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Evangel’s second half rally came up just short as the Lightning’s 35-game win streak came to an end against Banks Academy at historic Legion Field. (For the Reporter/Reagan Hopper)

By CHRIS MEGGINSON | Special to the Reporter

BIRMINGHAM – One night after a pair of defending state champions clashed in the former home of the Iron Bowl, six-time eight-man football defending national champion Evangel Christian School battled Banks Academy at Legion Field.

After trailing by 17 at halftime, the Lightning shut out Banks in the second half, but fell short, 23-20. The 11-man loss is the first loss for Evangel since Nov. 5, 2021, snapping a 35-game win streak.

“It’s been a while. The kids have handled it with a lot of class. I think we’ll be fine,” Evangel coach Tim Smith said. “I think their nerves got to them a little bit early, but after we settled down we realized we could play with them.  We outplayed them in the second half, but dug ourselves too deep a hole to get out of.”

The hole began when Jaden Stephens turned on his jets for a 70-yard kickoff return and 7-0 Banks lead to start the game. The Jets extended their lead to 10-0 on a 20-yard field goal with four minutes to play in the first quarter. Special teams proved to be a difference in the game.

As the sun set on the Birmingham skyline behind the Evangel sideline, the Lightning struck with the first offensive touchdown of the game. Kemp Swords hit Cade Joiner in the left corner of the end zone on the 15-yard fade pass with 1:26 left in the opening quarter. A missed extra point set Banks’ lead at 10-6.

Banks answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass in the same corner of the stadium with 9:19 left in the first half. Quarterback Gerrell Perry broke a potential sack 10 yards in the backfield to create the play. Banks added another touchdown with 1:32 left in the half to lead 23-6 at intermission.

Evangel came out fighting in the second half. Nick Cloud broke an 18-yard touchdown run up the middle to cap an 80-second drive and pull the Lightning within 10 points, 23-13, with 10:40 left in the third quarter. He finished with 47 yards on eight carries and 10 tackles.

With seven minutes left to play in the game, Joiner had a 38-yard reception to move Evangel into the red zone. Joiner then hauled in a 14-yard touchdown catch as he was tied up and wrestled to the ground by a defender. ECS moved within a field goal, 23-20.

Joiner caught 14 passes for 111 yards receiving. Swords finished the game 14-of-23 with 157 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m so proud of the kids and how hard they played,” Smith said. “I told them all week if we could get them to the fourth quarter, we’d beat them. I thought our conditioning would pay off. We had the ball twice late and had our shot.”

The last shot ended when Evangel turned the ball over on downs at the Banks 37 with 2:28 to play. The Jets were able to move the ball down to the Evangel 33 to use up the clock.

Eli Black followed Cloud’s lead on defense with nine tackles.

Despite the loss, Smith says the game was a memory maker for his team. Upon arrival at the 97-year-old historic stadium, Evangel players and coaches were welcomed to a college football history lesson of the facility.

“It was an experience I will never forget to get to coach in the Old Gray Lady,” Smith said. “The people that run Legion Field were great.”

Evangel (2-1) will travel to Franklin Christian Academy (Tenn.) on Sept. 6 to play its third-straight 11-man game before returning to 8-man football for three weeks.

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