The Basics
Score: #19 Evangel 73, Saint Mary 7 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (1-0), Saint Mary (0-1)
Location: Nixa, Mo. | Eagle Stadium
NIXA, Mo. – Evangel Football opened their 2026 campaign on Saturday (Aug. 29) night, hosting the Saint Mary Spires under the lights of Eagle Stadium. The Valor would put forth a dominant effort in all three phases of play on Saturday, taking a 73-7 victory to move to 1-0 on the season.
Joshua Isaac returned the opening kickoff 51 yards downfield, setting Evangel up with great field position, as a heavy dose of Kyle Cummings gave the Valor their first score of the game, 7-0. After earning a defensive stop, sophomore Cody Voysey nailed a 35-yard field goal to extend their lead to 10-0.
Evangel forced Saint Mary into a turnover on downs on their following possession, while Evangel was forced to punt for their first time at the beginning of the second quarter. On 3rd and 23 for the Spires, Cullen Snow came away with an interception which set the Valor up with strong field position, as Cummings again moved the Valor within scoring position and a double reverse from Broc Lyle scored to give EU a 17-0 lead. Evangel again forced Saint Mary to punt and Matt Allen would hit Gunner Ellison down the field for a 65-yard touchdown pass, making it a 24-0 ballgame.
The Valor would score two more times before halftime, as Luke Milligan found Broc Lyle on the sideline, scoring a 34-yard receiving touchdown to take a 31-0 lead. After Saint Mary was unable to handle a snap on a punt, Allen found Lyle on the first play of the possession for a 14-yard touchdown, Lyle's third of the evening (2 rec., 1 rush), 38-0. Saint Mary scored their lone touchdown just before the break, making it a 38-7 ballgame.Â
After forcing another Saint Mary punt, Allen again found Lyle, closing his night out with a strong showing and Lyle's fourth touchdown, 45-7. Snow pulled away his second interception of the night while Milligan found Brady Allen on the left sideline for a 39 yard pass, setting up Isaac for a four yard rush to make it a 52-7 ballgame. After the Valor earned another defensive stop, EU muffed the punt, allowing Saint Mary to re-gain possession. Saint Mary had an opportunity for a 52-yard field goal, but Hollen Glenn would block the attempt, as Jaden Lewis scooped and scored to extend Evangel's lead to 59-7.
On Evangel's first possession of the fourth quarter, Noah Bryant racked up 76 yards of rushing, as Zuric Humes used a 17-yard rush to give the Valor a 66-7 lead. On USM's ensuing possession, the QB's pass was deflected by several Valor athletes, as Talan Hill came away with the final interception of the game. Bryant continued his strong game on the ground on Evangel's final offensive possession (that didn't result in a kneeldown), scoring the final touchdown of the game from seven yards out, solidifying Evangel's 73-7 season opening win.
Offensively, Matt Allen finished his night 7-7 for 135 yards and three touchdown passes. Luke Milligan went 6-9 for 96 yards and a touchdown pass. Noah Bryant led all rushers with 114 yards and a score, while starter Kyle Cummings ran for 58 yards and a TD. Gunner Ellison led all receivers with 95 yards and a touchdown, while Broc Lyle scored three touchdowns from the air and one on the ground. Kicker Cody Voysey finished his night going 1-1 from FG range and 10-10 for PATs.
Brothers Erik Spring and Kenneth Spring finished their nights with the team high in tackles (6), while Garrett Finley led the team in tackles for loss (2.5). Corbin Norris recorded the only sack on Saturday, while Cullen Snow (2) and Talan Hill both earned interceptions. Hollen Glenn rounded out the night with a blocked field goal that Jaden Lewis returned for a score in the third quarter.
Evangel's 73 points was the second most scored in a single game in Evangel Football history, while the 67 point win was the second widest margin.
UP NEXT
Evangel Football hits the road next Saturday (Sept. 5) night, taking on the Sterling College Warriors at 6:00 p.m., in Sterling, Kansas.
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—
