The Basics

Score: #22 Evangel 10, McPherson 17 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (3-1), McPherson (4-0)

Location: Nixa, Mo. | Eagle Stadium

NIXA, Mo. – Evangel Football returned home on Saturday (Sept. 20) evening to take on the McPherson College Bulldogs in a battle of unbeaten KCAC squads. 17 unanswered Bulldog points proved to be the difference on Saturday, as the Valor dropped their first game of the season at home, 17-10.

After the first drives by both offenses resulted in punts, McPherson's second drive of the evening was a promising one. The Bulldogs would drive down to the Evangel 10-yard line, but an errant throw was batted and intercepted by Javeon Turner, to give EU back possession.

Evangel's drive following the interception would end in a turnover on downs for EU, but both teams spent the majority of the first half punting back and forth to each other.

The first scoring drive of the evening came late in the second quarter, as a big 21-yard pickup on a screen pass to Cameron Harris set the Valor up in the red zone. EU could not find the endzone on three attempts, settling for a field goal that put the home team ahead, 3-0.

Jaren Foster came away with his first interception of the season on a Hail Mary attempt to end the first half, as the Valor led, 3-0, in a defensive battle.

Evangel's first drive of the second half proved to be their best of the evening, as Harris racked off a 20-yard rush, Brady Allen caught a pair of receptions combining for 28 yards, and Broc Lyle would catch a touchdown on a fade route from Reid Potts to extend the Valor lead to 10-0.

The Valor defense forced McPherson to punt on their first drive of the second half, but EU's offense could not go ahead by three scores, again needing to punt. The Bulldogs would earn favorable field position on just a 16-yard punt, opening their first scoring drive on the 50-yard line. Jalil Brown, the McPherson running back, willed his offense to score, recording seven handoffs on a nine-play drive to make it a 10-7 ballgame heading into the final quarter of play.

EU could not score to open the fourth quarter, again punting back to McPherson. On the snap, the ball would go past Evangel's punter Mason Bendabout, and the Bulldogs defense would return the fumble to the house, taking a 14-10 lead over EU.

Despite not scoring on their following drive, the Valor defense was able to allow just a McPherson field goal to keep the deficit just one score, 17-10, with 7:39 remaining in the game. EU would drive all the way to McPherson's 30-yard line, but Potts' pass on fourth down went just high of Brady Allen's outstretched arms, forcing a turnover on downs. 

Evangel's defense came up big on the following drive, forcing a punt and giving Evangel one final chance on offense. EU could not push the ball down the field on their final drive and left the game up to their stout defense, punting the ball away with 1:50 remaining in the game.

McPherson's star running back, Jalil Brown, put the game out of reach for Evangel, racking off a pair of 20+ yard rushes, as the clock wound down, forcing EU into their first loss of the season, 17-10.

Reid Slankard led Evangel with nine tackles, while Zach Myers finished with 1.5 TFLs in the loss. Both Jaren Foster and Javeon Turner came away with interceptions on Saturday.

Reid Potts finished his day with 232 passing yards and a touchdown pass. Cameron Harris led all Evangel rushers with 64 total rushing yards, as Eric Williams II left the game early in the second quarter of play. 126 of Jalil Brown's 128 rushing yards came in the second half of play on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Evangel hits the road to take on the 8th-ranked Friends Falcons in Wichita, Kan., next Saturday (Sept. 27), looking to bounce back against the highest-ranked team they have faced so far this season at 6:00 p.m.