(Peru, Neb.) – Playing a highly ranked NAIA opponent for the second week in a row, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcats had another good defensive effort.  However, the Bobcats fell to MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU), the fifth-ranked NAIA team, 24-8, in Olathe, Kan.
 
With the win, MNU improves to 8-1 overall and 7-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).   The Bobcats are now 2-6 in the HAAC and 2-7 overall.
 
First Half Action
 
Even though the Bobcats were forced to punt after their first possession, they still got on the board first.  On the third play by Pioneers in their first possession, linebacker Trey Rigby  (Oak Grove, Mo.) forced a MNU fumble and 'Cat linebacker Preston Bruss (Bennet) recovered the fumble and took it into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.  The PSC PAT was no good, but PSC led 6-0 with 11:09 left in the first quarter.
 
MNU started their second possession on their own 37-yard line and it only took one play for them to score as they completed a 63-yard touchdown pass.  The Pioneer PAT was good and MNU led 7-6 at the 10:20 mark in the first.
 
The Pioneers forced the Bobcats to punt on their next drive and scored again after they got the ball back.  This time, though, they put together an 11-play, 65-yard drive to go up 14-6 with 3:50 left in the first quarter.
 
It was pretty much a defensive second quarter as each team turned the other back.  One of the MNU drives was stopped on an interception by Curtis Larsen (Plattsmouth) as he picked one off and took it nine yards allowing the Bobcats to start on their own 39-yard line.
 
MNU did score on one of their possessions near the end of the half.  With only 2:16 remaining, the Pioneers completed another touchdown pass giving them a 21-6 lead at half.
 
Second Half Action
 
There was no scoring in the third quarter for either team.
 
With 13:47 left in the game, the Pioneers hit a 35-yard field goal to go up 24-6.
 
The Bobcats did put together a good drive in the fourth, but it end on the MNU 17-yard line. 
 
On MNU's next possession, the ball was snapped over the MNU quarterback's head and the Bobcats got a safety.  With 9:01 to go, the score was MNU 24-8 over the Bobcats.
 
That would prove to be the final scoring of the game.
 
Team Statistics
 
MNU had 21 first downs compared to PSC's eight.  The Pioneers gained 181 yards on 43 rushes and had 270 yards in the air on 18 of 29 passing for a total of 451 net yards.  The Bobcats gained 51 yards on the ground and had 90 yards passing on 13 of 31 attempts for a total of 141 yards.
 
It was a clean game as the Bobcats were only penalized three times for 16 yards while MNU had four flags for 20 yards.
 
MNU fumbled three times, lost two of them, and threw an interception while Peru State had no turnovers.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
The Bobcat defense, for the second week in a row, had a stout game against the HAAC's top scoring offense. 
 
Rigby had his best game of the season with 12 total tackles – eight solo.  Rigby also forced two fumbles, one of which resulted in the Bobcats' lone touchdown score.
 
Wade Halvorsen (Ravenna) had 11 tackles, six solo, and one-half a tackle for a loss for one yard.  Bruss finished the game with nine tackles – four solo and recovered both fumbles and returned them for a total of 69 yards.  Bruss was also credited with a pass break-up.
 
Three other 'Cats finished with six tackles.  Curtis Larsen  had five solo and also grabbed the Pioneer interception returning it for nine yards.  Tony Traynor  (Waterloo) and Adrian Lawson  (Lincoln) had four and three solo tackles respectively as part of their six total tackles.  Lawson also had a pass break-up.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Antonio Turner  (Jasper, Fla.) had 31 yards rushing on nine attempts.  Tyler Francis  (Lincoln) was 13 of 30 through the air for 90 yards.
 
Four different Bobcats caught passes.  Cole Gottula (Franklin) had five catches for 27 yards.  Quentin Edelman (Sabetha, Kan.) and Lance Steffen (Murdock) each had three grabs for 32 and 26 yards respectively.  Joel Woodhead (North Platte) had the other two pass catches for five yards.
 
Kory Klover  (Hebron) handled the punting for PSC punting nine times averaging 38.9 yards with a long of 58.   Garret Cambell (Santee, Calif.) had five kick-off returns for a total of 81 yards with his long being 23 yards.
 
Comments
 
Rigby was chosen as the KNCY Player of the Game and noted that the defense played well again today.  Rigby said, “Our linebackers were filling the holes forcing their running backs to go outside which the linebackers then covered.  The entire defense has continued to play much better the last couple of games.”  When asked about the HAAC, Rigby added, “It is good for us to play against these caliber teams.  We know what we have to do to get better the next year and beyond.”
 
 
Bobcat head coach Terry Clark, while not pleased with the final score, was fine with the effort.  Clark said, “The team played hard again today and we had another good effort against one of the top teams in the NAIA.  The defense again played well.”  Clark noted that the Bobcats had changed into more of a speed defense by putting Preston (Bruss) and Adrian (Lawson) on the outside giving them more speed.  “We hope to put together another good effort next week in our final game of the year.”
 

Game Box Score


Last Game
 
The Bobcats will finish their season next week in the Oak Bowl.  Their opponent will be the Avila University Eagles.  Avila defeated Graceland University on their home turf today 50-22 and are now 3-6 overall and 3-5 in the HAAC.
 
Peru State will be recognizing 12 seniors who will be playing their final game in a Bobcat uniform prior to the game.