(Peru, Neb.) – On a great Saturday afternoon in the picturesque Oak Bowl on the campus of Peru State College, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcats captured their first Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) win ever. The Bobcats rolled past the visiting Culver-Stockton College (CSC) Wildcats by a score of 58-27. With the win, Peru State is now 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the HAAC. Culver-Stockton is also 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Culver-Stockton team heads to their sidelines before game recognizing former teammate #60 Max Zumwalt who dies tragically this summer	The Bobcats hit the field with Neil Bowman carrying the US Flag in remembrance of 9-11

Prior to the game, members of the VFW Post 7299 and the 192nd Military Police Unit raised the flag. Jeff Meyers, a current PSC employee, and Phil Wemhoff, a former PSC employee, both returned from a year in Afghanistan. Both Meyers and Wemhoff are Peru residents.

Peru VFW Post 7299 and members of 192nd MP raise and salute the flags!	Bobcat Captains listen to Referee Gary Brammer give the pre-game instructions. Captains from left are Cole Gottula, Quentin Edelman, Jake Mertens, and Wade Halvorsen

The Wildcats won the coin toss and deferred to the second half and the Bobcats decided they wanted the ball and took the south end of the field. The Wildcats kicked off and freshman AntoAntonio Turner (Jasper, Fla.) returned the ball from the two-yard line and returned it out to the Bobcats' 17-yard line where the Bobcat offense took over.

On their first possession, the Bobcats scored as they marched the ball down the field as freshman Ryan Ludlow(Plattsmouth) scored the first PSC touchdown on a four-yard run with 8:29 to go in the first quarter. The drive was comprised of 15 plays using both the running and passing game and took 6:29 off the clock. Sophomore Levi Cockle (Lincoln) hit the PAT to make it PSC 7-0.

Zach Gewinner takes hand-off from Tyler Francis early in the game	Bobcat defense looks to stop the Wildcats on third down

The Bobcat defense stood its ground on the Wildcat first possession and forced CSC to punt after the Cats held the Wildcats to two yards on three plays. The Wildcats forced the Cats to punt on their next possession before CSC took over for their second possession of the game. However, on the fourth play of the Wildcats' drive, Bobcat sophomore Trey Rigby (Oak Grove, Mo.) intercepted a CSC pass on the PSC 30-yard line and took it all the way back for a 70-yard touchdown. The PAT by Cockle was good and PSC was up 14-0 at the 4:50 mark in the first stanza.

Trey Rigby reaches the end zone after his 70-yard interception return for a score!

Culver-Stockton did get on the scoreboard on their next possession as they made a 37-yard field goal after having moved the ball 43 yards on seven plays. At the 4:50 mark in the first quarter, it was PSC 14-3 over the Wildcats.

Neither team scored on their next possession and it was not until Culver-Stockton had their first possession in the second quarter before the Wildcats scored their first touchdown on a 55-yard run. The point after was good and CSC had closed the gap to 14-10 with 12:56 left in the second quarter.

The teams again traded possessions after good defensive stands by both. On the Bobcats third possession of the ball in the second quarter, PSC added another three points on the board as Cockle hit a 40-yard field goal, the longest of his Bobcat career. At 6:43 to go in the half, PSC was up 17-10.

Peru State did add one more score in the first half as red-shirt freshman quarterback Tyler Francis (Lincoln) connected with sophomore Lance Steffen (Murdock) on a 29-yard touchdown pass. With Cockle's kick, the Bobcats now led 24-10 at the 2:22 mark. This would be the final scoring of the first half.

On their first drive of the second half, the Wildcats went 37 yards on nine plays before settling for a 43-yard field goal to cut the PSC lead to 24-13.

When the Wildcats kicked off, sophomore Garret Cambell (Santee, Calif.) took the ball on PSC's 20-yard line and returned it 35 yards to the CSC 45-yard line. On the Bobcats' third rushing play of the drive, Turner scored with a 24-yard touchdown, his first as a Bobcat. The three play, 45-yard possession only took 1:09 off the clock putting PSC ahead 31-13 with 9:31 to go in the third.

Another good defensive stand by the Bobcats got them the ball back after forcing the Wildcats into a three and out. On the first play of the Bobcats next possession, Turner took off for a 47-yard scamper and moved the ball down to the Wildcats' 17-yard line. However, after a quarterback sack and two incomplete passes, the Bobcats were forced into another field goal attempt. Cockle came through with his second 40-yard kick of the game making it PSC 34-CSC 13 with 6:35 left in the third period.

Michael Gude wraps up the Wildcat punt returner for little or no gain.	Levi Cockle hits one of his three field goals. This is one is one of his two 40-yarders with Mitch Boshart holding the ball.

