(Peru, Neb.) – It only proved fitting that the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat football team upset the visiting Evangel University (EU) Crusaders 20-13 on Hall of Fame Day as the most prolific Bobcat football quarterback was inducted into the College's Athletic Hall of Fame. Nate Bradley, an NAIA All-American in 1990 and the leader of the 1990 championship team, was formally inducted this weekend, along with three other individuals and one team.

The newest inductees into the PSC Athletic Hall of Fame pose for a group photo at halftime of the Bobcat win over Evangel

Bradley spent some time with the football team prior to the game and provided some thoughts for the entire team to consider before taking the field. It was an opportunity that Bradley looked forward to doing upon his return to the PSC campus.

With the win, the Bobcats improve to 2-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC), presently putting them in seventh place with four conference games remaining. Overall, PSC is 2-4. Evangel fell to 3-2 in the HAAC and 3-3 overall.

A good crowd enjoyed the Bobcat win and Hall of Fame induction

First Half

The Bobcat coaching staff had decided that if they won the toss, they would take the ball first on offense and try to get things established at the beginning of the game. It proved to be the right decision.

After the opening kickoff was returned 16 yards by Lance Steffen (Murdock) to the Bobcats' 29-yard line, PSC put together a 12-play, 71-yard drive lasting 5:36 to put the first points on the board. It was a good blend of rushing and passing with key throws from quarterback Tyler Francis(Lincoln) on two different plays advancing for 14 and 28 yards respectively. At the 9:34 mark in the first quarter, Ryan Ludlow (Plattsmouth) took it over from three yards out to get the 'Cats on the board. A Levi Cockle (Lincoln) point after attempt was good and Peru State led 7-0.

That would prove to be the only scoring by either team in the first half as it was a defensive battle in the trenches between the Crusaders and the Bobcats.

Second Half

It looked like Evangel would do the same as Peru State as they took the opening kickoff of the second half and moved the ball down the to the Bobcat two-yard line. However, the PSC defense stiffened and forced a 19-yard field goal attempt that bounced off the upright and did not go through.

While the Bobcats had held the Crusaders, on their next drive, PSC fumbled and Evangel recovered the ball on Peru State's 18-yard line. It took only one play for Evangel to tie the game as they had a touchdown pass, followed by the PAT. With 8:51 left in the third quarter, it was 7-7.

Peru State came right back on their next possession to regain the lead. Two big passes from Francis to Steffen of 19 and 25 yards were key with the 25-yarder going for the touchdown. Cockle's kick was good and with 6:12 to go in the third, PSC was up 14-7.

Tyler Francis goes back to toss his touchdown pass to Lance Steffen	Colby Tucker (#35) celebrates Lance Steffens' grab of the Francis toucdown pass as two of the officials closely watch to ensure Steffens held on

Aided by a good kickoff return, Evangel started on their own 45-yard line. After eventually moving the ball down to the Bobcat 19-yard line, three PSC defensive stops forced the Crusaders to attempt a 36-yard field goal that was good. At 3:43 in the third, it was now PSC 14-10 over Evangel.

As the first drive of the last stanza for the Bobcats faltered, Evangel took over on their 11-yard line. The Crusaders methodically moved the ball down the field before PSC again stopped them and forced another field goal attempt. The 28-yarder was good and it was a one-point game at 14-13 with 9:16 remaining.

Evangel forced the Bobcats to punt on their next drive. On the Crusaders' next series, the Bobcats came up with an interception by Gerald Bristol (Jennings, Fla.) who ran the ball back for 24 yards before fumbling. However, the Bobcats' Sydney Shepler(DeWitt) recovered the ball and PSC took over on Evangel's 18-yard line.

Aided by one of the many penalties on Evangel, it looked like Peru State would score on this possession. But, the Bobcats gave it right back as the PSC runner fumbled and Evangel came up with the ball on their own one-yard line.

The Bobcat faithful provided some noise and the defense once again rose to the challenge as four consecutive pass attempts by the Crusaders came up with nothing including two pass break-ups by PSC.

Bobcat defense works together for another stop	Wade Halvorsen tracks down a Crusader receiver

PSC took over on the one-yard line and Francis took the ball in on the quarterback keeper with 1:30 to go to put PSC up 20-13 as the PAT failed.

