SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – No. 9 Evangel football returns to the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday at No. 7 Bethel (Tenn.) in a second round matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

GAMEDAY INFO
Watch: Wildcat Stream
Live Stats: Live Stats
Tickets: Buy Online

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday will be the first meeting in football between Evangel and Bethel.

STORYLINES

• Evangel returns to the postseason for the first time since the 2005 season. It is the seventh all-time appearance for EU in the NAIA Playoffs as the Valor and Bethel Wildcats meet for the first time in program history.
• Evangel seventh-year head coach Chuck Hepola won his 50th game Oct. 21 vs. Friends as he sits second on the all-time coaching list. He passed Scott Metcalf for second on the all-time coaching wins list on Sept. 9 with a 55-0 win over Sterling. Keith Barefield's 66 wins sit at the top.
• Evangel held at No. 9 in the final NAIA Coaches Top 25 Poll of the regular season. With the ranking and a 41-38 overtime win, the Valor won the KCAC Kessinger Division to earn one of the league's automatic bids to the NAIA FCS. The No. 9 ranking helped the Valor earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.
• The Valor moved to 11-0 for just the third time in program history, with 2001, 1996, and 1988. Although the '88 season was forfeited, EU finished 11-1 all three seasons claiming a conference title each season as well.
• Evangel touts the second-longest winning streak (11 games) in the NAIA behind Northwestern (Iowa) who has won 23 straight games. The Valor also holds the ninth-longest winning streak in college football, see page 3 for the list.
• The Evangel defense ranks in the top 10 in the NAIA in points allowed at 14.9, and yards per game at 262.7.
• Bradley Myers was named the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year as he continues to lead the NAIA in tackles and tackles per game. Myers's 139 tackles rank 7th most in Evangel history in a season.
• Evangel head coach Chuck Hepola earned his third conference Coach of the Year honors as he was named KCAC Coach of the Year. Defensive Coordinator Jeremy DeSoto also was named the KCAC Assistant Coach of the Year.
• Evangel receiver Dillon Hester who broke the Evangel career reception record was named the KCAC Offensive Player of the Year.. Hester moved to 4th on the touchdown list with a pair in the season finale against Bethel (KS).
  • 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. Dillon Hester 2020-pr 25

LOOKING AHEAD

Evangel would advance to the NAIA Quarterfinal round with a win against an opponent to be announced. For more information on the NAIA Football Championship Series click here.
 

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—