The Basics
Score: #24 Evangel 24, #8 Friends 59 | Box Score
Record: Evangel (3-2), Friends (5-0)
Location: Nixa, Mo. | Eagle Stadium
NIXA, Mo. – Evangel Football returned home for their third consecutive game against top-25 opponents on Saturday (Sept. 26) night, taking on the 8th-ranked Friends Falcons. The Valor knew they would need their best effort, knowing the Falcons lead the NAIA in points scored and total offense. Evangel would score the most points allowed by Friends this season, but could not stop the fast option offense, falling 59-24 on Saturday.
Evangel came out quickly with a 35-yard pass from Matt Allen to Brady Allen on their first drive, but could not gain any additional yards, punting to the Falcons. Friends would drive deep into Evangel's territory, but a holding penalty and sack from Garrett Finley and Grady Goss would push the Falcons outside of field goal range, giving EU back the ball on a punt.
The Valor would fumble on their next possession, setting the Falcons up on the 10-yard line, as Friends took a 7-0 lead on the following play. Both teams punted on their following possessions, but to open the second quarter, Friends added another touchdown, extending their lead to 14-0. Despite punting on their next possession, Evangel was able to force a Friends fumble, as Draven VanGilder stripped the ball and Finley jumped on it at the 18-yard line. The Valor came away with a 35-yard field goal to trail, 14-3, on their short field possession.
The Falcons would respond with another big play on the ground, taking a 21-3 lead over Evangel with 8:29 remaining in the second quarter. Evangel again turned the ball over, this time on an interception, setting Friends back up with excellent field position that they took advantage of, extending their lead to 28-3.
On Evangel's next possession, Matt Allen found Broc Lyle for a 31-yard reception, as well as Gunner Ellison for a 23-yard reception, and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Brady Allen to make it a 28-10 ballgame.
The Valor defense put up a goal line stand on Friends final offensive possession of the first half, as the Falcons scored a 20-yard field goal to take a 31-10 lead. Evangel would attempt a 47-yard field goal to close the first half of play, but the Falcons blocked and returned the field goal for a touchdown, making it a 38-10 lead at the halftime break for Friends.
Both teams punted to open the second half, but the Falcons would add to their lead on their next possession, making it a 45-10 game with 9:27 remaining in the third quarter. Big rushes from Matt Allen, Noah Bryant, and capped off by Kyle Cummings gave EU another touchdown, this time on the ground to make it a 45-17 game.
A big passing play from Friends set the Falcons up with a three yard passing touchdown to take a 52-17 lead over EU. In the fourth quarter, Friends added another score from the air, while Sam Clark ran in a 37-yard touchdown rush to make it a 59-24 final score, as the Valor fell to 3-2 on the season.Â
Evangel was led by Matt Allen, who threw for 144 yards and a passing touchdown, while Noah Bryant led EU on the ground with 75 rushing yards. Cody Voysey nailed three more PATs, breaking the school record for consecutive PATs in a career, now with 59 consecutive.
Defensively, Cole Austin and Draven VanGilder led the Valor with seven total tackles, while both Garrett Finley and Grady Goss both recorded sacks on Saturday. VanGilder also recorded a forced fumble that Finley recovered defensively.
UP NEXT
Evangel Football hits the road to conclude non-divisional play on Saturday (Oct. 3) afternoon, taking on (RV) Kansas Wesleyan in Salina, Kan., 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—