Sophomore defensive end Zach Lempka (Sterling) recovered a Wildcat fumble on their next possession on the CSC 29. A 22-yard pass reception from Francis to senior wide receiver Cole Gottula (Franklin) moved the ball to the Wildcats' seven-yard line. PSC did get the ball down to the one-yard line before being forced into a timeout as they set up for a field goal. However, when the 'Cats returned for the field goal, red-shirt freshman placeholder and back-up quarterback Mitchell Boshart (Wood River) took the snap and instead of putting it down for Cockle, got up and through the ball to sophomore TJ Bickford (Weeping Water) for a four-yard touchdown pass. Cockle's kick was good and PSC now led 41-13 with 2:05 left in the third.

Culver-Stockton did not lay down as they came back and scored on their next possession with a 29-yard touchdown pass. The Wildcat drive was aided with a Bobcat pass interference. Following the PAT, the PSC lead was now 41-20 with a little over a minute left in the third.

On the third play of the fourth quarter, the Bobcats added another field goal by Cockle, this one good for 32 yards and now led 44-20.

Again, the Wildcats came back and did so with four consecutive pass plays before scoring on a 19-yard touchdown pass. With 12:42 left in the game, the Bobcats were still up 44-27.

This would not be the last of the scoring as the Bobcats came right back and put another touchdown on the board during their next drive. Five consecutive carries ended with a two-yard touchdown by Ludlow at the 10:17 mark. Cockle's kick was good and PSC led 51-27.

After an interception by senior defensive back Sydney Shepler (DeWitt), the Bobcats got the ball again after a 24-yard interception return. The 'Cats took over on their own 47-yard line and with a mixture of passing and running, eventually scored on a nine-yard run by junior Nate Moore (Friend). Another PAT by Cockle made it 58-27, which would prove to be the final score of the game.

After having negative rushing yardage in their opener last week, the Bobcats rushed for 303 yards on 51 carries. Moore led the runners with 108 yards on 14 carries and one score. Turner had 97 yards on six carries while Ludlow added 52 yards on nine rushing attempts. Junior Zach Gewinner (Weeping Water) had 40 yards on ten carries before leaving the game early with an injury.

Francis had 190 yards in the air as he connected on 13 of his 26 passing attempts and one touchdown. Boshart's lone pass of four yards went for a score. Gottula had six catches for 96 yards to lead the receivers. Steffen finished with three catches for 50 yards and one touchdown while Quentin Edelman (Sabetha, Kan.) had two catches for 24 yards. Bickford's only catch went four yards for a touchdown on the fake field goal.

Freshman punter Kory Klover (Hebron) had three punts averaging 34 yards and put two inside the twenty-yard line. Campbell had four kick-off returns netting 168 yards with an 84-yard return that was just short at the goal line.

Jake Mertens wraps up one of his nine total tackles

Senior Jake Mertens (Hastings) led the Bobcat defense with nine total tackles, one tackle for loss and three pass break-ups. Four of Merten's tackles were solo. Sophomore Curtis Larsen (Plattsmouth) also had nine total tackles, three of which were solo. Larsen added two tackles for losses totaling eight yards.

Sophomore Tyler Chamness (Grand Island), sophomore Adrian Lawson (Lincoln), senior Troy Nelson (Valentine), and Rigby each added four tackles, all having two solo tackles. Rigby added the big interception, which he took back for the touchdown. Freshman Mike Lewis (Lincoln), freshman Logan Geiler (Milford), and junior Jeromy Hand(Valentine) each were credited with a tackle for loss.

Bobcat head coach Terry Clark was pleased with the win, in particular coming off last week's opening loss at Baker. Clark said, “This was a must win for us and we got it. To be competitive in the HAAC, we need to win the games we should and knock off one of the big four (MidAmerica Nazarene, Missouri Valley, Benedictine, Baker). We will get our chance at Benedictine in two weeks when they are here for Homecoming.” Clark continued, “Our offensive line definitely improved this week as they made some holes for our backs to get through. We had some changes of positions up front and it paid off.”

Levi Cockle was chosen as the KNCY Player of the Game. Cockle commented on the radio, “We had good playing conditions today and everyone, including the long snapper and placeholder did a great job doing what they are supposed to do.” Cockle believed his 16 points were the most he had ever scored in a game as he had a perfect game making all three field goal attempts and all seven point after attempts.

Game Box Score

The Bobcats will enjoy their bye week as they do not play on Sept. 17. They will next be in action when they host the Benedictine College Ravens on Sept. 24, which is PSC's Homecoming. The Ravens are 2-0 with wins over Concordia (Neb.) University 45-0 and Sterling College 14-0. Benedictine will host Graceland University next Saturday in Atchison.