While everyone thought there would probably be only one more chance for Evangel, this was not the case. Evangel's next drive was halted as Bobcat Jeromy Hand (Valentine) picked off a Crusader pass and PSC took over on their own 47-yard line.

The Bobcats could only muster three rushing attempts and a penalty and eventually were forced to give Evangel one more opportunity. Again, four consecutive pass attempts, including two throws that were almost picked off by Peru State, netted nothing for the Crusaders and all PSC had to do was to go into the victory formation to preserve the upset win.

Key Game Statistics

Both teams finished with 18 first downs in the game. Evangel outgained Peru State in total offense with a total of 348 yards compared to PSC's 219. The Crusaders had 147 yards on the grounds and 201 through the air. The Bobcats had 140 yards from passing and 79 on the ground.

Peru State won the turnover battle as they intercepted Evangel three times, but lost two of their four fumbles.

Offensive Statistics

Francis was 15 of 29 for 140 yards and one touchdown and played with control to lead the Bobcats. On the ground, Francis was positive for the game with four yards gained on nine attempts, but one of those was for a touchdown.

Steffen and Joel Woodhead (North Platte) were Francis's favorite target as each had five receptions. Steffen gained 66 yards and had one touchdown with Woodhead finishing with 34 yards receiving. Antonio Turner(Jasper, Fla.) had four receptions for 31 yards, including the team-high long of 28 yards. Quentin Edelman (Sabetha, Kan.) had one reception for the game for nine yards.

Turner led the rushing attack with 38 yards on 15 carries. Brendan Whitted (St. Louis, Mo.) had three attempts for 15 yards. Ludlow, generally used in short yardage situations, had nine yards and one touchdown.

Jacob Grobe (Oakland, Iowa) had a good day punting with eight punts averaging 45.4 yards with a 66-yarder pinning the Crusaders back early.

Defensive Statistics

Lawson and Preston Bruss (Bennet) led the defense, each with 13 total tackles. Lawson had five solo tackles, one interception with a return of six yards, and one pass break-up. Bruss had a tackle for a loss of one and one-half yards and half a sack.

Curtis Larsen (Plattsmouth) and Jake Mertens (Hastings) each had nine tackles with Larsen having five unassisted tackles and one tackle for a loss of one yard. Mertens was credited with half a sack for one yard. Wade Halvorsen (Ravenna) had three solo and five assisted tackles while Shepler, in addition to saving a potential Bobcat fumble, added six solo tackles and one assisted tackle.

Post-Game Comments

Lawson, the defensive back from Lincoln, was selected as the KNCY Player of the Game. When asked about his interception, Lawson said, “I was kind of like the deer in the headlights as I saw the ball coming and grabbed it, but I almost forgot what to do. But I did remember and took it back for a few yards.” Discussing the game, Lawson added, “It was one we really needed. We had a good week of practice on both sides of the ball. It was great to come home and play for the fans and everyone here today.” Lawson concluded, “On Evangel's last two possessions, we knew they were going to come out passing. We had some key pass break-ups. The defense's goal this week was to play with class and dignity and we came through. It was a great feeling at the end of the game to have pulled off the upset.”

Adrian Lawson named KNCY Player of the Game for his defensive efforts	Bobcat head coach Terry Clark intensely watching the game and was pleased with the win over Evangel

Bobcat head coach Terry Clark was pleased with the win. Clark shared the following in his post-game comments, “Defensively, we came up and played like we knew how we could. As a team, we don't make very many stupid penalties and we did not do so today.” Regarding the offense, Clark stated, “We had confidence in the offense when we took the ball first today. Tyler (Francis) came in and did what we wanted to see him do and that was to take some time off the clock which actually made a difference at the end of the game.” Clark added, “We knew we needed to keep a lot of pressure on their quarterback and it was good to see him having to run around. We mixed up the defense a little today, but mainly played our base cover two.” Concluding, Clark said, “It was great to come and have Nate (Bradley) come and talk to the team before the game. I think that gave the team a boost of confidence in what they needed to do and then they came out and did it.”

Game Box Score

Next Game

The Bobcats will be on the road next weekend when they travel to Fayette, Mo., to take on the Central Methodist University Eagles in another HAAC matchup. Presently, the Eagles are 3-3 overall and in the conference. On Saturday, they defeated Graceland University on the road 41-27, a team that previously had topped the Bobcats. Game time is 1 p.m.