Game # 8
EU at Graceland
Saturday, Oct. 21, 1:30
Bruce Jenner Sports Complex
Lamoni, Iowa
Go to the football broadcast page
Evangel is led by Scott Metcalf in his fifth season. Metcalf has a 31-19 record at Evangel and served as an EU assistant for 11 years prior to assuming the head coach job.
Graceland is led by Cris Welch in his third season. Welch has a 17-9 mark in the three campaigns.
The Crusaders are 4-3 overall and all seven games have been Heart of America Athletic Conference contests (6th). Evangel won its homecoming game against No. 13-ranked Benedictine on Oct. 14, 19-17. Freshman Trevor Gies slipped a 34-yard field goal between the uprights with no time left on the clock to give EU the upset victory.
The Graceland Yellowjackets won 28-25 at William Jewell on Oct. 14. With 9:02 remaining in the game, Graceland led 28-3. The lead, however, nearly evaporated as William Jewell scored three TDs in the final five minutes to pull to within three points. Graceland recovered a William Jewell onsides kick with 45 seconds left to preserve the Graceland win.
Evangel at # 17Graceland, 1:30
Avila at Baker, 1:00
Central Methodist at #20 Benedictine, 1:30
#6 Missouri Valley at Lindenwood, 1:30
MidAmererica Nazarene at Culver-Stockton, 1:30
| Rank | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri Valley | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | Benedictine | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | Evangel | 3 | 2 |
| Graceland | 3 | 2 | |
| William Jewell | 3 | 2 | |
| 6 | MidAmerican Nazarene | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | Lindenwood | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | Baker | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | Central Methodist | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Avila | 1 | 3 |
| Culver-Stockton | 1 | 3 |
Evangel has a 15-3 series advantage against Graceland (16-2 on the field). EU had won the last 13 meetings prior to losing to Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa, 73-48, during the 2004 season. Graceland’s other win on the field versus Evangel was a 13-10 victory at the Plaster Sports Complex in 1990. The Crusaders are 8-1 in games played at Graceland. The loss was the 25-point loss in 2004 (73-48). There were 121 points scored in that contest and Graceland ’s 73 points and 732 yards are the most ever against an EU defensive unit.
The Crusaders upset No. 12-ranked Graceland, 47-14, last season in Springfield. EU was ahead 20-0 before Graceland scored. Evangel then added 27 more points before allowing a Graceland TD.
Demetric Phillips rushed for 164 yards on 24 carries and one TD for the Crusaders. He also scored a TD on a 54-yard reception. Phillips was named the conference player of the week. Derek Rasmussen tied the school record with five TD passes and only threw 13 times with nine completions. Jared Stevens led EU with three catches for 39 yards and a TD (also had a rushing TD). Also Micah Cravalho scored two TDs, Clint Gerlek had one score, and Phillips added yet another TD. Robb Richardson led EU with 11 tackles. Jacob Hamon had nine stops.
Graceland’s Clayton Braddock passed for 149 yards and a TD, completing 11 of 24 with two interceptions (Justin Keenoy, Travis Meacham). Demetrius Cox was the leading rusher with 53 yards on 12 carries and one TD. Pedro Cunningham accounted for 41 yards on seven carries. Geary Davenport totaled four receptions for 54 yards and a TD. Marcus Nolan grabbed three aerials for 37 yards. Roshe Hepburn led GU’s defense with nine tackles. Wayne Johnson and Nathan Bennett had seven stops each.
Graceland held on to defeat William Jewell 28-25 in Liberty, Missouri, on Oct. 14. The GU Yellowjackets had a seemingly insurmountable 28-3 lead with just over nine minutes to play in the game. However, William Jewell came roaring back to score three touchdowns in the final five minutes to pull to within three points, 28-25. Graceland dodged the upset-bullet with 45 seconds left as the Yellowjackets recovered an onsides kick by William Jewell.
Passing: Derek Rasmussen (94-180-7 for 1,291 yards and 10 TDs)
Receiving: Edward Sands (26-448, 6 TDs), Drew Coplin (13-173, 1 TD), Steve Trulove (12-141, 0TDs)
Rushing: Shedrick McClenton (105-700, 5 TDs, 6.7 per att., 100.0 per game), Troy Stegall (34-134, 1 TD, 3.9 per att., 67.0 per game)
Placekicking: Trevor Gies (13-14 PATs, 5-7 FGs)
Punting: Trevor Gies (28 for 34.1 avg.)
Punt Returns: Von Dixon (8 for 4.8 avg.), Ben Wolfinbarger (6 for 4.0 avg.)
Kickoff Returns: Shedrick McClenton (5 for 25.4 avg.)
Tackles: Andrew Matrone (38), Jacob Hamon (32), Von Dixon (31), Nathan Thomas (31), Brandon Mires (30), Beau Grech (30)
Interceptions: Von Dixon (2-38), Joel Stevens (2-33)
Passing: Clayton Braddock (107-177-6 for 1,439 yards and 9 TDs)
Receiving: Donva Louder (27-344, 2 TDs), Gear Davenport (25-252, 2 TDs)
Rushing: Julius Strong (84-377 yards, 5 TDs, 4.5 avg., 62.8 avg. game)
Placekicking: Jason Enright (9-11 PATs, 1-3 FGs), Zachary Stuart (9-9 PATs, 1-3 FGs)
Punting: Four different punters have punted
Interceptions: Five different players have one each
Punt Returns: Donva Louder (6 for 12.3 avg.)
Kickoff Returns: Alonso Spiller (2 for 42.0 avg.), Donva Louder (7 for 22.3 avg.)
Tackles: Chris Bell (47), Nathan Bennett (41)
Evangel’s Trevor Gies booted a 34-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to give the Crusaders a come-from-behind, 19-17 win over No. 13-ranked Benedictine. EU’s normal starting quarterback, Derek Rasmussen, sat out the first quarter due to disciplinary action, but came on strong to complete 17 of 28 passes for 182 yards and a TD. He had one pass intercepted. Steve Trulove caught six passes for 48 yards and Edward Sands hauled in four for 62 yards. Troy Stegall rushed for 102 yards - his first 100-yard rushing game. Stegall had 24 carries and scored his first EU TD on a 1-yard run. Jacob Hamon led the EU defense with ten tackles. Von Dixon had nine. Andrew Matrone and Troy Rayburn each had seven stops.
Every Evangel football game will air live on Springfield radio station ESPN 1400 AM. Pre-game coverage will begin 15 minutes before each game and the Assemblies of God Credit Union Post Game Show will provide a complete recap of each game. Ed Beach enters his fifth season as the play-by-play “Voice of the Crusaders” and is joined on the broadcasts by Matt Warner.