SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel Valor play host to the Ottawa Braves on Sunday (Oct. 19) afternoon to open Kessinger Divisional play. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Nixa's Eagle Stadium.
OPENING STORYLINES
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Evangel tenth-year head coach Chuck Hepola enters Saturday's contest with a 65-35 overall record, the second most wins by a football head coach at Evangel. With a win in Saturday's contest, Hepola will tie former head coach Keith Barefield for the all-time lead (66).
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Evangel was picked to finish first in the Kessinger Division coaches and media poll, while Ottawa was slated to finish fifth in the division's preseason poll.
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The Valor remained receiving votes in the fifth edition of the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Rating. In the KCAC, Friends is ranked #5, while Southwestern is at #16. McPherson is tied for 20th after opening the season 6-0, while Kansas Wesleyan is still also receiving votes. An updated top 25 rating comes out every Monday the rest of the season.
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Evangel and Ottawa match up for the third time in program history, as Evangel looks to continue their winning ways against the Braves. The Valor were victorious on the road last season, 27-14, and won at home in their first ever matchup in a narrow 27-21 win.
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Eric Williams leads Evangel in rushing yards and total offensive yards, currently with 515 yards rushing and 704 total yards this season. Williams has rushed for six touchdowns and reeled in four from the air to open the season.
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Broc Lyle currently sits ninth all time with 18 total receiving touchdowns, leading the team so far this season with 369 yards receiving.
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Reid Potts leads Evangel at quarterback, throwing for 1,227 yards so far this year and nine touchdown passes.
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Evangel moved to 25-23-1 all-time in homecoming matchups after taking a 7-6 win two weeks ago against (RV) Kansas Wesleyan.
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Draven VanGilder leads Evangel defensively with 51 total tackles.
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Evangel enters Saturday's contest with a 266-234-3 all-time record, recording a win in their 500th game against Southwestern on September 13th.
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Erik Spring was named the KCAC Defensive Player of the week last Monday for his effort in the win over Kansas Wesleyan.
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—
