SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel football looks to continue their strong start to the season on Saturday (Sept. 16) afternoon, as they travel to Leavenworth, Kansas, to take on the University of Saint Mary Spires. Kickoff from USM Berkel Stadium in Leavenworth is scheduled for 1 p.m.

OPENING STORYLINES 

• The Evangel returns to the road Saturday for the first ever meeting with Saint Mary. The Spires are one of five schools that will play the Valor in football for the first time this season. 
• Evangel seventh-year head coach Chuck Hepola won his 45th game last Saturday surpassing Scott Metcalf for second on the all-time coaching wins list in Evangel history. Keith Barefield's 66 wins sits at the top.
• Evangel moved back into the NAIA Coaches Poll Top 25 this week at No. 25. The first edition of the poll will continue through the regular season as the Valor and Divisional foe Southwestern are the only KCAC schools ranked with the Moundbuilders moving up to No. 9. 
• The Valor start the season at 3-0 for the first time since the 2019 season when they won their first four games. Evangel finished 8-3 that season and was 3-2 in the Heart South Division. 
• Last week's 55-0 win over Sterling marked the eighth shutout for the Valor under the current coaching staff since 2016. Last season Evangel recorded a season best three shutouts during the year. Currently the Valor rank second in the NAIA allowing 4.7 points per game trailing St. Francis (Ill.) who has allowed seven points through two games. 
• The defensive unit also ranks No. 1 in the NAIA in yards per game allowing a stingy 151.3 yards per game. Evangel has also limited opponents on average under 100 yards passing (64.7) and rushing (86.7) this season.
• Senior Andreas Moeller continues to lead the nation in tackles for a loss with a eight through the first three games. Moeller is joined by linebacker Bradley Myers who ranks first in the NAIA in total tackles with 35. 
• Wide Receiver Dillon Hester ranks in the top 3 nationally in receiving touchdowns (6) and yards receiving (347). Hester also ranks second in the NAIA in receptions with 27. The junior receiver has tallied a touchdown in every game and posted two 100-yard receiving games.
• Quarterback RJ Wakley threw four touchdowns in the win over Sterling coming one shy of tying the school record. The senior also threw for a career-high 271 yards in the Evangel win.

LOOKING AHEAD

Evangel will return home to take on the Ottawa Braves next Saturday (Sept. 23) evening at 6:30 p.m. for their final primetime matchup of the season.

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.  

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