(Peru, Neb.) – It was a battle of #9 versus #12 in the NAIA's Game of the Week. Unfortunately for the ninth-ranked Peru State Bobcats, the 12^th-ranked Missouri Valley College (MVC) Vikings prevailed after scoring with just 2:48 left in the game.

MVC defeated the Bobcats 21-14 in Peru State's Homecoming game played at Pioneer Field in Nebraska City. With the win, the Vikings kept their Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) championship hopes alive as they improved to 6-2 overall and 6-1 in the HAAC. Mo Valley is tied for second with Baker University and is just one game behind the conference leaders, Benedictine College, who are still perfect at 7-0. The Vikings and Ravens will face each other next week which likely could determine the conference champ.

With the loss, the Bobcats fell to 5-2 in the HAAC and are alone in fourth place. Overall, the Bobcats are 7-2.

First Quarter Action

The Bobcats won the toss and deferred to the second half giving the ball to MVC to start the game. With a blend of rushing and passing, the Vikings marched the ball down the field and scored on a ten-play, 90-yard drive which took 3:28 off the clock. With 11:32 to go in the first, the Vikings led 7-0.

Mo Valley's defense forced the Bobcats into a three-and-out in Peru State's first possession. The 'Cats were able to stop MVC on their next possession and started their second drive on their 14-yard line. Peru State managed to move the ball into Viking territory, but was stopped and forced to punt for the second time in the game.

On the Vikings' next possession, they started on their 17-yard line. A block in the back penalty moved the Vikings back to their seven-yard line. Seven plays later, Mo Valley scored on a 57-yard touchdown pass. Their point after kick was blocked by Zach Lempka (Sterling) so the score was 13-0 with little time left in the first.
Second Quarter Action

Peru State started their third possession of the game on their 33-yard line. On the first play of the drive, QB Tyler Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) found tight end Erik Osborne (Pawnee City) for a 25-yard pass play which moved the 'Cats into Viking territory at their 42-yard line.

After an eight-yard gain by Audsley, Ethan Bray (Liberal, Mo.) got another first down by gaining six yards putting the ball on the Vikings' 28-yard line. Marcus Spearman (Platte City, Mo.) gained ten yards for another first down on the next play. Seven plays later, Spearman scored on a two-yard run. Following Levi Cockle's (Lincoln) point after, the Bobcats had cut the Mo Valley lead to 13-7 with 11:50 left in the second quarter. The ten-play, 67-yard scoring drive took 3:11 off the clock.

The Bobcats stopped the next Viking drive as Briar Burr (Wood River) forced a fumble on a completed pass and Cody Piotrowski (Mishawaka, Ind.) recovered the fumble. Peru State took over at their 14-yard line.

Peru State could not capitalize on the turnover and were forced to punt. On the punt return, the Viking returner fumbled the ball and Shane Lloyd (Ridge Crest, Calif.) recovered the fumble, giving the Bobcats the ball on MVC's 44-yard line. Unfortunately, the 'Cats could not get anything going and were forced to once again punt the ball away to the Vikings.

Mo Valley started their possession on their 15-yard line. On the Vikings' second play from scrimmage, Piotrowski broke up the pass attempt and it was intercepted by Jake Kelley (Beggs, Okla.). Kelley returned the interception 12 yards to the Vikings' 13-yard line.

After two short rushing gains, Audsley found wide receiver Lance Steffen (Murdock) on a ten-yard touchdown pass. Cockle's kick was good and the Bobcats led for the first time at 14-13 with 3:01 left in the first half.

The Vikings moved the ball down the field on their next possession, but stalled on the Bobcats' 24-yard line. MVC tried a 42-yard field goal attempt, but it was wide right and Peru State retained its one-point advantage.

At the end of the first half, the 'Cats led 14-13.
Third Quarter Action

The second half did not start well for Peru State initially as the Bobcats fumbled the kickoff and MVC recovered the fumble on the 25-yard line.

After a Kelley sack of the Viking quarterback, MVC was backed up to Peru State's 34-yard line. Two rush plays resulted in a fourth and five for Mo Valley. The Viking pass attempt was broken up by Darvel Collins (St. Louis, Mo.) and Peru State took over on their 20-yard line.

The Bobcats proceeded to move the ball down the field as they had three first downs rushing and a 36-yard pass from Audsley to Steffen resulting in a first down passing. However, the Vikings' top NAIA rushing defense stopped the Bobcats twice from one yard out and Mo Valley took over on Peru State's one-yard line. The Bobcats had gone 79 yards in 13 plays, taking 6:33 off the clock, but were stopped from scoring.

