(Peru, Neb.) – A 10-0 lead for Peru State did not hold up against the NAIA's second-ranked Baker University Wildcats on Saturday in the Oak Bowl.  The Wildcats scored 24 unanswered points to claim their fifth win of the season and spoil the Bobcats' homecoming.
 
Baker is now 5-0 and 3-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference while the Bobcats fell to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in conference action.
 
First Half Action
 
The teams traded their first two possessions.  Peru State's defense forced its third three-and-out and took over on the midfield stripe with 5:15 to go in the first quarter.  After an incomplete pass and a one-yard loss rushing, quarterback Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) found AJ Flodman (Hickman) for a 38-yard pass and catch moving the ball to Baker's 13-yard line.  The Wildcats held Peru State, but Greg Conry (Harlan, Iowa) hit a 28-yard field goal to give Peru State a 3-0 lead with 2:24 remaining in the quarter.
On Baker's next possession, the Bobcat defense was tough again and forced a punt.  Peru State took over on their 14-yard line.  The Bobcats did get two first downs and a Cody Sullivan (Roca) punt penned Baker deep at their nine-yard line.  After only a one-yard gain, Baker called a timeout.  On the next play, Briar Burr (Wood River) intercepted a Wildcat pass and was stopped at the Baker nine-yard line.
 
A rushing play by Peru State lost a yard and then Klontz found Malek Pittman (Omaha) for nine yards as the Wildcats stopped Pittman inside the one-yard line.  Klontz took a quarterback keeper into the end zone for the score.  Conry's PAT was good and the Bobcats led 10-0.
 
Peru State did force Baker into a three-and-out on their next possession, but could not sustain a drive and were forced to punt to the Wildcats.  Another great Sullivan punt forced the Wildcats to start on their one-yard line.
Baker managed to get a first down passing, followed by a first down rushing, and then two first downs passing and were into Bobcat territory at the 25-yard line.  Peru State called a time out as Baker had first and ten.  The first two Wildcat passes were broken up respectively by Nevada Harlan (Maize, Kan.) and Jason Park (Ridge Park, Calif.).  The third Baker pass attempt fell incomplete, forcing a 43-yard field goal attempt which was good with just four ticks left in the first half.
 
Second Half Action
 
A Bobcat fumble on the first play of the second half gave Baker the ball on Peru State's 33-yard line.  A first down passing for the Wildcats was followed with a first down on a penalty as the Bobcats were called for a personal foul.  Five plays later, Baker had tied the game at 10-10 following a one-yard touchdown run and a PAT.
 
Both defenses played tough for most of the third quarter.  The Wildcats took over with 3:57 to go on their 48-yard line after a nice punt return.  On the third play of the drive, after Elijah Hawkins (Omaha) had sacked the quarterback for an eight-yard loss, Baker connected on a 58-yard pass.  Bobcat Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.) saved the touchdown by forcing the Wildcat out at the two-yard line.  The Peru State defense held their ground until it appeared Baker was going to go for a field goal to take the lead.  However, the Wildcats faked the field goal and the kicker scored a touchdown.  Following the extra point, the Wildcats led 17-10 with one minute left in the quarter.
Peru State's drive to end the third and start the fourth was halted on Baker's 38-yard line and Sullivan again had a good punt which was fair caught at the Wildcat 15-yard line.  Six plays later it looked as if Peru State was back in business as Derreon Richardson (St. Louis, Mo.) recovered on Baker's 38-yard line.
 
A false start moved Peru State back and after three plays, the Bobcats were forced to punt.
 
With 8:02 left in the game, Baker took over on their 20-yard line.  The Wildcats put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive to take a 24-10 advantage.
 
The teams traded two different possessions and the Wildcats won 24-10.

BAKER GAME STATISTICS
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State did hold the Wildcats over 100 yards under their normal offensive output as Baker gained just 84 yards on the ground and 219 through the air for 303 total yards.  The Wildcats managed 17 first downs compared to Peru State's ten.
The Baker defense continued their good play as Peru State mustered 89 yards rushing and 107 through the air for 196 total yards.
 
Both teams had two interceptions and each team lost one fumble.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) gained 36 yards on eight carries while Marccus Spearman (Platte City, Mo.) gained 25 yards on four carries.
 
Klontz was 11 of 28 for 107 yards with a long of 38 yards. 
 
Six different Bobcats caught passes with Jake Coughlin (Omaha) grabbing three for 24 yards.  Pittman, Tromblee, and Spearman each had two catches.  Flodman and Morrison-Smith each had one with Flodman's grab going for 38 yards.
 
Special Teams Statistics
 
Sullivan punted nine times averaging 34.6 yards, well below his average.  But, Sullivan managed to have five punts land inside the 20-yard line.
 
Logan Paben (Columbus) had one kickoff return for 21 yards.  Pittman had two returns for 19 yards while Deondrae Mayo (Ocala, Fla.) also had two returns for 16 yards.
 
Conry made his only field goal and PAT. 
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Sullivan and Hawkins each finished with 12 tackles with Sullivan having ten solo tackles and Hawkins eight.  Sullivan was credited with two pass break-ups.  Hawkins added one sack for a loss of eight yards and two tackles for losses totaling nine yards.
Shane Lloyd (Ridge Crest, Calif.) finished with ten tackles, six of which were solo.  Lloyd added two sacks for 13 yards and had 3.5 tackles for losses for 17 yards.  He also had one pass break-up.
 
Brian Bell (Imperial) had six tackles – two solo and 1.5 tackles for a loss of 2.5 yards.  Burr finished with five tackles – four solo, one tackle for a loss of two yards, and one interception with a one-yard return.
 
Jon Draeger (Dunbar) and Richardson each had five tackles – Draeger with three solo and Richardson with two solo.  Draeger had 1.5 tackles for losses of two yards and one pass break-up.  Richardson had one tackle for a loss of nine yards and a fumble recovery.
 
Alan Barnes (Murdock) and Park each had two tackles for losses of 4.5 and 12 yards respectively.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will be at home for the third week in a row as they host the Graceland University Yellow Jackets next Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. in the Oak Bowl.
 
Currently, the Yellow Jackets are 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the HAAC as they throttled Culver-Stockton on Saturday 45-0.  However, the week before, Graceland was shutout by Baker 41-0.