SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel football opens the 2023 season Saturday evening at home against No. 20 Kansas Wesleyan in the first KCAC football game for the Valor. Kickoff from Eagle Stadium in Nixa is scheduled for 6 p.m.

OPENING STORYLINES 

• The Evangel Valor opens the 47th season of Evangel football as the newest members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. As the 14th member of the league and 12th football playing member, Evangel is the second Missouri team to join the league the spans from Kansas, to Oklahoma, and into Nebraska.
• Evangel seventh-year head coach Chuck Hepola enters Saturday's contest with a 42-30 mark as EU's sideline boss; his win total ranks third in school history, trailing only Keith Barefield (66) and Scott Metcalf (44).
• Evangel was picked to finish second in the Kessinger Division behind Southwestern College. Kansas Wesleyan was picked to win the Bissell Division followed by Avila.
• The Valor enter the 2023 season receiving votes in the first NAIA Coaches Poll of the season. Evangel is one of five teams recognized with Southwestern ranked 11th, Avila ranked 18th, Kansas Wesleyan ranked 20th and Bethel College rounding out the group at 23.
• Among the returners for Evangel is All-American Dillon Hester who earned accolades as a wide receiver ranked 13th in the nation for total yards per game with 131. Hester finished the season with eight total touchdowns, seven receiving and one on kickoff return.
• Also returning for Evangel are seven all-conference selections. First Team linebacker Bradley Myers led the team with 102 tackles while adding 7.5 tackles for a loss. Four second teamers return with running back Sammy Robinson, defensive lineman Zach Myers, linebacker Koel Orchard, and punter Ryan Conner. Robinson led the team with 441 yards on the ground, while Zach Myers was second with 13.5 tackles for a loss. Conner recorded the second most punting yards in the nation (2,873) and the most punts landed inside the 20 in the nation with 34.
• Evangel will look to get above .500 in season openers where they are 23-23-1 all-time having won four of the last five. Home openers have seen the Valor post a 29-17 record in the first game in front of the home crowd. Under Chuck Hepola, Evangel has won five of the last seven home openers going back to 2016.

LOOKING AHEAD

Evangel will head to Tabor for the second ever meeting between the two schools. Kickoff from Hillsboro, Kansas is scheduled for 6 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—