WICHITA, Kan. – Just one week after enjoying the thrill of a walk-off victory, the No. 19-ranked Friends University Falcons found themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum today (Oct. 26) as the No. 20-ranked Evangel University Valor kicked a last second field goal to escape with a 24-21 win in a matchup of unbeatens today (Oct. 26) at Adair-Austin Stadium.
The Valor remains undefeated at 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the KCAC Kessinger Division, while the Falcons suffer their first loss of the season and are now 6-1 and 1-1 in divisional play.
Evangel's game-winning drive was setup by an interception from Nate Swofford at the Falcon 46 with 1:32 to go.
Quarterback Reid Potts threw a 19-yard pass and then ran for nine more yards to put the Valor well within field-goal range.
Jonah Edwards then hit a 20-yard field goal as time expired to give Evangel the win.
The interception was the second big defensive play by Swofford, who also scooped up a fumble and ran it back 48 yards to tie the score 14-14 with 1:30 left in the third quarter.
Things started promising for Friends, with Elias Pino scoring the game's first touchdown on a five-yard run at the 3:17 mark of the first quarter before K'Vonte Baker floated a perfect pass into the hands of Samuel Becker for a 18-yard score with 9:10 left in the second quarter that gave the Falcons a 14-0 lead they'd carry into halftime.
The Falcons held Evangel three and out in the first possession of the second half and promptly drove down to the Valor 22, but a 39-yard field goal attempt by Cole Thompson was blocked to keep the margin at 14 points.
Evangel capitalized, with Eric Williams scoring a 13-yard touchdown to put the Valor on the board.
With the score at 14-14, the Falcons embarked on a long drive to begin the fourth quarter that was paid off with a one-yard scoring plunge from Nick Cordova to put Friends back in the lead.
But the Valor answered on their next possession when Potts found Brady Allen for a 35-yard touchdown pass to continue the back-and-forth action and tie the score again at 21-21.
Baker led the Falcons with 83 yards on the ground, while Pino (68 yards) and Cordova (66 yards) were also strong contributors rushing the ball.
Potts threw for 283 yards, with Allen hauling in 104 of those yards on six receptions and Rafe Darter recording 93 receiving yards.
Nolan Ewing had a team-high eight tackles for the Falcons and Bradley Myers led everyone with 17 stops for Evangel.
Next up for the Falcons is their home finale against Bethel College Saturday afternoon (Nov. 2) for a 1 pm kickoff.
