SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 15th ranked Evangel Valor football team opens Kessinger divisional play on Saturday (Oct. 14) afternoon, as they take on the Bethany Swedes. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Lindsborg, Kansas.
OPENING STORYLINES
- Evangel opens KCAC Divisional play Saturday at Bethany. It will be the second ever meeting between the schools with the first coming in 1988, as the Valor sit at 6-0 and the Swedes enter at 1-5.
- Evangel opens KCAC Divisional play Saturday at Bethany. It will be the second ever meeting between the schools with the first coming in 1988, as the Valor sit at 6-0 and the Swedes enter at 1-5.
- Evangel seventh-year head coach Chuck Hepola won his 45th game against Sterling on Sept. 9, surpassing Scott Metcalf for second on the all-time coaching wins list in Evangel history. Keith Barefield's 66 wins sit at the top.
- Evangel moved up again in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll Top 25 this week to No. 15. The Valor cracked the poll on Sept. 11 at No. 25 after receiving votes in the preseason poll. Divisional foe Southwestern joins Evangel as the only KCAC schools ranked with the Moundbuilders sitting at No. 6.
- The Valor start the season at 6-0 for the first time since the 2018 season when they won their first eight games. Evangel finished 9-2 that season and was 2-2 in the Heart South Division.
- Evangel has carried a solid rushing attack through the first six weeks of the season averaging 222 yards per game on the ground. The Valor rank ninth in the NAIA in rushing led by Eric Williams who is 18th at 94.7 yards per game.
- The defensive unit still ranks among the nation's leaders allowing 13.8 points per game which ranks 6th in the NAIA. The Valor has allowed 83 points this seasons, the 11th fewest points in the nation.
- Evangel receiver Dillon Hester ranks 9th in the NAIA in receiving at 97.7 yards per game. Hester's eight touchdowns are also fourth best in the NAIA and one shy of breaking into the top 10 of the Evangel single-season marks. Hester has also moved into the top 10 of the career records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
CAREER RECEPTIONS
Player Career REC
1. Brandon Schmidly 1994-97 148
2. Dallas Hester 2015-18 146
3. Jesse Vaugh 2010-13 145
4. Dillon Hester 2020-pr 144
CAREER TOUCHDOWNS
Player Career REC
1. James Feazell 1986-88,92 29
2. Dimitrius Breedlove 1998-01 27
3. Anthony Ray 1988-91 27
4. Brandon Schmidly 1994-97 24
John Dollar 1994-97 24
6. Jesse Vaughn 2010-13 22
7. Shawn Bailey 2000-03 20
Dillon Hester 2020-pr 20
LOOKING AHEAD
Evangel plays host to the Friends Falcons for homecoming next Saturday (Oct. 21) at Eagle Stadium in Nixa. Kickoff is set for 3:00 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—
