(Peru, Neb.) – For the first time since 2007, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat football team will once again be a member of a conference. In 2007, the Bobcats were part of the Central States Football League (CSFL), which was comprised of schools primarily in Oklahoma and Texas.

This season, the 'Cats are full members of one of the best athletic conferences in the NAIA, the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). PSC will be facing foes in Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, in addition to one non-conference opponent in North Dakota. When the first preseason NAIA football poll came out, four of the ten HAAC schools were among the top 25.

Bobcat football head coach Terry Clark is starting his tenth season leading the program. Clark is coming off a four-win season, which makes his career record 39-57, a .406 winning percentage. During his ten years, Clark has won seven games three different times – 2003, 2006, and 2009. Clark's coaching staff this year has been slightly revised after the retirement of Offensive Coordinator Dick Ramsey. Joining Clark full-time as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator is Lou Varley. Varley has been a part-time assistant for the 'Cats for several years. Also new to the staff, but not new to PSC or football, is Steve Schneider. The longtime Midland University (formerly Midland College) head coach serves as PSC's athletic director, but will be returning to the sidelines once again to help with the offense. A new graduate assistant and several other part-time coaches round out the staff.

One could liken the first year schedule for the Bobcats in the HAAC as to the Huskers entering the Big Ten as they could face a difficult road in 2011. As noted earlier, four of the HAAC schools are preseason rated in the NAIA Top 25. PSC's first game in the HAAC is against Baker University which is picked third in the HAAC preseason polls and tied for 23rd in the NAIA polls with conference foe Benedictine College (BC). The Bobcats will host the BC Ravens for Homecoming on Sept. 24. BC was predicted by the HAAC coaches to finish fourth in the league.

The Bobcats have to play the preseason top two teams back-to-back late in the season. On Oct. 29, PSC hosts Missouri Valley College, the HAAC preseason number two pick. In the NAIA poll, the Vikings are predicted to finish 11th. The HAAC's top pick and the NAIA's third-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University Pioneers will host the Bobcats on Nov. 5 in Olathe, Kan.

In the middle of the season, the Bobcats will make the long trip north to take on a non-conference foe in Trinity Bible College on Oct. 8.

Replacing a three-year starting quarterback, Curtis Thompson, will be key to the Bobcats' success in 2011. Thompson set several records during his tenure leading the 'Cats from behind center. Several untested freshmen battled for the spot during spring ball and will be continuing to do so during fall camp and most likely into the season. All have different abilities and qualities. The leading contenders to take over from Thompson are freshman Tyler Francis (Lincoln) and freshman Mitchell Boshart (Wood River). Both Francis and Boshart redshirted last year, thus giving them the opportunity to play a full four seasons.

Helping take some pressure off the untested quarterbacks could be the potential three-headed running attack behind them. Junior Nate Moore (Friend), sophomore Joel Woodhead (North Platte), and junior Zach Gewinner (Weeping Water) all return and will give the Bobcats some offensive power in the backfield.

Probably the most potent weapon for the Bobcats will be the receiving corps. The team's top two receivers return from last season in seniors Quentin Edelman (Sabetha, Kan.) and Cole Gottula (Franklin). Edelman moved into a tie for tenth in single season receiving touchdowns in 2010 with seven, despite having his season cut short due to injury. For his performance, Edelman did earn NAIA All-Independent First Team recognition. Gottula actually had more total yardage produced than Edelman, 617 to 599, with eight fewer catches. In addition to Edeman and Gottula, sophomore Lance Steffen (Murdock) did see plenty of playing time and was the third leading receiver on the team last year.

On the offensive line, the Bobcats will have to replace four-year starter Lance Meyer who had earned NAIA All-Independent Honorable Mention in 2010. Returning on the line for the Bobcats will be several who have had starting or considerable playing experience. Leading the group will be senior Matt Carroll (Dorchester). Carroll is a two-year starter and is joined by senior Colby Tucker (Caldwell, Tex.) junior Jeremy Crump (Omaha), junior Danny Mettler (Lincoln), senior Andrew Diehl (Superior), and sophomore Jon Kolman (Beatrice) and others to provide the necessary front-line protection for the young quarterbacks.

While the offense does have a number of returners, the Bobcat defense is most likely to be further ahead in terms of development and experience at the beginning of the season. While it will be hard to replace Quentin Coatney and Fred Whitted, Jr., both NAIA All-Independent Honorable Mention honorees from last year, several 'Cats are returning with plenty of experience.

Heading the defense will be senior linebacker Jake Mertens (Hastings). A NAIA All-Independent First Team selection in 2010, Mertens was tabbed as a preseason NAIA All-American by the Sporting News. In 2010, Mertens led the Bobcats in total tackles and tackles for loss. Nationally, Mertens ranked 11th in total tackles for loss (17.00) and 34th in sacks per game (.500).

Others returning to bolster the defense include senior defensive back Wade Halvorsen (Ravenna), senior linebacker Troy Nelson (Valentine), sophomore defensive back Trey Rigby (Oak Grove, Mo.) sophomore linebacker Tyler Chamness (Grand Island), and sophomore defensive end Zach Lempka (Sterling). Halvorsen was second on the team with 85 total tackles while the others gained considerable playing time in their first year in starting capacities for the 'Cats.

Also returning on the defense with considerable playing time will be junior Preston Bruss (Bennet), junior Tony Traynor (Waterloo), junior Chris Meredith (Nebraska City), and sophomore Curtis Larsen (Plattsmouth). Bruss is returning to the field following a medical redshirt due to an injury suffered in the early part of the 2010 season.

Returning on special teams is one of the NAIA's most accurate field goal kickers in Levi Cockle (Lincoln). Cockle made five of five field goals with 35 yards being his longest. He also hit 20 of 25 PATs to finish second in scoring on the team with 35 points behind Edelman's 42 points.

The Bobcats will have to replace their punter, but have Nebraska's top high school punter joining the squad in Cody Sullivan (Roca) from Norris High School. Sullivan averaged 43 yards last season and earned Second Team All-State honors. His dad, Scott, was a member of the Bobcats' National Championship Team of 1990.