By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Evangel will play seven of its 10-game 2023 football schedule at Rodney Duron Field after being forced to play three of its regularly scheduled home games away last season.
The Eagles started last season with an 8-0 loss to Neville of Monroe on its home field in a torrential rain storm that tore up their playing surface so badly it was deemed unplayable. It was decided that an artificial surface would be the best solution. That decision resulted in ECA playing seven straight weeks away from its home field.
Evangel travels to Monroe to start the ’23 season at Neville, a team it has only played four times and has defeated just one time. The Eagles started the 1996 season with a 45-12 win over the Tigers en route to their first perfect season (15-0) and third state championship.
The Eagles come home to host Mansfield, a team it has lost to only once in nine previous meetings.
The second of the three road games will have ECA traveling down south to face Westgate in New Iberia for only the second time. Last year the Tigers came north to defeat the Eagles 37-21 at Bossier’s Memorial Stadium.
Five straight home games ensue with the start of District 1-4A play as Bossier will travel to Rodney Duron Field. The Bearkats will be seeking their first win against the Eagles after seven losses in the series.
Woodlawn, Northwood, North DeSoto and Minden follow with trips to the Broadacres Road school. The Eagles defeated the Knights last season before suffering their only two losses in district to the Falcons and Griffins. A win at Minden started ECA on a four-game win streak before losing in the second round of the playoffs.
The Eagles were able to host Huntington for their homecoming last season on the newly-turfed field. This year’s game will be played at Lee Hedges Stadium in a series Evangel leads 10-1.
Booker T. Washington will wrap up the regular season at Rodney Duron Field. The Lions have never defeated the Eagles in eight previous meetings.
2023 Evangel football schedule
Aug. 31 at Neville
Sep. 8 Mansfield
Sep. 15 at Westgate
Sep. 22 Bossier
Sep. 29 Woodlawn
Oct. 6 Northwood
Oct. 13 North DeSoto
Oct. 20 Minden
Oct. 27 at Huntington (Lee Hedges Stadium)
Nov. 3 BTW
