Game # 9
Evangel vs. William Jewell
Saturday October 28, 1:30 p.m.
JFK Stadium
Springfield, Mo.
Go to the football broadcast page
William Jewell at Evangel, 1:30
Culver-Stockton at Avila, 1:00
Graceland at Central Methodist, 1:30
Lindenwood at MidAmerica Naz., 1:00
Benedictine at Missouri Valley, 1:30
Baker is idle
Evangel is led by Scott Metcalf in his fifth season. Metcalf has a 31-20 record at Evangel and served as an EU assistant for 11 years prior to assuming the head coach job.
Fran Schwenk is William Jewell’s head coach. Swenk has a 9-8 record in two years at William Jewell.
Evangel is currently 4-4. EU began its season with two losses, but rebounded to win the next three in a row. A 31-point loss at Lindenwood, then a 19-17 homecoming win over Benedictine (No. 19 at the time) and a 20-6 loss at Graceland (No. 17) has left the Crusaders feeling a bit like a yo-yo.
With the opening kickoff temperature at 38 and rain turning the field into a muddy playground, the Crusaders found themselves on the short end of a 20-6 score on Oct. 21 at No. 17-ranked Graceland.
EU’s Jon Fouch got the Crusaders on the scoreboard first with a 43-yard interception return, but it was to be Evangel’s only trip to the end zone.
The Crusaders managed only 47 yards of total offense, gaining 48 thru the air and -1 on the ground. EU’s ground stats were affected, however, by a high snap on a punt that punter Trevor Gies attempted to return. The play resulted in a 35-yard loss and is logged as a team rush.
Ironically, Graceland’s ground game tallied 177 yards thanks to Julius Strong. Strong rambled for 112 yards on 19 carries and scored on TD runs of 2 and 10 yards. Alonso Spiller raced 79 yards on a kickoff return to score GU’s first points of the game. The host Yellowjackets added a modest 71 passing yards to their 177 rushing yards and finished with 248 total yards.
The Cardinals of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri are 3-4 overall and in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
William Jewell had an open date last Saturday and - like Evangel - met Graceland in its last game. Graceland won the game by three points, 28-25, at William Jewell’s homecoming on Oct. 14.
William Jewell’s Stephan Bader nailed a 30-yard field goal to put WJC ahead early. The visiting Yellow-jackets, however, then took over and led 14-3 at the half and extended their lead to 28-3 with just over nine minutes left in the game.
The offense of William Jewell then scored on a 24-yard passing play from Benny Palmer to Evan Adams and back on offense a few minutes later the duo would again hook up on a 45-yard scoring play. Palmer then hit Blake Wollard on a two-point conversion pass to pull William Jewell to within ten points, 28-18. A successful onsides kick ensued and William Jewell capitilized on the play to drive the distance of the field and score on a two-yard run by Palmer. The extra point was good and William Jewell was now down by just three points, 28-25. With 50 seconds left in the game, WJ’s second onsides kick of the game was recovered by Graceland, ending the Cardinal’s comeback bid.
Evangel leads the series 13-9 versus William Jewell and defeated the Cardinals in Liberty, Missouri, last season, in a 27-21 overtime thriller.
The series is tied 5-5 in Springfield, however, William Jewell has a 4-1 advantage in JFK Stadium. EU’s only win in JFK was a two-overtime affair in 2001 (20-13). In MSU’s Plaster Sports Complex, Evangel enjoyed a 4-1 series advantage.
The Crusaders tangled with William Jewell in Liberty, Missouri last season and managed to come home with a hard-fought 27-24 overtime win. EU led 21-7 with 11:57 left in the game, but William Jewell came roaring back to tie the game.
With the score knotted at 21-all at the end of regulation, William Jewell got the ball first and responded with a 44-yard field goal by Stephen Bader. EU, however, drove to the 1-yard line and Shedrick McClenton scored the go-ahead TD.
Evangel amassed 438 yards to William Jewell’s 292 yards. EU passed for 145 yards, while WJ tossed the ball for 178. Evangel led the ground game, totaling 293 yards to William Jewell’s 114.
