The Evangel University football team will open its 40th season of action Saturday afternoon in Ozark at Tiger Stadium against 15th-ranked Benedictine at 6 p.m.
Saturday's game will kick off from Tiger Stadium in Ozark at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast exclusively through Evangel Game Central and EvangelAthletics.com. The game broadcast can be seen around the world for free through EvangelAthletics.com and through the Evangel Athletics Mobile App available on iPhone and Android.
STORYLINES
► Evangel begins its 39th year of football Saturday evening at Tiger Stadium in Ozark, Missouri. It will be the first time the Crusaders have called a stadium home other than JFK or Plaster Stadium.
► The Crusaders are under the direction of first-year head coach Chuck Hepola. Hepola served as the quarterbacks coach last season and has spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach at the college level. He is also a 1991 graduate of Evangel University.
► Evangel returns 32 players that saw significant playing time in 2015. Among those returners include: First Team All-Heart offensive lineman Charles Scott and linebacker Devon Overall. Second Team defensive back Zakorey Barr, and honorable mention wide receiver Dallas Hester, and linebacker Josh Evans.
► Evangel finished 3-8 last season and 0-5 in Heart South Division action, however the Crusader lost five of their final six games by a touchdown or less.
► Defensively, the Crusaders were one of the top defenses against the pass ranking third in the 12 team league allowing 155 yards per game through the air. Missouri Valley was tops in the league allowing 138 ypg, while Grand View was second at 146 yards per game.
► Among the defensive leaders for Evangel, senior captain Devon Overall returns for his senior season after leading The Heart in tackles. With 110 tackles during his junior season the linebacker is set to lead the Crusader defense once again after earning first team all-conference accolades.
► Also on the defensive side of the ball the Crusaders return honorable mention all-conference linebacker Josh Evans. Evans led Evangel with 4.5 sacks last season and ranked 11th in The Heart.
► Joining Evangel for his final season of collegiate football is transfer quarterback Blake Woodard. Woodard comes to Evangel from Oklahoma Baptist where he amassed more than 2,500 yards passing. He was a second team all-conference quarterback in 2014 and is tabbed the starter for the Crusaders heading into week one.
For the latest information on Evangel athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/EvangelAthletics or got to www.EvangelAthletics.com.
