The Basics

Score: (RV) Evangel 28, Ottawa 23 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (5-2, 1-0), Ottawa (2-5, 0-1)

Location: Nixa, Mo. | Eagle Stadium

NIXA, Mo. - After inclement weather forced Evangel to move their game to Sunday, the Valor faced off with the Braves on a beautiful fall day. Evangel would score 21 first half points and do just enough to take a 28-23 win over Ottawa, their first in Kessinger divisional play. 

After both teams were forced to punt on their first drives, Evangel drove down the field and Reid Potts found Brady Allen across the middle of the field, scoring the first touchdown of the day as Allen scampered 30 yards downfield for the score, 7-0.

Evangel kept Ottawa off the scoreboard for the entirety of the first quarter, as the Valor recorded another scoring drive late in the first period, with Eric Williams II rushing from 16 yards out for the score, 14-0.

Ottawa opened the second quarter by scoring a 42-yard field goal to make it a 14-3 game. Evangel's next offensive drive ended in a beauty of a pass, as Reid Potts threw a dime into the corner of the endzone, finding Brady Allen for his second touchdown of the afternoon, 21-3.

Both teams punted on their next possessions and Ottawa would score a touchdown to close out the second half, as EU left 21-10 at the halftime break.

Cody Voysey's kickoff pinned Ottawa on the 1-yard line, but the Braves would take over eight minutes off the clock, driving the entirety of the field to score a touchdown, making it a 21-17 ballgame.

Evangel added their final touchdown of the afternoon on the following drive, as Reid Potts threw a bullet to Brady Allen in the endzone, his third score of the day, extending the EU lead to 28-17.

Both defenses were able to earn several stops, forcing punts, but Ottawa would again find the endzone with just over five minutes remaining, drawing five points within Evangel's lead, after failing to convert a  two-point conversion, 28-23.

The Valor would use a meticulous final drive of the game to not allow any Ottawa comeback chance, draining the final 5:01 of the game with several Eric Williams II rushes and an impressive play from Reid Potts on third down to find Brady Blackwell, helping to ice the game, 28-23.

Draven VanGilder led Evangel with eight tackles, while Zach Myers finished with 2.5 sacks. Garrett Finley also recorded 1.5 sacks in the win.

Reid Potts finished his day with 177 passing yards and 3 touchdown passes, while Brady Allen led all receivers with 83 yards receiving and all three of Potts' touchdowns. Eric Williams II finished his afternoon with 67 yards on the ground.

With the win, head coach Chuck Hepola tied Keith Barefield for the all-time wins record at Evangel with 66.

UP NEXT

Evangel will hit the road to take on the Avila Eagles on Saturday (Oct. 25) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Kansas City, Missouri.