Jared Stevens led EU’s rushing with 145 yards on 13 carries (11.5 avg.) and scored a pair of TDs. Shedrick McClenton added 81 yards on 15 carries and scored two TDs, including the game-winning, 1-yarder in overtime. Derek Rasmussen completed 15 of 24 passes and had one picked off by WJ’s John Egorugwu. Rasmussen totaled 131 yards in the air and 74 of those yards were accounted for by Micah Cravalho on eight receptions. Cedrick Dewberry led EU’s defense with 11 tackles and Robb Richardson had 10.
Daniel Forrest tossed two TD passes - both to Lore Selectman - and scored on a 1-yard run that, with the Stephen Bader extra point, tied the game 21-21. Forrest completed 12 of 24 passes with no picks and 178 yards. Selectman caught five passes for 89 yards, including TD catches of 42 and 9 yards. Bader connected on a 44-yard field goal to give WJ a short-lived OT lead. Anthony Simone was William Jewell’s top tackler with 14 stops. Chris Glenn added 12 and Trevis Reed had 11.
The Crusaders are suffering through one of their worse injury-riddled seasons ever in 2006. Evangel has been depleted at running back and on the offensive line. EU’s top three running backs - Shedrick McClenton, Ryan Polite, and Jared Stevens are out. Starters missing from the offensive line are Jonathan DeForest and Garrett Gretz.
Five starters are out, four starters are doubtful to return, and three starters have missed one or more games.
Five backup players are out, two backups are doubtful to return, and six backup players have missed one or more games.
Starters out for season (position, game injured): Chris Bodoin (CB, Missouri Valley), Jonathan DeForest (OL, preseason and MidAmerica), Shedrick McClenton (TB, Lindenwood), Landon Small (WR, preseason), Jared Stevens (FB, MidAmerica)
Starters doubtful, may be out for season (position, game injured): Joel Girdner (TE, Baker and Benedictine), Garrett Gretz (OL, Lindenwood), Joel Stevens (DB, Benedictine), Steven Trulove (WR, Graceland)
Starters Missing Games: Kiedrick Doby (missed MidAmerica Nazarene),, Jeff Hedrick (missed Avila, Baker games), Brian Rolling (DL, missed Baker game).
Backups out for season (position, game injured): Jared McMutt (#2 OL, Culver-Stockton), Ryan Polite (#2 TB, Baker), J.M. Robertson (DB, Avila), Royce Stewart (WR, Missouri Valley), Jeremy Welch (FB, Avila)
Backups doubtful, may be out for season (position, game injured): Ryan Chaffin (DL, MidAmerica), Aric Schauer (DL, Graceland)
Backups Missing Games: Dustin Anderson (DB, injured vs. Culver-Stockton, missed next two games), Dexter Henderson (WR/RB, injured Culver-Stockton game, missed Lindenwood), Mark Kroger (DB, injured vs. Avila, missed next four games), A.H. Marshall (DB, injured vs. Avila, missed Baker game), Alex Smith (DL, injured week four practice, missed next three), Troy Stegall (injured in preseason, missed first six games)
Seven Evangel seniors will play their final game at home versus William Jewell on Oct. 28. They are listed below.
Three Heart of America Athletic Conference teams are on the top-25 NAIA poll (Oct. 9). Missouri Valley is one of seven undefeated teams on the poll and is No. 6 again this week. Graceland moved up one notch to No. 16 and Benedictine climbed two places to No. 18. MidAmerica Nazarene received 17 points, just two points shy of No. 25.
Carroll ( Mont.) sits at No. 1 with St. Francis ( Ind.) No. 2. The complete poll follows on page 4.
Every Evangel football game will air live on Springfield radio stadion ESPN 1400 AM (KGMY). Pre-game coverage will begin 15 minutes prior to kickoff. The Assemblies of God Credit Union post-game show will provide a complete recap of each game.
Ed Beach begins his fifth season as the play-by-play “Voice of the Crusaders.” Matt Warner provides the color commentary.