Box Score

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Austin Deleon kicked a pair of field goals, including a 20-yarder late that sent Saint Francis (Ind.) past Evangel (Mo.) 13-12 in the First Round of the NAIA Football Championship Series at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium, in Fort Wayne, Ind.

USF (10-2) had to survive a late drive and a missed field goal by Valor kicker Mason Bendabout, who sent a 27-yard walk-off attempt offline as time expired, securing an NAIA FCS Second Round spot for the Cougars. Evangel ended its year at 9-3, despite 29 completions, 221 yards, and a touchdown from quarterback Reid Potts, and 103 yards on the ground from Eric Williams II. 

Evangel out-gained USF 312-226, but Saint Francis limited the Valor to just two points in the second half, on a third-quarter safety. Jordan Kulka led the USF offense with 12 completions for 118 yards.

The Valor controlled the first half with the game's first 10 points, including a 13-play, 56-yard drive and a two-yard touchdown pass from Potts to James Dowdy with 3:56  in the first quarter, but Saint Francis was able to cut into the lead eight seconds before intermission, as Brennan Stow hauled in a one-yard touchdown catch with five seconds to play in the second quarter. Until that point, Evangel had corralled the Cougars' offense, forcing four punts, including three 3-and-outs, along with a first-half interception. 

Saint Francis pulled even five minutes into the third quarter on Deleon's 37-yard field goal, but with 3:00 in the third and pinned against its own goal line, USF saw a snap go too high to handle, resulting in a safety, two points and the lead returned to Evangel.

The Cougars regrouped and answered in the fourth quarter, stopping Evangel on downs in USF territory to regain possession near the 9:00 mark in the game. Crosley MacEachen made a sliding catch in Valor territory, with 7:20 to play on a 3rd-and-15, getting the ball to the Evangel 34-yard line. USF pushed the ball inside the Evangel 5-yard line, and Deleon kicked a 20-yard field goal to give the Cougars their first lead of the game, 13-12, with 2:44 to play.

Evangel picked up a 4th-and-2 inside 2:00, Potts to Brady Allen, but with 1:24 to go, freshman tackle Nate Johnson sacked Potts to force an Evangel timeout. After the timeout, Potts threw to Drew Ripko, 40 yards with 1:24 remaining, and the Valor took the clock down to one second before a final field goal try went wide right.

USF will learn its Second Round opponent Saturday night, on NAIA.org.