SPRINGFIELD, Mo–The Evangel football team will hit the road Saturday afternoon looking for its fourth victory of the season.

The Evangel Valor will be looking for its first football victory.

When the football team steps onto the gridiron in Des Moines Saturday it will do it with a new nickname and mascot.

The team will be known as Valor.

And Evangel could earn some valor Saturday if it can pull the upset against the Vikings.

Evangel is 3-1, Grand View is 4-0 and ranked fourth in the national NAIA poll.

Saturday will be a tough challenge but the players and coach like that they’re going into it with a new identity.

“Honestly I’m just happy to finally have a mascot. We’ve been going at Evangel University all season. It was great to know that we’ll be unified as one as a Valor. And knowing the meaning behind it means even more for us,” said Evangel defensive back Koel Orchard.

“Obviously it’s going to recognize all the strength and honor that we’re striving to teach our young men. And go out in the real world and make a difference. So I think it’s really cool,” said Evangel coach Chuck Hepola.

Evangel University unveiled its new mascot and logo Wednesday.

The Evangel sports teams will now be known as Valor.

Valor will be represented by a horse that symbolizes the character and strength of Evangel.

Earlier this year, Evangel retired the Crusader nickname and mascot and started a search that got feedback from 800 alumni, students, faculty and staff.

A total of 700 mascot submissions were made before Evangel chose the name Valor, and the image of a horse.

Valor Athletics Director Dennis McDonald likes it.

Click here to read more about Valor.