(Peru, Neb.) – It was as unlikely ending as anyone could possibly come up with for the conclusion of a football game. In this case, the script called for a Peru State football victory over the visiting and 16^th-ranked Benedictine Ravens on the final play of the game.
 
With two seconds remaining on the clock, senior kicker Greg Conry (Harlan, Iowa) put a 45-yard field goal through the uprights and made his and his teammates' senior day a special one as the Bobcats won 19-17.
With the win, Peru State finished the 2015 campaign with a 7-4 overall record and 3-2 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division. Benedictine, with the loss, finished with an identical mark and most likely fell out of playoff contention.
 
First Quarter Highlights
 
Benedictine took the opening kickoff and put together a 13-play, 81-yard drive to take an early 7-0 lead with 9:23 left in the quarter.
 
The Bobcats' first drive ended on an interception. But, the Peru State defense was able to get the ball back after forcing a three-and-out.
 
Peru State started their next drive on their 34-yard line and was six plays into the drive before the quarter ended with Benedictine leading 7-0. Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego, Calif.) was key to the drive and helped produce two first downs.

 
Second Quarter Highlights
 
The Bobcats continued the drive in the second quarter and got their first, first down of the quarter on a Tyler Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) pass to Jake Coughlin (Omaha) put the ball on the Raven 32-yard line. Four rushing plays by Morrison-Smith produced two first downs and Peru State was on the Raven 11-yard line. The Bobcats' drive stalled after three rushing plays could not come up with a first down or touchdown so Conry connected on a 23-yard field goal. Peru State's scoring drive was 15 plays and 60 yards while taking 8:51 off the clock.
 
Both teams' defense forced short drives and eventually Peru State took over with 4:41 left in the half on their 34-yard line. The Bobcats were moving the ball down the field and appeared they would get at least a field goal out of the drive. However, the 'Cats coughed up a fumble which Benedictine recovered at their six-yard line and ran it back for a 94-yard fumble recovery touchdown. After the PAT, the Ravens led 14-3 with 46 seconds left in the half.
 
After a 28-yard kickoff return by Travis Carnahan (Wahoo), Peru State started on their 31-yard line. A five-yard gain by Audsley made it second and five on their 36-yard line. Audsley pass to his receiver was complete for 15 yards and enough for a first down, but the ball was fumbled and Benedictine recovered with five seconds left on the clock.
 
The Ravens tried a pass which was broken up by Logan Paben (Columbus) and Briar Burr (Wood River) and the half ended with Benedictine leading 14-3.
 
Third Quarter Highlights
 
The Bobcats received the kick to start the second half with James Sluka (Milligan) returning the kickoff for 15 yards giving Peru State decent field position at their 37-yard line.
 

After Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) took the first play for nine yards, Morrison-Smith gained five for the first down. Three plays later, Tromblee broke out for 20 yards and Peru State was now on the Raven 24-yard line. Two rushing plays did not produce much, by Audsley found Coughlin on the sideline for 10 yards for a first down on Benedictine's 13-yard line. Three plays later, Morrison-Smith gained five yards for another first down. After a short gain by Morrison-Smith, Audsley went in from one-yard out for the touchdown. Conry's PAT was good and it was now 14-10 Benedictine with 8:10 left in the third quarter. The drive went for 13 plays, 63 yards, and took 6:50 off the clock.
 
Benedictine put together a nine-play, 57-yard drive resulting in a field goal and with 4:49 left in the third, the Ravens now led 17-10.
 
Peru State started its drive in the third period, and managed four first downs while moving the ball down to Benedictine's six-yard line before time would expire in the quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Highlights
 
After a sack by the Ravens, Peru State was forced to try for a field goal which was blocked by Benedictine. With 14:12 left in the game, the Ravens still led 17-10.
 
