The Basics

Score: (RV) Evangel 51, Sterling 14 | Box Score

Record: Evangel (2-0), Sterling (0-2)

Location: Nixa, Mo. | Eagle Stadium

NIXA, Mo. – After recording 631 offensive yards in their season opener, the Evangel football team competed in their home opener against Sterling, nearly breaking the school record in offensive yards as EU finished with 679 total yards in a 51-14 dismantling of the Sterling College Warriors.

Evangel opened Saturday's contest with a six play drive, using several gains from Eric Williams II and a three yard rush to the left pylon from Reid Potts to take an early 7-0 lead.

After both teams forced turnovers on downs, Sterling evened the score, using a 79-yard reception to set up a two-yard touchdown rush in just two minutes and twenty-three seconds.

The Valor put together a promising drive to answer and got the ball all the way down to the one-yard line, but a fumble on the snap was recovered by the Warriors. After the EU defense forced a three and out, Evangel again fumbled the ball, giving Sterling possession with 2:50 remaining in the first quarter.

In Evangel's first drive of the second quarter, Kyle Cummings rushed for 45 combined yards, setting Cameron Harris up for a 14-yard touchdown rush to move EU's lead to 14-7.

A nearly five minute drive where Potts found Broc Lyle deep for 38-yards resulted in another Williams touchdown rush to extend Evangel's lead to 20-7, after a missed PAT. Sterling would return a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to the house to draw back within a possession with 2:03 remaining before halftime.

A 50-yard screen pass from Potts to Williams again gave EU a 13-point lead, 27-14, and again the EU defense secured a stop, giving Evangel a chance to put up additional points before the halftime break.

With 1:05 remaining in the first half, the Valor drove down to Sterling's 12-yard line and Cody Voysey nailed his first collegiate field goal from 29 yards out, giving Evangel a 30-14 lead at halftime.

Both teams punted to open the second half, followed by a fourth and 17 for Sterling that ended in Kason Hatley's first career interception, as the Sterling quarterback threw wildly on a fourth down pressure from Deacon Peterson.

Another Eric Williams II drive pushed the Valor out to a 37-14 lead over Sterling, as EU had eclipsed 500 total offensive yards midway through the third quarter.

After a Sterling punt and Evangel botched snap on a field goal, Kenneth Spring recovered a backwards pass for a fumble to set Evangel up in good position to begin the final quarter of play. Williams added his final score of the night in the fourth, pushing the Valor lead out to 30 points, 44-14.

After forcing another Sterling turnover on downs, Evangel milked the clock in their final scoring drive of the evening, as nearly seven minutes of time came off the clock in a Kyle Cummings touchdown run drive. Zach Jouret came away with his first collegiate interception on Sterling's final drive, with Evangel walking away with a 51-14 win.

Draven VanGilder led Evangel with seven tackles, while Deacon Peterson and Jayden Harrington both finished with 2.5 TFLs in the win.

Reid Potts finished his night with 263 passing yards, going 15-22 with a touchdown passe, while Eric Williams II finished with 163 rushing yards. Broc Lyle led the Valor with 91 receiving yards as the Valor offense finished with 679 total yards, just nine yards shy of the school record (688, Benedictine, 2012). The Valor offense broke the school record for rushing yards in a game, finishing Saturday with 412 on the ground, two yards more than last season's performance against Bethany.

UP NEXT

Evangel travels to take on #14 Southwestern next Saturday (Sept. 13) morning at 11:00 a.m., looking to move to 3-0 on the season and earn their first ranked win of the season.