(Peru, Neb.) – A great defensive effort helped lead the Peru State Bobcats to their third straight win to start the 2013 campaign, a 21-7 win over the Graceland University YellowJackets in Lamoni, Iowa.

The win was also the Bobcats' first in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The YellowJackets fell to 1-2 and 0-1 in the HAAC. In addition, this was the first time in three tries since joining the HAAC that Peru State had topped Graceland.

First Quarter Action

Peru State had the first possession of the ballgame and it did not go well as the Bobcats went three and out.

Graceland started their first possession on their 27-yard line and put together an eight-play, 73-yard drive for a touchdown. With the PAT, the YellowJackets took an early 7-0 lead with 9:03 left in the first quarter.

The Bobcats had another three and out, but did force the YellowJackets to do the same on their next drive. On Peru State's next possession, Ethan Bray (Liberal, Mo.) carried the ball for 47 yards to Graceland's 42-yard line. However, the 'Cats could not do much after that and went for it on fourth down, resulting in the YellowJackets getting the ball back.

On the very next play, Matt O'Neill (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) forced a fumble which was recovered by Jake Kelley (Beggs, Okla.). This gave Peru State the ball on the Graceland 34-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Tyler Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) ran a quarterback keeper into the end zone for a touchdown. Levi Cockle's (Lincoln) extra point attempt was good and the Bobcats had tied the score at 7-7 with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bobcat defense forced Graceland into a punting situation on their next series and JD Faxon (Odell) returned the YellowJacket punt 18 yards. Peru State started their drive in Graceland's territory at the 47-yard line.

After three plays, the quarter ended with Peru State on the YellowJacket 40-yard line.

Second Quarter Action

Peru State continued their drive at the start of the second quarter by going for it on fourth and one. Bray gained two yards and the 'Cats continued their possession. Eleven plays later, Bray carried it one yard for Peru State's second touchdown of the day. Cockle's extra point was good and Peru State took their first lead at 14-7 with 8:52 left in the half. The 15-play drive took over seven minutes off the clock.

Neither team could put together any sustained drive during the remainder of the half. Peru State went into the locker room leading 14-7.

Third Quarter Action

Graceland was moving the ball on their opening possession of the second half, but the drive was thwarted by the Bobcats' Cody Sullivan (Roca) as he intercepted a YellowJacket pass and returned it seven yards. This gave Peru State good field position as they started their drive in Graceland's side of the field at the 48-yard line.

Both team's defenses played well during the quarter as the only real scoring threat was in the Bobcats' favor as Cockle attempted a 41-yard field goal, but it was wide left.

After 45 minutes of play, the Bobcats still led 14-7.

Fourth Quarter Action

Throughout most of the fourth quarter, the teams traded possessions. With 5:36 left in the game, Graceland started a drive and had moved the ball down to Peru State's 13-yard line. On the YellowJackets' first-down play, Cody Piotrowski (Mishawaka, Ind.) on a blitz forced a fumble which was recovered by Curtis Larsen (Plattsmouth). Larsen picked up the ball and ran it back 71 yards for a defensive score. The kick by Cockle was good and Peru State led 21-7 with 1:30 left in the game.

The Bobcat defense held a last-ditch try by Graceland and gained its third win of the season 21-7.

Team Statistics

When reviewing the statistics, most would not figure the score would have been 21-7. Graceland actually had one more first down, nine compared to Peru State's eight. The total yardage was nearly even as well as the Bobcats finished with 209 yards while Graceland had 202. How each team gained their yards was the biggest disparity. The Bobcats gained 196 yards rushing but only 13 yards passing. On the other side, the YellowJackets managed to gain only five yards rushing, but 202 yards through the air.

The Bobcats won the turnover battle as they recovered two Graceland fumbles and had one interception while Graceland intercepted one Bobcat pass.

A big difference in statistics shows up in penalties as Peru State was flagged only twice for 20 yards while Graceland had 11 penalties totaling 89 yards.

Offensive Statistics

Bray finished with 102 yards on 19 carries and had one touchdown. Marcus Spearman (Platte City, Mo.) had 42 yards on five carries. Audsley had one touchdown and finished with 29 yards.

Audsley was only three of eight in the passing category for only 13 yards and threw one interception.

Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) caught two passes for nine yards and Faxon grabbed one for four yards.

Special Team Statistics

Greg Conry (Harlan, Iowa) punted six times averaging 28.3 yards. Conry put one punt inside the 20-yard line. In addition, Conry had six kickoffs averaging 61 yards.

Garret Campbell (Santee, Calif.) had one kick return for 37 yards and Logan Paben (Columbus) had one for 24 yards.

Defensive Statistics

Kelley led the team in tackles with nine total, two of which were solo. Kelley was also credited with one-half tackle for loss of two yards and recovered one fumble. Shane Lloyd (Ridgecrest, Calif.) had five solo and three assisted tackles, which included two sacks for a loss of 14 yards. Lloyd also broke up one pass and forced a fumble. Paben finished with the same tackle statistics as Lloyd and had one tackle for a loss of seven yards and broke up one pass.

Finishing with six tackles each were Briar Burr (Wood River), Zach Lempka (Sterling), and Jon Draeger (Dunbar). Lempka broke up one pass and had one tackle for a loss of three yards.

Piotrowski had two tackles for a total loss of 18 yards and forced the key fumble late in the game. Campbell added one tackle for a loss of two yards while O'Neill had a half-sack which set up Peru State's first score.

Sullivan had the lone interception which he returned for seven yards and Larsen returned the fumble late in the game for 71 yards.

GRACELAND BOX SCORE

KNCY Player of the Game

For his efforts, junior defensive end Lloyd was named the KNCY Player of the Game. An excited Lloyd said, "The coaches do a great job of showing us what they believed Graceland would do and what we needed to do to exploit it. Coach Schneider preaches every day that we need to battle adversity and we did that today."

In conclusion, Lloyd added, "The seniors on the team have shown a lot of leadership and we are trying to do what it takes to win every game."

Bobcat Head Coach Steve Schneider's Comments

Peru State head coach Steve Schneider was pleased with the outcome and gave praise to the defense. Schneider said, "The defense beat them down and kept them guessing all day. The defense stepped up and hats off to all of them, including Coach Varley and Coach Mizerski and the rest of the staff."

Continuing, Schneider added, "We have handled adverse situations fairly positively to this point, both the players and coaches. While we are a senior-dominated team, so was Graceland. We will need to look at our offensive scheme as they were prepared to stop what we had been doing previously."

"I just can't say enough about the defense as they held Graceland down rushing and if you cannot run the ball in this league, it will be tough for a team," added Schneider.

Next Game

The Benedictine College Ravens (Kan.) will be the next opponent for the Bobcats as Peru State hosts the Ravens next Saturday, Sept. 28. The 14^th-ranked Ravens topped the eighth-ranked Baker University Wildcats on Saturday 42-28 and share the conference lead with the Bobcats. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.