WICHITA, Kan. – After clinching the Kessinger Division title for the second time in three years, Valor Football earned a trio of major KCAC conference awards, as Chuck Hepola was named the Kessinger Division Coach of the Year, Jeremy DeSoto was named the Kessinger Division Assistant Coach of the Year, and Zach Myers earned the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year honor. Valor Football also earned 16 All-KCAC honorees, after the conference voted to make one All-KCAC honor, moving from All-Divisional honors the last two seasons.
Chuck Hepola earned his fourth coach of the year honor, after guiding Evangel to a 9-2 overall record and a 5-0 record in divisional play. Hepola became the winningest head coach in school history this season, currently boasting 70 wins in his career at EU. The Valor clinched their second playoff appearance in the past three seasons for the first time since they did it in 1994 and 1996 (three of the last four).
Jeremy DeSoto received his third assistant coach of the year honor on Thursday, helping lead Evangel's defensive unit to some of the top marks in the nation. DeSoto's defense currently sits second in the nation in sacks with 39, 11th in the nation in points allowed and 13th in the nation for yards allowed. DeSoto has also coached the conference defensive player of the year for four straight seasons, as Athanie Leeviraphan earned the honor in 2022, Bradley Myers earned the honor in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024, and his brother Zach Myers earned the honor this season.
Zach Myers continued the Myers defensive legacy this season, earning the KCAC Defensive Player of the Year honor, the third consecutive year that a Myers brother has won the honor (Bradley awarded in '23 & '24). Zach finished his regular season with the fourth most sacks in the nation (9.5) as well as 14 tackles for loss and 51 total tackles. The Lee's Summit native, Myers currently ranks second for tackles for loss in a career at EU, sitting at 58 so far in his illustrious career.
Looking at All-KCAC honors, the aforementioned Zach Myers was joined by linebacker Draven VanGilder, safety Jaren Foster, center Dominic Dawson, and tight end Brady Allen for first team honors. Earning second team All-KCAC honors were wide receiver Broc Lyle, running back Eric Williams II, defensive tackle Deacon Peterson, and Drew Ripko in his role as kick returner. The Valor were rounded out with seven All-KCAC third team players, safety Erik Spring, defensive end Garrett Finley, fullback Kyle Cummings, right guard Isaiah Davis, left tackle Lukas Higgins, long snapper Caleb Higginbottom, and Drew Ripko in his role as punt returner.
Draven VanGilder led Evangel in total tackles with 82, the fourth most in the KCAC. VanGilder also recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and added a pass breakup in his 2025 campaign. Jaren Foster finished with 51 total tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups, the fourth most in the conference. Dominic Dawson helped lead an offensive line that allowed just two sacks the entire season, the least in the KCAC. Brady Allen rounded out first team honors with a 430 receiving yard season, the most yards from a tight end in the KCAC, and three receiving touchdowns.
Broc Lyle continued to lead Evangel in receiving yard production this season, finishing with 728 yards, the third most in the Kessinger division, while also recording five touchdown receptions. Eric Williams II finished with 935 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns to lead the Kessinger division, while also scoring six touchdowns through the air in 2025. Deacon Peterson was also a force defensively, finishing with eight sacks, the third most in the KCAC, and 12.5 tackles for loss, the fourth most in the conference, while missing a pair of games this season. Rounding out second team honors was kick returner Drew Ripko, who accumulated 616 kickoff return yards, the most in the KCAC, averaging 29.33 yards per return.
Taking a look at third team All-KCAC honors, Erik Spring finished with 45 total tackles, two interceptions, and was named the KCAC Defensive Player of the Week back in October. Garrett Finley finished with the fourth most sacks in the conference at 7.5, while Kyle Cummings finished with 245 rushing yards and seven tackles on special teams coverage. Isaiah Davis and Lukas Higgins both played integral pieces on an offensive line that gave up just two sacks and led the Kessinger division in rushing yards, while Caleb Higginbottom was the long snapper for 43 made PATs, six made FGs, and 41 punts. Rounding out honors was Drew Ripko, this time for his efforts on punt returns, where he finished with 131 punt return yards this season.
Evangel returns to action tomorrow (Nov. 22) morning, taking on the 16th seeded Saint Francis Cougars at 11:00 a.m. central time in Fort Wayne, Indiana, looking to take their first win in postseason play since 2005.
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