The Basics
Score: #24 Evangel 35, Ottawa 38 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (4-3, 0-1), Ottawa (4-3, 1-0)
Location: Ottawa, Kan. | AdventHealth Field
OTTAWA, Kan. – Evangel Football hit the road to open Kessinger Divisional play on Saturday (Oct. 17) afternoon, taking on the Ottawa Braves for their homecoming weekend. Despite holding the Braves to just 56 rushing yards on the day, Ottawa would throw for 526 passing yards, as the Valor were unable to keep pace in an overtime shootout, falling 38-35 on Saturday.
Ottawa would throw an interception on Saturday's opening drive, as Erik Spring nearly took it to the house, setting EU up on the Ottawa 10-yard line. Luke Milligan found Brady Allen for a 10-yard touchdown pass to give EU an early 6-0 lead, after Cody Voysey's PAT went wide, his first PAT miss in over a year. The Braves would respond with a score of their own to take a 7-6 lead, but Evangel quickly responded, as Zuric Humes kept the ball on an option, scoring a 55-yard rushing touchdown to take a 13-7 lead over the Braves.
Neither team scored on their final drives of the first quarter, but Ottawa would score to open the second quarter, taking a 14-13 lead over EU. The Valor once again responded, using a big play from Brady Allen and a five yard rush from Noah Bryant to recapture a 20-14 lead. Both teams were unable to score on several of their following possessions, but after an Evangel fumble, Ottawa used a pair of big passing plays to take a 21-20 halftime lead over the Valor.
Ottawa opened the second half in a big way, returning Evangel's punt to the house to take a 28-20 lead over the Valor. Runs from Humes and Bryant helped set EU up for another Brady Allen touchdown reception, with Milligan finding Bryant to convert the two point conversion, tying the game up at 28-28 with 9:15 remaining in the third quarter. After forcing a punt, Evangel used a nine play, 91 yard drive, capped off with a 36-yard reception from Broc Lyle to give EU a 35-28 lead.
Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the third quarter, but with 7:31 remaining in the game, Ottawa scored a touchdown to tie the game up at 35-35. Ottawa drove the field late in Saturday's contest and it appeared they would take a lead on a 30-yard field goal, but the kick went wide left, keeping the game all knotted up, forcing an overtime period.
Losing the toss, the Valor took the ball first, and were unable to earn a first down, going for it on a fourth and one. Ottawa was able to get to Evangel's one-yard line and nailed a chip shot 18-yard field goal on fourth down to secure the win over EU, 38-35.
Evangel was led by Luke Milligan, who threw for 205 yards and a trio of passing touchdowns, while Noah Bryant led EU on the ground with 103 rushing yards. Broc Lyle led Evangel with 117 receiving yards and a score and also broke Evangel's career reception record on Saturday, securing his 174th reception, passing Dillon Hester (2021-23) on the all-time list.
Defensively, Draven VanGilder led the Valor with 11 total tackles, while Garrett Finley finished with a pair of tackles for loss. Erik Spring and Kenneth Spring both came away with interceptions on Saturday, while Deacon Peterson recovered a fumble.
UP NEXT
Evangel Football returns to action for Homecoming on Saturday (Oct. 24) afternoon, taking on the Avila Eagles in Nixa, Mo., at 1:00 p.m.
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. Â
—#OneValor—
