(Peru, Neb.) – The sixth-ranked hosts showed why they had that ranking as the Benedictine College (BC) Ravens defeated the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcats 49-7 in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) action in Atchison, Kans.
 
Benedictine is now 4-0 for the season and is 2-0 in the HAAC.  The Bobcats fell to 2-2 for the year and 1-2 in the conference.
 
Game Action
 
The beginning of the game looked like it was going to be a defensive standoff as teams each went three and out on their first respective possessions. 
 On BC's second possession, after two first downs, the Bobcats stopped them again and regained the ball at their own 20-yard line.  Peru State started to put together a drive of their own and had three first downs by rushing.  Ryan Ludlow (Plattsmouth) gained ten yards to get the first, first down.  Then Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) had two consecutive runs of five yards each for the second first down.  Bobcat quarterback Bo Shepard (Gretna) followed with an 11-yard gain getting the 'Cats into Raven territory at their 49-yard line.  However, on the next play, Shepard fumbled, and Benedictine recovered.
 
Following the fumble recovery, the Ravens took the ball down the field and scored on a seven-play drive to take the initial lead at 7-0 with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
 In the second quarter, the Ravens scored twice with their second touchdown coming with 6:29 left in first half.
 
After a 21-yard kickoff return by Garret Campbell (Santee, Calif.), the Bobcats proceeded to march the ball down the field.  Tyler Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) carried the ball three consecutive times gaining one first down.  Ludlow also carried the ball resulting in a first down getting the ball close to midfield.  PSC executed an end around with Lance Steffen (Murdock) gaining 19 yards putting the ball on BC's 32-yard line.  Another first down on runs by Shepard and Ludlow was followed by a Shepard to Steffen pass of 14 yards resulting in a first down on the Raven eight-yard line.  Shepard carried the ball to BC's three-yard line before the Bobcats called their last time out of the half with seconds left on the clock.  Two plays were called during the timeout with Ludlow carrying the ball to the one-yard line and was quickly followed by a quarterback sneak by Shepard that was stopped inches from the goal line as time ran out.
 
The potential lost momentum for the Bobcats did not change after halftime as on PSC's first play from scrimmage; another fumble was lost which eventually results in another BC score making it 28-0.  
Benedictine added another touchdown to go up 35-0 before the Bobcats would finally get on the board. 
 
In the Bobcats scoring drive, it was a mixture of runs and passes with the longest play being a Shepard pass to Brandon Dinslage (Clarkson) which was good for 20 yards and took the ball down to the Ravens' two-yard line.  On the next play, Ludlow punched it in for the touchdown and PSC trailed 35-7 with 1:12 left in the third quarter.
 
BC would add two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make the final score 49-7 as PSC was not able to put together any type of drive in the final stanza.
 
Game Statistics
 
BC had 24 first downs compared to the Bobcats' 17.  The Ravens outrushed PSC 255 to 194 and out passed the 'Cats 202 to 48.  The final total offense was 457 for Benedictine and 242 for Peru State.  Offensively, the Ravens averaged 7.5 yards per play, doubling up PSC, which finished at 3.7 yards per play.
 
The turnovers were one of the big differences in the game as the Bobcats had four fumbles and lost three while BC was error free.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Shepard led the team with 87 yards rushing and 48 yards passing having made five of his ten attempts.  Ludlow was held to a season-low 37 yards on 13 attempts, but had the Bobcats' lone touchdown.  Tromblee carried for 36 yards on eight attempts.
 
Steffen caught two passes for 26 yards while Dinslage also caught two passes for 25 yards.
 
Jacob Grobe (Oakland, Iowa) punted five times averaging 36.4 yards with a long of 41 yards.
 
Campbell finished with 128 yards in kick-off returns with his longest return being 50 yards.  
Defensively, Maurice Berry (Long Beach, Calif.) led the Bobcats with seven total tackles, six of which were solo.  Curtis Larsen (Plattsmouth), Ryan McClarty (Omaha), Cody Piotrowski (Mihawka, Ind.), Tony Traynor (Valley), and Adrian Lawson (Lincoln) each finished with four tackles. 
 
Traynor had the lone Bobcat sack, which resulted in a seven-yard loss.  Piotrowski, Lawson, and Jacob Kelley (Beggs, Okla.) also were credited with a tackle for loss.

BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Game
 
This week is the Bobcats' Homecoming game.  On Saturday, Sept. 29, PSC will host the Graceland University YellowJackets with the game beginning at 2 p.m.  Presently, the YellowJackets are 1-1 in the HAAC and 2-2 overall.  Graceland did not play this weekend, as it was their bye week in the conference.  The week before, the YellowJackets were defeated by Benedictine 48-0 on their home field.