The Basics
Score: Grand View 35, Evangel 13 | Box Score
Records: Evangel (0-2, 0-0), Grand View (1-0, 0-0)
Location: Ozark, Mo. | Tiger Stadium
OZARK, Mo. – Grand View rode a dominant passing game and a shutdown defensive effort to a 35-13 victory over Evangel Thursday evening in the Crusaders’ 2020 home opener at Tiger Stadium.
Anthony Turner hauled in seven receptions for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Johnny Sullivan threw for four touchdowns to lead the Vikings offense. In all, Grand View overcame a pair of turnovers and eight penalties to build a 28-point cushion, then relied on a defense that allowed just 230 yards of total offense to post the victory.
Dallis Flowers set the tone for the night with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff, before Sullivan connected with Ty Wenzel on a 12-yard scoring pass at the 7:40 mark of the opening quarter to hand the Vikings a 14-0 advantage.
Evangel struggled to generate an offensive attack, as the Viking defense held the Crusaders to a Dyllan Decker six-yard scoring run in the opening half, taking a 21-7 lead into intermission after Sullivan completed the first of his two touchdown passes to Turner on a 41-yard toss with just under six minutes to play in the half.
The duo of Sullivan and Turner picked up right where they left off to start the third period, completing a 63-yard scoring drive with a 16-yard TD connection.
Sullivan then found Avery Gates for a fourth scoring strike on a fourth-and-six, before Bryce Nyumah‘s one-yard run in the closing seconds capped off Evangel’s best offensive drive of the night–an eight-play, 74-yard march that was highlighted by Decker’s 49-yard pass to Josh Dennie that set EU up at the Grand View 3-yard line.
Nyumah rushed six times for 51 yards to lead EU, while Friend’s four receptions (77 yards) paced the Crusaders’ passing attack.
UP NEXT
Evangel will travel to Lamoni, Iowa, on Oct. 3 for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Graceland.
Fans can now follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or online at EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates by downloading the new Evangel Crusaders Gameday App through Google Play.
