(Peru, Neb.) – After stunning 19^th-ranked Friends last week, the Bobcat football team faced their second-straight rated team.  The end results were not the same as Peru State fell to the 13^th-ranked Missouri Valley College Vikings 27-0 in Marshall, Mo., on Saturday night.
 
With the loss, the 'Cats fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.  The Vikings evened their season record at 1-1 and started conference play with a win.
 
Game Action
 
The Vikings hit a 20-yard field goal with 8:02 left in the first quarter to go up 3-0. 
 
For most of the remaining time in the first half, it was a defensive battle until Mo Valley got the ball with 2:05 to go in the half.  Two consecutive first downs passing moved the ball to the Vikings' 47-yard line.  After an incomplete pass, Missouri Valley completed another first down passing moving the ball into Peru State territory at the 42-yard line.  On the next play, a Bobcat defender went for the interception and the Vikings got a 42-yard touchdown pass.  After the PAT, Mo Valley led 10-0.
 
Peru State did move the ball into Viking territory to the 27-yard line and attempted a field goal with three seconds left in the half, but it was blocked.
 
In the third quarter, Missouri Valley took the opening drive and went 63 yards in 12 plays and scored on a one-yard touchdown run.  After the PAT was good, the Vikings led 17-0 with 8:50 left in the quarter.
 
The Vikings did not score again until the fourth quarter when they had a 38-yard touchdown pass to take a 24-0 lead with 8:52 left in the game.
 
Later, Mo Valley tacked on a 41-yard field goal to make the final score 27-0.
 
Team Statistics
 
The Vikings outgained Peru State as they had 367 yards of offense while holding the 'Cats to 139.  Mo Valley had 18 first downs compared to the Bobcats' eight.  Missouri Valley gained 150 yards on the ground and 217 through the air.  Peru State had 124 yards rushing and managed only 15 yards passing.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Tyler Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) led the Bobcats with 45 yards rushing in just three attempts.
 
Bo Shepard (Gretna) was three of 11 passing for 16 yards.
 
Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.), Aaron Smith (Houma, La.), Josh Lawton (Aurora), and James Sluka (Milligan) each had one pass reception.
 
Special Teams
 
Cody Sullivan (Roca) had his best night punting as he had nine punts for 467 yards averaging 51.9 yards per punt.  Sullivan had a long punt of 75 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Sullivan led the Bobcats defensively as he finished with nine total tackles – eight of which were solo.
 
Briar Burr (Wood River) added eight tackles – six of which were solo.  Elijah Hawkins (Omaha) and Shane Lloyd (Ridge Crest, Calif.) each had seven tackles with Hawkins having five solo and Lloyd four solo.  Hawkins had one tackle for a loss of two yards while Lloyd had three tackles for losses of 13 yards.  In addition, Lloyd had one pass break-up.  Audsley contributed six solo tackles. 
 
Derreon Richardson (St. Louis, Mo.) and Jordan Steffen (Murdock) each had one fumble recovery.  Logan Paben (Columbus) grabbed an interception and Cristian Ruiz (Omaha) was credited with one forced fumble.

MISSOURI VALLEY BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will be hosting Heart foe Evangel University next Saturday.  The Crusaders are currently 2-1 after falling to third-ranked Baker on Saturday.