September 12, 2007
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
Game # 3
Evangel vs. Central Methodist
September 15, 6 p.m.
JFK Stadium
Springfield, Mo.
Go to the football broadcast page
The Crusaders registered a shutout on Sept. 8, defeating Langston (Okla.) University 24-0 in JFK Stadium. The shutout is the 16th in 310 games played by Evangel teams on the gridiron. Trevor Gies got the scoring started with a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter and the teams headed to their locker rooms at halftime with EU ahead 3-0. Evangel struck again when Derek Rasmussen found Steve Trulove open for a 17-yard TD catch at the 12:33 point of the third quarter. EU’s defense then helped its own cause. Langston had moved the ball to the EU 28 when Andrew Matrone stripped the ball and Nathan Thomas caught the ball in mid-air. Thomas raced 76 yards for the TD. The Crusaders added another score in the fourth quarter on Rasmussen’s 11-yard pass to Brenton Roggow. Gies added the extra point after each TD. EU’s defense held Langston to 16 rushing yards and 150 passing yards. The Evangel offense, meanwhile, found balance with 188 rushing and 194 passing yards. Shedrick McClenton tallied the fifth 100-yard rushing performance of his career with 147 yards on 28 carries (5.3). Rasmussen completed 13 of 24 passes for 171 yards. While Rasmussen took a short rest on the sideline, Reggie Roepke completed three of four passes for 23 yards. Jared Stevens led the receivers with five catches for 40 yards. Truelove caught four passes for 64 yards and the TD. On defense, the stats showed a balanced performance with eight players getting three or more tackles and no one had more than five stops. Brandon Mires and Matrone each had five tackles. Mires was credited with two sacks and a pass breakup.
After losing its season opener 21-13 at Graceland on Sept. 1, Central Methodist dropped its home opener 27-13 on Sept. 8 to William Jewell. Central Methodist scored first on a 36-yard field
goal by Tyler Padgett and the game remained close until William
Jewell pulled away in the second quarter, scoring 14 unanswered points and taking a 21-6 lead at the half. Justin Gerald returned a punt 60 yards for CMU’s final score of the game and William Jewell added two fourth-quarter field goals to end the scoring and win 27-13. Rashaad Lee ran 15 times for 59 yards (3.9). Quarterback Michael Forck came off the bench to replace starter Brock Brockmeier and completed 7 of 20 passes for 97 yards. He was intercepted three times. Gerald was the leading receiver for the Eagles with three receptions for 69 yards. On defense, Andrew Boggs had 10 tackles, one and a half tackles for losses, and a pass breakup. Michael Stromsness tallied four solo tackles and two and a half of those were for losses. Shane Harris was credited with three pass breakups. As a team the Eagles committed 10 penalties for 209 yards.
Evangel has a 20-2 series advantage versus Central Methodist. The Crusaders’ losses to CMU were in 1977 (Evangel’s first year of football) and in 2006 (Evangel and CMU’s most recent meeting). Evangel lost the 1977 game 23-20 and dropped a season-ending, 27-10 decision in 2006. Both losses were at Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo.
Evangel defenses have registered 16 shutouts since football began at the school in 1977 - a total of 310 games. Last Saturday’s 24-10 win over Langston was the 16th shutout. EU’s most recent shutout prior to the Langston game was a 24-0 victory at Baker in 2006. Evangel’s first shutout win was a 45-0 decision at home versus Friends University (Kans.) in 1981. Only one Crusader defense has recorded more than one shutout in a season. The 1981 EU team defeated Friends (45-0) and Tabor (6-0) in JFK. Nine of the shutouts have been in JFK, four were in Missouri State’s Plaster Stadium, and three were on the road. The Crusaders have logged two shutout wins against Central Methodist. EU won 30-0 in 2003 and 48-0 in 1982. Both wins were in JFK.
Evangel lost its second game ever to Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo., on Nov. 11, 2006. Central Methodist jumped to an early 14-0 lead and carried a 21-3 advantage into the second half, an advantage that would prove to be the difference in the game. Both teams were scoreless in the third quarter and Central Methodist and Evangel traded scores in the fourth quarter.
Evangel’s ground game managed just 25 yards, however, backup quarterback David Sebastian passed for 171 yards, completing 12 of 32 with two interceptions. Edward Sands was Sebastian’s favorite receiver. Sands caught five aerials for 72 yards. Evangel’s defense was paced by Jeff Hedrick’s 10 tackles, two and a half of which went for a loss. He also had a 42-yard interception return. Nathan Thomas added nine tackles and A.H. Marshall tallied eight.
Central Methodist moved the ball well on the ground. The Eagles finished with 211 rushing yards. Justin Gerald led the CMU rushing attack with 185 yards on 21 carries. He score two TDs on runs of 12 and 70 yards. Joey Murillo completed 6 of 17 passes for 116 yards and two TDs. Kevin Clipp caught both TD passes from Murillo - a 5-yarder and a 25-yarder that finished the scoring for the day. Teon Wilson led all CMU tacklers with eight stops, including a tackle for loss, and he also broke up two passes. Cory Reese also made his presence felt with seven tackles, three tackles for losses and a pair of sacks.
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graceland | 2-0 |
| Lindenwood | 2-0 | |
| William Jewell | 2-0 | |
| Baker | 1-0 | |
| 4 | Avila | 1-1 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene | 1-1 | |
| Missouri Valley | 1-1 | |
| 7 | Evangel | 0-1 |
| Benedictine | 0-2 | |
| Central Methodist | 0-2 | |
| Culver-Stockton | 0-2 |
Head Coach:
Scott Metcalf (Evangel, 1984) Record/Years At Evangel: 31-22/5 years; plus 11 years as an EU assistant
Full-time Assistant Coaches:
Ron Anzevino (Youngstown State, 1985) 2nd year, 1st year as full-time assistant, defensive backs
Lt. Col. Dale Garrett (West Liberty State, 1974), 5th year, running backs
Chad Gehring (East Central, 1997), 4th year, special teams coordinator, offensive line
Charlie Getty (Penn State, 1974), 6th year, video coordinator, strength coach, defensive line
Robert Harley (Redlands, 1992), 6th year, offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, quarterbacks
Dr. Matt Stringer (Evangel, 1989), 7th year, defensive coordinator, linebackers
Jeff Williams (Evangel, 1996), 13th overall year, 8th as full-time assistant, equipment coordinator, tight ends and receivers
Graduate Assistants: Jeremiah Hays (offense) and Alex Smith (defense)
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.