AHEAD
Evangel returns home next week for Senior Day and Homecoming as the Valor hosts MidAmerica Nazarene at 1 p.m.
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.
—#OneValor—
