The Basics
Score: (RV) Evangel 35, #14 Southwestern 25 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (3-0), Southwestern (2-1)
Location: Winfield, Kan. | Jantz Stadium
WINFIELD, Kan. – Evangel Football hit the road on Saturday (Sept. 13) morning, taking on the 14th-ranked Southwestern College Moundbuilders on their home turf, in a matchup between a pair of 2-0 teams. In what proved to be a back-and-forth battle, Evangel's rushing offense proved to be the difference maker as 273 yards on the ground and timely fourth quarter scores fueled EU to a 35-25 road victory.
Both teams traded punts on their first pair of possessions, until the home Moundbuilders used a 71-yard pass to score the first points of the game, taking a 6-0 lead over Evangel after Jaren Foster blocked the ensuing PAT.
Evangel would not score until their second possession of the second quarter, using a seven-play drive, capped off by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Reid Potts to Eric Williams II to take a 7-6 lead.
The Valor defense forced a fumble on Southwestern's following possession, setting up the offense just 13 yards away from the endzone. Potts found Jeremiah Barnes for his second passing touchdown of the day on the first offensive play to extend Evangel's lead to 14-6.
Evangel's defense continued to shut down the Moundbuilders in the second quarter and Williams II continued to rumble on the ground, using a 49-yard rush to set the Valor up again in the redzone, scoring on a six yard rush to give EU a 21-12 halftime lead, as the home team scored just before the break.
The Southwestern offense scored twice in the third quarter, as Evangel could not muster enough offense to score, falling behind 25-21 with just one quarter of play remaining.
Evangel pinned Southwestern at their own 1-yard line on their first offensive possession of the final quarter and earned a three-and-out, setting up great field position for the offense on the Moundbuilders 33-yard line.
Potts opened the drive with a 19-yard rush and Evangel was able to get to SWC's seven yard line on another Williams II rush. Cameron Harris took a handoff on the next play and appeared to be stopped at the two yard line, but Harris would lateral to Jeremiah Barnes who took the ball into the endzone, giving Evangel a 28-25 lead.
After the defense again stopped Southwestern's high-powered offense, Evangel took over at their own 22-yard line with 8:50 remaining in the ballgame. The EU offense kept the ball on the ground, winding down the clock and using several big pickups from Harris to move into the redzone. Eric Williams II was able to give Evangel a two-score lead, scoring his third touchdown of the afternoon as EU took a 35-25 lead over Southwestern, burning over six minutes of the game clock on their drive.
Cullen Snow came away with an interception on Southwestern's ensuing drive, helping to solidify the road victory over the 14th-ranked Moundbuilders, 35-25.
Draven VanGilder led Evangel for his second consecutive game with nine tackles, while Deacon Peterson finished with 2.0 TFLs in the win. Zach Myers recovered a fumble and Cullen Snow recorded his third interception of the season.
Reid Potts finished his day with 111 passing yards, throwing two touchdown passes, while Eric Williams II finished with 153 rushing yards. Broc Lyle led the Valor with 36 receiving yards to pace all receivers.
UP NEXT
Evangel returns home on Saturday (Sept. 20) evening, taking on the McPherson College Bulldogs at 6:05 p.m. in Nixa, Missouri.
