(Peru, Neb.) – On another nice day in the Oak Bowl, the visiting Yellowjackets delivered a sting to the Peru State football team as they came back to win 27-20.
 
With the win, Graceland improved to 3-3 overall and also evened their Heart of America Athletic Conference record at 2-2.   With the loss, Peru State falls to 1-5 for the season and winless in conference play at 0-4.
 
First Quarter Action
 
After holding the Bobcats to a three-and-out, Graceland took their first possession on their 31-yard line.  Seven plays later, after a five-yard run and a PAT, the Yellowjackets took their first lead 7-0 with 9:53 left in the first quarter.
 
The Yellowjackets forced another Peru State three-and-out on their next possession and started at almost the same location on the field, this time on their 32-yard line.  After a one-yard gain, the Yellowjackets completed a 67-yard touchdown pass for another score.  The PAT was no good, but Graceland still led 13-0 with 6:59 to go in the first quarter.
After the kickoff, Aaron Smith (Houma, La.) gained two yards to Peru State's 27-yard line.  On a quarterback keeper, Bo Shepard (Gretna) scampered around the outside and down the field for 64 yards.  On the next play, Smith took it into the end zone from nine yards out for the Bobcats' first score.  Greg Conry (Harlan, Iowa) hit his PAT to make it 13-7 with 5:42 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The teams traded possessions and then the Bobcats forced the Yellowjackets to their first three-and-out which was at the beginning of the second quarter.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
After Graceland had two plays in the first quarter, the 'Cats took over with 13:52 to go in the half on their 34-yard line.  After two short run gains, Shepard found Jon Frink (Hooper) for a four-yard reception which kept the drive alive with a first down passing.  Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) moved the ball into Graceland's territory with a 13-yard run to the Yellowjackets' 42-yard line.  Marccus Spearman (Platte City, Mo.) gained nine yards and then Shepard found Frink again for a 13-yard reception.  The 'Cats were on Graceland's 20-yard line.  Smith ran for 14 yards for another first down and then came back with a six-yard touchdown run.  Conry's PAT was good and the Bobcats were in front 14-13 with 10:23 left in the half.
 
The Bobcat defense stopped Graceland on their next possession and Peru State took over on their 41-yard line.  Spearman went for 19 yards for a first down and the Bobcats were in Graceland territory at the 40-yard line.  After a rushing loss, Shepard hit Jake Coughlin (Omaha) for 26 yards and the 'Cats were in the red zone at the 16.  After two short rushes, Shepard's pass was tipped and intercepted, thwarting a Peru State scoring opportunity.
 
Again, Peru State's defense came through forcing the Yellowjackets to punt.  With 4:05 left in the half, the Bobcats started another drive at Graceland's 49-yard line.  After two short rushing gains, Shepard found Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) for 13 yards to the Yellowjackets' 30-yard line.  After no net gain on two rush plays, Shepard passed to Tromblee which went for 16 yards.  After three short gains rushing, Conry hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired.  Peru State increased its lead to 17-13 at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
It was a defensive battle for most of the third quarter until near the end.  Graceland took over on their 20-yard line with 2:12 remaining.  A 53-yard run to start their possession put them at Peru State's 27-yard line.  On the third play after the first down, Graceland converted a 26-yard touchdown pass.  With the PAT, the Yellowjackets had regained the lead at 20-17.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Peru State had two plays at the end of the third quarter which resulted in a first down and the 'Cats started the fourth quarter on their 41-yard line.  On a second and eight, Spearman gained ten yards and the Bobcats were now in Graceland territory at the 47-yard line.  After a one-yard gain, Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego, Calif.) had an 11-yard gain for a Peru State first down.  Spearman followed with another 18 yards and the 'Cats were now on the Yellowjacket 17-yard line.  The Bobcats were not able to get a first down, but Conry came through with a 25-yard field goal to tie it at 20-20 with 10:16 left in the game.
 
On the next Yellowjacket series of plays, Graceland came through with a 56-yard touchdown pass.  The PAT was good and the 'Jackets led 27-20 with 7:00 to go in the contest.
The Bobcats had two more possessions around another Graceland possession, but were unable to make any substantial drive and the Yellowjackets won.

GRACELAND BOX SCORE
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State actually had more first downs than Graceland, 17 to 16, but the total yardage was in the Yellowjackets' favor.   Graceland gained 195 yards on the ground and 244 through the air for 439 total yards.  The Bobcats had 272 yards rushing to go with 92 yards passing for 364 total yards.  Peru State had three penalties for 35 yards while the Yellowjackets had four penalties for 30 yards. 
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Smith gained 80 yards on 18 carries and had two touchdowns.  Shepard added 71 yards on eight carries while Spearman added 66 yards on six carries.  Morrison-Smith gained 45 yards on 13 carries.
 
Shepard was 8 of 17 passing for 92 yards and gave up two interceptions.
 
Frink caught three passes for 24 yards with Coughlin, Tromblee, Robinson, Smith, and AJ Flodman (Hickman) each having one reception.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Cody Sullivan (Roca) punted five times for 31.6 yards per punt with one punt inside the 20-yard line.
Logan Paben (Columbus) had three punts returns for 52 yards while James Sluka (Milligan) having two punt returns for 41 yards.
 
Conry hit two of three field goals as one was blocked.  He also kicked off four times averaging 62.3 yards per kick.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Sullivan led the defense with seven tackles – six of which were solo.  Jon Draeger (Dunbar), Nevada Harlan (Maize, Kan.), and Elijah Hawkins (Omaha) each had six tackles with Draeger having four solos while Harlan and Hawkins each had three solo.  Draeger had one sack for six yards and one pass break-up. Harlan had one-half a tackle for a loss for two yards while Hawkins added a sack for nine yards.
 
Jason Park (Ridge Crest, Calif.) added five solo tackles while Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Darvel Collins (St. Louis, Mo.) each had five total tackles.  Derreon Richardson (St. Louis, Mo.) had two tackles for losses of four yards while Shane Lloyd (Ridge Crest, Calif.) had one tackles for a loss of five yards.
 
Upcoming Game
 
The Bobcats will be on the road for the next two games.  Next week, Peru State will be in Atchison, Kansas, to take on Benedictine College.  The 19^th-ranked Ravens are 3-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play having lost on Saturday to 2^nd-ranked Baker University in the NAIA Gridiron Challenge at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.  Game time is 1 p.m.