NIXA, Mo. — The Ottawa University football team mounted a strong second-half comeback but came up just short in a 28-23 road loss to Evangel University on Saturday afternoon at Eagle Stadium.
Evangel jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first quarter. Quarterback Reid Potts connected with Brady Allen for a 30-yard touchdown midway through the opening period, then Eric Williams II added a 16-yard rushing score to give the Valor a 14-0 advantage.
Ottawa got on the board early in the second quarter with a 42-yard field goal from
Ike Prengel, trimming the deficit to 14-3. Evangel answered quickly with another Potts-to-Allen connection, this time from 21 yards out, to push the lead back to 21-3. The Braves responded with an impressive 16-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from
Cooper Parsons just before halftime to make it 21-10 heading into the break.
The Braves opened the second half with another long drive. Quarterback
Luke Edwards found
Jayden Johnson for a 30-yard touchdown, cutting Evangel's lead to 21-17 after an 8-minute drive that spanned 99 yards. However, the Valor answered again, as Potts threw his third touchdown of the day — another strike to Allen from seven yards out — to make it 28-17 late in the third.
Ottawa kept battling, and Parsons punched in his second 1-yard touchdown of the game with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Braves went for two but were stopped short, keeping the score at 28-23. Despite outgaining Evangel 361-283 and holding the ball for over 36 minutes, the Braves couldn't complete the comeback as the Valor ran out the clock to seal the win.
By the Numbers
- Luke Edwards led Ottawa's offense, completing 26-of-41 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown.
- Jayden Johnson was his top target, hauling in 12 receptions for 137 yards and a score.
- Anthony Powell paced the ground game with 54 rushing yards on six carries.
- Ethan Yinger led the defense with nine tackles, while Teagan Flynn and Payton Green each recorded half a sack.
- Ottawa converted 9-of-20 third downs and went 3-for-4 on fourth-down attempts.
For Evangel, Potts threw for 177 yards and three touchdowns, all to Allen, who finished with six catches for 83 yards. Williams II added 67 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
Who is Next
Ottawa (2-5, 0-1) returns to the field on Saturday, October 25 against Tabor College at AdventHealth Field. Kick off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.