SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Evangel Valor football team was tabbed to finish fourth in the 2022 Heart of America Athletic Conference Football Coaches Poll released on Friday.
Evangel earned 13 points in the poll voting finishing just one point behind last year’s South Division Champion Central Methodist. Baker earned four first-place votes and was picked to win the South, while Benedictine earned two first-place votes and was picked second.
The Valor returns a majority of its lineup on both sides of the ball, including the defense, which one was of the top units in the nation, ranking fourth in passing yards allowed and third in the conference in points allowed. Head Coach Chuck Hepola will begin his seventh season as the third-winningest coach in Evangel football history.
Grand View was picked to win the North Division, followed by Culver-Stockton.
The 2022 season kicks off under the lights Thursday, August 25, at 6:30 p.m. against Clarke University at Nixa Eagle Stadium.
2022 Heart North Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Place School (1st Place Votes) Points
1st Grand View (5) – 25 pts
2nd Culver-Stockton (1) – 21 pts
3rd Peru State – 15 pts
4th William Penn – 14 pts
5th Clarke – 8 pts
6th Graceland – 6 pts
2022 Heart South Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Place School (1st Place Votes) Points
1st Baker (4) – 24 pts
2nd Benedictine (2) – 22 pts
3rd Central Methodist – 14 pts
4th Evangel – 13 pts
5th MidAmerica Nazarene – 12 pts
6th Missouri Valley – 5 pts
For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, visit Facebook at Facebook.com/EvangelValor, Twitter (@EvangelValor), or EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on their favorite EU teams by downloading the Evangel Athletics Gameday App through the App Store or Google Play.