Neither team was able to do anything else in the rest of the quarter as they traded two different possessions.

Fourth Quarter Play

After the Bobcats were forced to punt, MVC took over on their 21-yard line and started moving the ball down the field. After reaching the Bobcats' 18-yard line, a ten-yard penalty moved the Vikings back to the 28-yard line, making it a second and 13. On Mo Valley's next play, the pass was completed but Burr forced a fumble and recovered it at the Bobcats' six-yard line, stopping the Vikings' drive.

Peru State's next drive was aided by a running into the kicker penalty and the drive continued. Six plays later, though, the Bobcats were forced to punt and Mo Valley took over on their 39-yard line. On fourth and three, the Vikings' receiver got behind Peru State's safeties and Missouri Valley scored on a 54-yard pass play. Leading 19-13 at that point, the Vikings went for two and converted the play, giving MVC a 21-13 lead with 2:48 left in the game.

Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) took the Vikings' short kickoff back for 25 yards to Peru State's 45-yard line. An unsportsmanlike contest by Mo Valley moved the 'Cats into the Vikings' side of the field at their 40-yard line. Bray gained 11 yards getting the ball to MVC's 29-yard line. A short gain by Bray was followed by a seven-yard gain by Spearman for another first down for Peru State on the Vikings' 18-yard line.

Two two-yard gains by Bray had the ball on MVC's 14-yard line, but Peru State was called for a chop block and the ball was moved back to the 30-yard line. After a sack and a penalty, the Bobcats faced a fourth and 29. Audsley pass attempt to Steffen was broken up and the Vikings took over with 24 seconds left in the game.

Two kneel downs later; Missouri Valley went away with a 21-14 victory.
MISSOURI VALLEY BOX SCORE

Team Statistics

While the first downs were nearly even with Missouri Valley having 20 and Peru State 19, the rest of the main statistics were in the Vikings' favor.

MVC outgained the Bobcats, 479 to 269, getting most of it through the air, connecting on 19 of 31 passes for 326 yards. Peru State did manage to gain 175 yards rushing against the NAIA's top rushing defense, but only had 94 yards passing.

Peru State did win the turnover battle as they grabbed three fumble recoveries and one interception while the Vikings nabbed on Bobcat pass and one fumble.

The Vikings were flagged 13 times for 114 yards in penalties while Peru State continued its clean play with only five penalties for 40 yards.

The time of possession was clearly in favor of the Bobcats as they had the ball for nearly 40 minutes.

Offensive Statistics

Bray continued to be the workhorse as he carried the ball 29 times for 114 yards. For Bray, it was his fourth-straight game with over 100 yards rushing and his sixth of the season.

Audsley was six of 11 passing for 88 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted once. Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) played for one possession and was one of two for six yards.

J.D. Faxon (Odell) caught three passes for 17 yards while Steffen had two catches for 46 yards and one touchdown. Osborne and Ryan Twehous (Central City) each had one reception.

Special Team Statistics

Greg Conry (Harlan, Iowa) punted seven times averaging 36 yards with a long of 46. Conry also had two kickoffs averaging 59.5 yards.

Tromblee returned two kickoffs for 39 yards while Logan Paben (Columbus) returned two kickoffs for 14 yards.

Defensive Statistics

Kelley led a balanced defensive effort with nine total tackles – five of which were solo. Kelley had one sack for nine yards and had an interception which he returned for 12 yards.

Cody Sullivan (Roca) added eight tackles – five solo with Curtis Larsen (Plattsmouth) contributing six tackles – three solo. Piotrowski had five tackles, one fumble recovery and one pass break up. Lloyd and Burr each had four tackles with three of Lloyd's being solo. Both recovered one fumble and Burr forced two fumbles. Lempka finished with three tackles, one sack for a loss of six yards, one pass break-up, and one blocked kick.

KNCY Player of the Game

Lempka was selected as the KNCY Player of the Game.

Coaches' Comments

Bobcat head coach Steve Schneider was pleased with his team's efforts despite the loss. Schneider stated several times during his post-game interview that he was proud of how the players have played all year long as well as their resiliency in the game against Missouri Valley.

Upcoming Game

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the Bobcats will host their last regular season game at Pioneer Field in Nebraska City against the Evangel University Crusaders. It will be Senior Day for the 18 student-athletes with a special recognition for the 18 prior to the 1 p.m. game.

Currently, the Crusaders are 3-5 overall and 3-4 in the HAAC, good for a sixth-place tie with MidAmerica Nazarene University. Last year, the Bobcats lost to Evangel 38-23.