SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel Valor play host to the Bethany College Swedes on Saturday (Nov. 15) afternoon, honoring their seniors for senior day. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. from Nixa's Eagle Stadium.

OPENING STORYLINES

• Evangel tenth-year head coach Chuck Hepola enters Saturday's contest with a 69-35 overall record, the most wins by a football head coach at Evangel.

• Evangel was picked to finish first in the Kessinger Division coaches and media poll, while Bethany was slated to finish last in the division's preseason media poll and in the coaches poll.

• The Valor jumped to #22 in the nation in the eighth edition of the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Rating. In the KCAC, Friends is tied at #4, while Southwestern jumped to #23. McPherson dropped to #24 while Kansas Wesleyan jumped back into receiving votes after a win against McPherson. An updated top 25 rating comes out every Monday the rest of the season.

• Evangel and Bethany match up for the fourth time in program history, as Evangel looks to continue their winning ways against the Swedes. The Valor were victorious at home last season, 68-17, and their only loss was a forfeit, back in the 80s.

• Evangel enters Saturday's contest with a 270-234-3 all-time record, recording a win in their 500th game against Southwestern on September 13th.

• With a win on Saturday, Evangel will be the outright KCAC Kessinger Division Champions, their second divisional title in the last three seasons. EU has already secured a spot in the NAIA Football Championship Series and will compete next Saturday (Nov. 22) at a location to be announced.

• Reid Potts leads Evangel at quarterback, currently with 2,111 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes, which is the most in the division.

• Eric Williams II is Evangel's leading rusher, currently with 844 yards on the ground and 11 rushing touchdowns, which leads the Kessinger division.

• Broc Lyle's 712 receiving yards leads Evangel, as the junior averages 15.82 yards per reception and has reeled in five touchdown receptions.

• Draven VanGilder leads Evangel defensively, currently with 77 total tackles, while Zach Myers leads in terms of tackles of loss and sacks, with 14 and 9.5, respectively.

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—