MCPHERSON, Kan. — The 12th-ranked Evangel Valor football team faced off with McPherson on Saturday, taking a 17-7 victory over the Bulldogs in a defensive battle on the road.
Evangel continues its undefeated season improving to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the KCAC. The Bulldogs fall to 5-4 and 2-1 in the KCAC.
Both teams punted to open the game, but a McPherson interception on their ensuing possession, caught by Erik Spring, gave Evangel excellent field position. With the ball at McPherson’s 25 yard line, RJ Wakley placed a pass perfectly in the back right corner of the endzone, finding Paul Summers II for the touchdown, giving EU a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Wakley finished 14 for 29 for 175 yards with two touchdowns through the air while adding 22 yards on the ground on six carries, a few in the final quarter to help dwindle the time remaining.
McPherson’s final drive of the first quarter ended in another Valor interception, when Ian Ary took the ball away, returning 16 yards to McPherson’s 20 yard line, putting Evangel in the red zone to open their first drive of the second quarter. After two pass attempts were broken up by the Bulldogs defense, Jonah Edwards nailed a 22 yard field goal to put the Valor ahead, 10-0, with 14:51 remaining in the second quarter.
After forcing another McPherson punt on the next possession, Evangel took the ball on their own 1-yard line, after a solid punt from the Bulldogs punter. The Valor put together a solid drive, going 99 yards in 4:19 to score another touchdown, this time on a pass from Wakley to Eric Williams, putting Evangel ahead, 17-0, with 8:59 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs managed to get on the board after recovering a fumble by the Valor offense, setting McPherson up with good field position, on Evangel’s 22 yard line. The McPherson touchdown made it a 17-7 game, heading into the halftime break.
Six consecutive drives in the second half ended in punts to open the game after the halftime break. Evangel’s defense displayed a strong effort after forcing several punts and in the fourth quarter, continued to push to the finish. The Valor defense forced a turnover on downs in McPherson’s first possession of the fourth quarter and a strong drive by Evangel, led by several clutch third and fourth down runs, took nearly 10 minutes off the clock. McPherson would begin to drive down the field as Evangel played prevent defense and once the Bulldogs were within the redzone, the Valor defense forced a turnover on downs, icing the game for Evangel and giving them their 10th consecutive win and ninth of the season, 17-7.
Bradley Myers, the nation’s leader in tackles, led Evangel with an impressive 20 total tackles, including 3.5 for loss and two sacks. Clayton Uber also recorded double digit tackles for Evangel, finishing with 14 total.
Evangel competes in their final road game of the regular season next Saturday (Nov. 4) against 24th ranked Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, at 1:00 p.m.
