(Peru, Neb.) – It was the final game of an injury-filled and disappointing season for the Peru State football team.  But, as they have all season-long, the Bobcats battled to the end before falling to the visiting Central Methodist University (CMU) Eagles 22-15 in a game played on a snow-covered field.
 
With the loss Peru State finished its season at 2-9 overall and 1-8 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference which put them in a tie for ninth in conference play.  The Eagles finished 5-6 overall and in sole possession of sixth place in the final conference standings.
 
Game Action
 
The Bobcats were able to put the first score of the game on the board after forcing Central Methodist to punt after failing to convert on their first possession. 
 
Peru State started on their 35-yard line and Marshall Klontz (Auburn, Wash.) moved the team down the field mixing up the offense with rushes and passes.  After getting to CMU's five-yard line with a fourth and one, a false start on the offense forced a field goal attempt.  Greg Conry's (Harlan, Iowa) kick was good from 26 yards out and Peru State led 3-0 with 12:14 left in the first quarter.
The teams would trade possessions and with its first possession in the second quarter, Central Methodist had an excellent punt return which put them in Bobcat territory at the 41-yard line.  Two plays later, the Eagles scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass.  With the PAT, CMU led 7-3 with 12:57 left in the first half.
 
After the Bobcats were unable to move the ball, the Eagles took over after recovering a Peru State fumble in Bobcat territory at the 26-yard line.  After getting to Peru State's seven-yard line, the Bobcat defense stiffened, forcing a CMU field goal attempt which missed wide left.
 
Peru State then went three and out and the Eagles took over on their 36-yard line with 6:34 left in the game.  Four plays later, CMU scored and after the PAT, the Eagles led 14-3 with 5:21 remaining in the first half.
 
The Bobcats did put together a good drive on their next possession and when it looked like the 'Cats would close the gap, Peru State fumbled on CMU's one-yard line and the Eagles recovered.
 
CMU ran the clock down and with just ticks left on the clock; Klontz's pass to the end zone was broken up.  The Eagles led 14-3 at halftime.
 
Peru State got the ball first in the second half and could not do anything, but neither could the Eagles on their first possession of the second half. 
 
On the Bobcats' next possession which started on CMU's 43-yard line after a 13-yard punt return by James Sluka (Milligan), Klontz was able to find AJ Flodman (Hickman) with a pass which resulted in a 39-yard pass reception.  From the two-yard line, Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) took the handoff into the end zone for the score.  Conry's kick was no good and the Eagles still led 14-9 with 10:31 left in the third quarter.
 
It would be nearly 15 minutes on the play clock before either team would come close to scoring.  CMU had second and nine on their 11-yard line when Ben Watkins (Omaha) came up with an interception and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown.  Peru State chose to go for two, but it failed.  However, the Bobcats led 15-14 with 9:50 left in the game.
 
The teams each had two series which failed before CMU took over on their 17-yard line with 4:54 left in the game.  A 65-yard completed pass was followed by an 18-yard touchdown pass, putting the Eagles back on top 20-15.  Central Methodist went for two and after an illegal substitution moved them back to the eight-yard line, the Eagles were still successful and now led 22-15.
 
Peru State did have the ball two more times, but could not capitalize and the 2014 season came to a close with the loss to the Eagles.
Team Statistics
 
CMU had 15 first downs compared to the Bobcats' 13.  While the passing yardage was nearly equal as CMU had 278 compared to Peru State's 255, the difference in total yardage came in rushing.  The Eagles gained 77 yards while they held the Bobcats to a minus one yard rushing on the day.  Total yardage ended in CMU's favor, 355 yards to 254 yards.
 
The Eagles fumbled three times and lost one while the Bobcats fumbled twice, losing one which was at CMU's one-yard line.  CMU grabbed one interception while the Bobcats had two interceptions with one going for a touchdown.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Aaron Smith (Houma, La.) led Peru State on the ground, but only gained 20 yards on 17 carries.  Tromblee had seven yards and one touchdown.
 
Through the air, Klontz had his best day in a Bobcat uniform as he was 18 of 46 for 255 yards.  Many of the incomplete passes were on target, but were either dropped or batted down by an Eagle defender.
 
Flodman grabbed six receptions for 96 yards while Jake Coughlin (Omaha), Tromblee, and Jacob Merrill (Elkhorn) each had three receptions.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Conry punted nine times averaging 34.7 yards with two ending up inside the 20-yard line.  He also kicked off four times averaging 53.5 yards and had one field goal.
 
Logan Paben (Columbus) had five punt returns for 59 yards and also had three kickoff returns for 81 yards, including one which went for 52 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Briar Burr (Wood River) led the Bobcat defense with nine tackles – four of which were solo and also had two pass break-ups.  Watkins added eight tackles and had the interception which he returned for a touchdown.
 
Paben and Derreon Richardson (St. Louis, Mo.) each added seven tackles with Paben have four solo tackles.  Both were credited with two pass break-ups.
 
David Horvath (O'Fallon, Mo.) had six tackles.  Darvel Collins (St. Louis, Mo.) grabbed the other interception.

CENTRAL METHODIST BOX SCORE
 
Senior Day
 
Fourteen Bobcat seniors and their parents were recognized prior to the game.  Those seniors playing in the final game in a Bobcat uniform were Klontz, Richardson, Bo Shepard (Gretna), Cody Sullivan (Roca), Alex Roth (Omaha), Alex Wessels (Weeping Water), Jake Long (Kansas City, Mo.), Dean Wood (Gretna), Kyle Berglund (Creighton), Tyler Ford (Lincoln), Beau Godwin (Cottonwood, Ariz.), Matt Miners (Omaha), Isaiah Spears (Chicago), and Shane Lloyd (Ridgecrest, Calif.).