Buckeye Area Athletes Lead Arizona Christian University in Inaugural Game

Two Buckeye area athletes where among the many Arizona players suited up for Arizona Christian University as the Firestorm played its inaugural game against Evangel University (Springfield, Mo.) on Saturday at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix.

Verrado High School's Bryton Green and Estrella Foothills High School's Gerrit Groenewold served as two of ACU's four team captains during the game.

Arizona Christian Firestorms' four captain shake hands with Evangel University opponents following the coin toss at the inaugural game played at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. Team captains for ACU are Gerrit Groenewold (4), Bryton Green (11), Mike Munsil (55) and Brennan Bowen (54).

Groenewold was given the nod as the starting quarterback by Arizona Christian Head Coach Donnie Yantis. He completed 18 of 32 passes for 170 yards. Groenewold was also the team's leading rusher. He ran the ball 18 times or a net gain of 39 yards.

Green started the game at outside linebacker and was credited with two solo tackles on the night.

Evangel won the game by a lopsided score of 40-16 after leading 23-3 at the half. The crusaders increased their lead to 27 points during their second possession of the second half.

Arizona Christian scored the next 13 points of the game to pull within two touchdowns. The first score came on a 1-yard rush to the right side by running back Mike Brown. Brown's score was set up by a 33-yard pass play from Groenewold to Gabriel Jordan. The point after touchdown attempt following Brown's touchedown failed due to a fumbled snap.

Arizona Christian stopped Evangel and forced a punt on the Crusaders' next possession, but a miscue during the return gave possession back to Evangel at midfield.

ACU head coach Donnie Yantis

Evangel was again stopped by the Arizona Christian defense and forced to punt. Another miscue appeared as if it was going to lead to disastrous consequences when the ball bounced in front of Jordan, glanced off his fingertips continued into the back of the end zone.

Jordan scooped the ball up against the end line, barely avoided an Evangel tackler and then ran, untouched, 108 yards for the touchdown for a record punt return that a sideline official said may never be broken.

At that point the score was 30-16 but Arizona Christian could not close the score as they were held scoreless the rest of the game and Evangel added 10 more points to the scoreboard.

Despite the loss, Arizona Christian was well-backed by their supporters. The announced attendance at the game was 3,561.