September 25, 2007
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
The Evangel football team is ranked No. 24 on the Sept. 24 NAIA national poll. It is the first time EU has appeared on the top-25 poll this season. The Crusaders won 22-12 at then-ranked No. 8 Missouri Valley last Saturday (Sept. 22) to propel themselves into the national top-25 list. Missouri Valley fell to No. 22 after the loss to Evangel.
Being among the top 25 teams in the NAIA is not new to the Evangel football program. The Crusaders enjoyed a string of 13 straight seasons (1991-2003) with a national ranking prior to the 2004 season, during which the team wasn’t ranked. Evangel was back on the top-25 list in 2005 and finished that campaign at No. 8. In 2006, EU was ranked No. 6 on the preseason poll, but an injury-plagued season saw the Crusaders fall out of the top-25.
Staying on the NAIA top-25 poll won’t be easy for the 2007 Crusaders as three upcoming Heart of America Athletic Conference opponents are also nationally ranked. The first test will come this Saturday, Sept. 29, when Evangel hosts No. 11-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University. Game time is 1:30 p.m. in JFK Stadium. The Crusaders also host Lindenwood (No. 9) on Oct. 27 and Graceland (No. 16) on Nov. 10.