NIXA, Mo. – A complete team effort saw the Evangel Valor football team roll past Sterling College, 55-0, Saturday evening in college football action at Eagle Stadium.
Evangel improved to 3-0 on the season with a convincing win that saw the defense force four turnovers and hold the Warriors to just 98 yards of total offense. The Warriors fall to 0-3 on the year.
Deadlocked through the first quarter a pair of turnovers by each team started the second quarter 0-0. However, the Valor offense took aim and tallied 535 yards of total offense en route to a 55-0 shutout. It was the most yards of total offense since Evangel posted 576 yards against Missouri Valley on Oct. 16, 2021.
After a missed field goal on the opening drive of the second quarter the Valor defense stepped up to force the second turnover of the game. Two series later, RJ Wakley would drive Evangel 20 yards after finding Dillon Hester across the middle for the first score of the game. Wakley and Hester would connect three times with Wakley finishing with four touchdowns and 271 yards through the air.
The Valor grabbed the momentum on the next series needing just four plays to march 80 yards for the score. Wakley found Eric Williams down the sideline who raced 66 yards into the end zone to push the Valor lead to 13-0.
Wakley and the Valor broke the game open in the second half after the Evangel defense forced Sterling to a 3-and-out on its first possession. The senior quarterback connected with Hester for a second time across the middle while the speedy receiver raced 73 yards for to push the Evangel lead to 20-0 with 13:13 left in the third.
Wakley and Heser would connect again with 10:21 left in the third on a 6 yard pass and catch. Hester posted his second 100-yard receiving game finishing with 148 yards and three touchdowns on seven catches.
Williams would score his second touchdown of the night on the next Valor series on a 14 yard plunge. Williams added 72 yards through the air and 76 yards on the ground to lead Evangel scoring a touchdown both ways.
The fourth quarter scoring would continue as Matt Allen took a 4th-and-5 into the endzone from 22 yards out with 13:59 left in the game. Allen’s rush pushed Evangel to a 41-0 lead.
The Valor added another rushing touchdown as Jayden Hart scampered 33 yards to cap a 7-play 78-yard drive.
On the ensuing kickoff Evangel would pick up its fourth turnover and need just three plays to punch the ball into the endzone. Kyle Cummings carried the ball all three times and finished with a 16 yard run into the endzone for his first score of the season.
Helping Evangel hold Sterling under 100 yards of total offense, the Valor tallied 13 tackles for a loss and five sacks in the win.
Bradley Myers led Evangel with 15 tackles, while Garrett Finley and Zach Myers finished with two sacks. Safety Nate Swofford recorded the first interception of the season for Evangel in the first quarter.
Up Next
Evangel heads to Saint Mary next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Spires.
