SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel football looks to extend their winning streak to three games on Saturday (Sept. 9) evening, as they host the Sterling College Warriors. Kickoff from Eagle Stadium in Nixa is scheduled for 6 p.m.

OPENING STORYLINES 

• The Evangel football brings a 2-0 record back to Eagle Stadium on Saturday to host Sterling in the first ever meeting between the two schools. The Warriors are 0-2 coming off a 34-31 loss to McPherson last week. 
• Evangel seventh-year head coach Chuck Hepola enters Saturday's contest with a 44-30 mark as EU's sideline boss; his win total ranks is tied for second with Scott Metcalf and trails only Keith Barefield (66).
• Evangel was picked to finish second in the Kessinger Division behind Southwestern College. Sterling was picked sixth in the Bissell Division. 
• 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. 
• Evangel has again made its mark defensively both in the KCAC and nationally. The Valor rank tied for seventh in the NAIA allowing 7 point per game and the highest ranking KCAC team. 
• Defensively, the Valor have been stingy allowing yards as well as teams to find the endzone. Evangel ranks 5th nationally with 173 yards per game.
• Senior Andreas Moeller returned to the Evangel defensive line after an All-American season in 2018. Moeller currently leads the nation in tackles for a loss with six. He also has one sack and one forced fumble. 
• Dillon Hester currently also leads the NAIA in total receptions with 20. The Strafford, Missouri native caught eight passes last week against Tabor and also added a touchdown. His three touchdown catches on the season rank fourth among the nation's leaders, while also ranking in the top 20 in yards per game with 99 ypg.
• Running back Sammy Robinson is also among the top 20 in the NAIA as he enters week three averaging 106 yards per game. Robinson's 57 carries through two games also leads the nation.

LOOKING AHEAD

Evangel will compete in a road test against the University of Saint Mary (Kan.) Spires next Saturday (Sept. 16) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Leavenworth, Kansas.

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—