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oline
14
Evangel (Mo.) EVAN 3-4, 0-1
31
Winner MNU (Kan.) MNU 3-4, 1-0
Evangel (Mo.) EVAN
3-4, 0-1
14
Final
31
MNU (Kan.) MNU
3-4, 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
EVAN Evangel (Mo.) 14 0 0 0 14
MNU MNU (Kan.) 0 17 7 7 31

Game Recap: Football | | Sports Information Department

Pioneers Overcome 2-Score Deficit on Homecoming

The Pioneers struggled to get going, but they kept Evangel off the scoreboard in the second half in a 31-14 victory on Homecoming. On the game's opening drive, MNU quarterback Trent Hedlund was injured on a scramble and didn't return. Evangel took their opening drive 75 yards on 17 plays for a touchdown, and the MNU offense struggled to respond. An interception and a blocked punt on their next two possessions resulted in a 14-0 deficit, but the running game got going in the 2nd quarter.

Javon Taylor ran on 4 of the next 5 plays and punched it in from 1 yard out to cut the deficit in half. A big pass play from Jakob Jordan to Gio Gonzalez for 38 yards had set up MNU at the 1-yard line. On the ensuing drive, Dominic Swillum picked off a pass and returned it to the Evangel 29-yard line. Taylor again did the bulk of the work, carrying 5 of the next 6 plays on the game-tying touchdown drive.

Cristian Casillas nailed a 29-yard field goal on MNU's next drive, and the Pioneers took a 17-14 lead into halftime. The second half was all MNU and all progress was made on the ground. Drake Tofi finished off a 4-play 73-yard all-rush drive with a 17-yard touchdown to put MNU up by 10, but a couple of Pioneer turnovers kept the game close. Finally the Pioneers put the game away with a 10-play 84-yard all-rush drive, capped by a Donald Garcia 8-yard touchdown, to go up 31-14. A fourth down stop on Evangel's next drive iced it, and sent the Homecoming crowd home happy.

"To come back and win when we were down by 14 points was a good step of growth by this team," said head coach Brian Willmer. "The offense did a great job of running the ball and controlling the time of possession, and the defense settled down after the first quarter. We grew as a team, overcame the challenge of losing our starting quarterback, and learned how to finish a game. I appreciate the resolve of this team and group of seniors in finding a way to win."

Javon Taylor carried 29 times for a career-high 227 yards and 2 touchdowns. Drake Tofi had 11 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Mossbarger had 13 tackles and a pass breakup. James Guerrero recorded 11 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss. Cy Pana had 8 tackles including 2 sacks. And Eric Irvin had 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 pass breakups, and a blocked field goal.

MNU is 3-4 (1-0 Heart South). The next game is Saturday at #4 Baker (6-1, 1-0) at 11:00 AM.
 
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