SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel Valor football team travels to Sterling, Kansas, on Saturday (Sept. 14) evening, taking on the Sterling College Warriors in a primetime 6:00 p.m. matchup on the road.
OPENING STORYLINES
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The Evangel Valor picked up their second win of the season last Saturday against Tabor, 33-17. Their win moved Evangel's record to 3-0 against Tabor and is Evangel's fourth consecutive home opening win, moving Evangel to 31-17 all-time in home openers.
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Evangel ninth-year head coach Chuck Hepola enters Saturday's contest with a 55-31 overall record, the second most wins by a football head coach at Evangel, eleven wins behind Keith Barefield (66).
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Evangel was picked to finish tied for first in the Kessinger Division coaches poll, but were the lone first place choice in the media poll by a single vote. In the Bissell, Kansas Wesleyan was picked over last years division champ, Ottawa. Sterling was picked to finish sixth in the Bissell in the coaches poll.
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The Valor dropped two spots in the latest NAIA Top 25 Rating, moving to #16 overall, despite winning their first two games of the season, one of which against previously ranked #24 Kansas Wesleyan. In the KCAC, Friends is ranked #21, followed by Southwestern and Kansas Wesleyan who are both receiving votes.
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Evangel and Sterling meet for the second time in program history. Last season, Evangel took a 55-0 win at home in Nixa.
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Evangel senior Jonah Edwards earned KCAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors on Monday, going a perfect 4-4 from FG range and 3-3 on PATs.
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The Valor defense held Tabor to just 18 rushing yards, the lowest rushing output from a team against Evangel since September of 2019, when the Valor held Culver-Stockton to just nine rushing yards.
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Reid Potts has continued to play well as the new man under center for Evangel. Potts currently has thrown for 489 yards this season, the second most passing yards in the KCAC.
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Bradley Myers continues to lead the Valor defensively, currently with 26 total tackles so far this season to lead the KCAC.
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Kyair Warner intercepted his first pass of the season in Saturday's game, as Warner is currently tied for third in the KCAC in total INTs.
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Zach Myers has two sacks so far this season, currently tied for third in the conference rankings.
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The Valor hold a 256-230-3 all-time record in their 47 years as a collegiate team.
LOOKING AHEAD
Valor Football returns home next Saturday (Sept. 21) evening, hosting the Saint Mary Spires at 6:05 p.m. in Nixa, Missouri.
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—
