SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel welcomes the No. 2 team in NAIA football Saturday, the Grand View Vikings, for a 6 p.m. kick at Eagle Stadium.
SERIES HISTORY
Evangel and Grand View have met just seven times since the Vikings joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2015. The Valor will look to snap a three-game losing streak to the Vikings and earn the second win in the series.
OPENING STORYLINES
? The Evangel Valor returns home to Eagle Stadium in Nixa, Missouri, on Saturday to host the nation's No. 2 ranked team Grand View Vikings. It will be the highest ranked team the Valor will have played since a matchup with No. 2 Baker on Nov. 12, 2016.
? Evangel and Grand View have met just seven times since the Vikings joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2015. The Valor will look to snap a three-game losing streak to the Vikings and earn the second win in the series.
? Last week, Evangel and William Penn had their game canceled due to inclement weather in the central Iowa area.
? Evangel and Grand View both bring stout defensive units into Saturday's game. Evangel is allowing 22 points per game, while the Vikings are coming off their third shutout of the season and allowing just 10.5 points per game.
? Both teams have solid rushing attacks as Ali Scott leads the Heart, averaging 86 yards per game. The Valor has seen a pair of backs rank 4th and 7th in the league in rushing as Sammy Robinson ranks fourth with 59.7 yards per game, and Bryce Nyumah ranks seventh with 47.0 yards per game.
? Athanie Leeviraphan broke into the top 10 all-time at Evangel in interceptions after a three-pick game against Culver-Stockton. Leeviraphan now has 12 and is tied with Otis Calhoun (87-88), Shea Allen (1997-2000), and Troy Clayton (1993-96) for fifth all-time.
? Will Anoa'i moved into fifth all-time with 40.5 tackles for a loss in his career. The Springfield Kickapoo standout trails third place by 0.5, while Josh Evans ranks first with 64.5 tackles for a loss.
? Ryan Conner also moved into the Evangel record books for punt yards in a career and punt attempts. Conner ranks 10th in yards and ninth in attempts.
? Wide Receivers Dillon Hester and Michael Murray have also provided a 1-2 punch for the Evangel offense, ranking in the top 10 in receiving yards per game. Hester ranks 4th with 101.3 yards per game, while Murray is 6th with 78.7 yards per game. Both receivers have also pulled down three touchdown catches this season.
? Evangel seventh-year head coach Chuck Hepola enters Saturday's contest with a 37-28 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 heads to Nebraska for a meeting with Peru State 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—
