Big Plays Doom Eagles in a Hard Fought Loss to Evangel

Saturday 10/31-Kansas City - The Eagle football team fell short in their quest to tie the record for most wins in school history after a 27-19 loss to Evangel University.

Avila started their day on offense with an impressive 4 play 66 yard drive, highlighted by an Austin Cole (JR, Grass Lake, MI) 61 yard completion to Brian Witt (SR, Jupiter, FL) down to the 1 yard line of Evangel. Cole finished up the scoring drive with a quarterback sneak for the touchdown.

After an Eagle fumble on their own 20 yard line, Evangel took the lead with a 5 yard touchdown pass to put them up 17-7. Then the Eagle defense, like it has many times this season, made one of their own big plays. With Evangel driving already up by 10 points Bryan Bosley (SR, Kansas City, MO) recovered an Evangel fumble on the Eagle 14 yard line and returned it for an 86 yard touchdown and making the halftime score 17-14 Evangel.

The Eagles looked to seize the momentum in the 3 rd quarter when Andrew Korth (JR, Grandview MO) boomed a 52 yard field goal to tie the score at 17. The Eagle defense forced a 3 and out on the next Crusader possession and Avila's offense took over at their own 24, but on the first play from scrimmage Cole was hit and fumbled the ball and Evangel picked it up and scored a go ahead touchdown.

With the Eagles down by 7, Matt Dolan (SO, Rapid City, SD) sacked Evangel's quarter back down to their 3 yard line setting up Bryan Bosley's safety on the next play from scrimmage cutting the Crusader lead to 5 points, 24-19. They later added a field goal, but the Eagle offense was unable to overcome a holding penalty and on a 4 th and 12 Coles pass fell incomplete and put a halt to the Eagle rally.

For the Eagle offense Cole ended the day 17 for 35 for 217 yards and one interception, Brian Witt had 6 catches for 89 yards and Thomas Swager (SO, Port St. Lucie, FL) and David Sloan (SR, Marshfield, MO) each hauled in 4 catches for 66 and 31 yard respectfully, and Khalid Abdulqaadirn (FR, Kansas City, MO) led the rushing with 16 carries for 47 yards.

On defense, Stephen Johnson (SR, Kearney, MO) led the team with 9 tackles (5 solo), Matt Dolan had 2.5 tackles for a loss for 6.5 yards, Chris Smith (SO, Blue Springs, MO) 1 sack and blocked a field goal, and Andre Edwards (,) had 3 pass break ups.

The Eagles are now 4-5 and 3-5 in the HAAC. They travel to Fayette, MO to play Central-Methodist (5-4 and 5-3 HAAC) and losers of their last 3 games.