Peru State's defense forced the Ravens to punt and Benedictine got off a great punt which was field by Paben on the Bobcats' two-yard line. A pass from Audsley to AJ Flodman (Hickman) gave the 'Cats some breathing room, but Peru State could not move the ball and were eventually forced to punt.
 
After one first down by Benedictine, the Bobcat defense once again forced a Raven punt which went into the end zone.
 
The Bobcats would start their next drive on their 20-yard line with 8:43 left in the game.

 
After a nine-yard gain by Tromblee, Sluka gained ten yards and Peru State had moved the ball out to their 39-yard line on just two plays. Three plays later, Audsley would gain six yards for another first down. On a third and five, Jon Frink (Hooper) took a reverse and went 26 yards down to the Raven 20-yard line. An offside was then called on Benedictine on the next play putting the Bobcats at the 15-yard line with a first and five. Morrison-Smith went five yards for the first down and Peru State was now on Benedictine's ten-yard line. After Morrison-Smith gained two yards, the Bobcats went right back to him and he went in from eight yards out for the touchdown.
 
Now, this is part of the unlikely script to the game. While most Peru State fans were thinking, "Great, we can get the tie and force overtime as our defense has been good," the Bobcat coaches were thinking differently. The 'Cats coaching staff decided to go for the fake and try for the two-point conversion. However, some miscommunication found Conry being tackled and Peru State now trailed 17-16 with just 3:10 left in the game.
 
It was beginning to look bleak after the Ravens got a first down on their second play of their possession. Then, after a short gain, the Bobcats called a timeout. Two incomplete passes were followed by a call that was questioned, but Peru State was called for holding on the pass play and now Benedictine was at their 49-yard line with about two minutes left on the clock. After Alan Barnes (Murdock) and Elijah Lavalais-Hawkins (Omaha) tackled the Raven for no gain, Peru State called their last timeout.
 
The Ravens then had two kneel downs thinking they could run most of the clock off.  On third and 11, Benedictine let more of the clock run down before they called a timeout with five seconds left. After the timeout, the plot of the script thickened. Benedictine decided not to punt. With five seconds left, the Raven quarterback took the ball and kept going backwards and kneeled down with time remaining on the clock. The officials put three seconds back on the board and the Bobcats took over on the Raven 28-yard line.
 
The script had changed and now Peru State had an opportunity for one play. Out came the field goal team. The snap was good, the hold was better, and Conry's 45-yard field goal was good!
 
The final script read Peru State 19 – Benedictine 17. And you guessed it, the Bobcat team and its fans went wild.
 
This was the first time since joining the Heart that the Bobcats had defeated the Ravens and only one of the games had been close. That came in 2013, when Benedictine topped Peru State 45-41 in Auburn while the Oak Bowl was being renovated.

BENEDICTINE GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 

Peru State knew coming into the gain that they would have to keep the high-powered Raven offense in check, especially their passing game, and they did just that. Benedictine gained only 34 yards on the ground and only 165 yards through the air for 199 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, the Bobcats racked up 299 yards on the ground and 69 passing for 368 yards of total offense.
 
Going into the game, the Bobcats wanted to control the time of possession as well, and they managed to do that as they had the ball for over 38 minutes. Peru State was able to win the game despite having three turnovers.
 
Neither team was penalized much as Benedictine had four penalties for 30 yards while the Bobcats had the same amount of yardage on three penalties.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Morrison-Smith had a game-high 136 yards rushing on 31 carries and one touchdown. Audsley added 68 yards and one touchdown with Tromblee finishing with 57 yards.
 
Audsley was 6 of 11 passing for 69 yards and one interception. Coughlin had three receptions of 37 yards with Flodman finishing with two catches for 28 yards. Frink was on the end of the other pass reception.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Conry had two punts for 40 yards and also added two field goals.
 
Carnahan had one kickoff return for 28 yards while Sluka had two for 25 yards. Tromblee had one kickoff return for 16 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Lavalais-Hawkins finished the game with eight total tackles – three of which were solo. Paben had six total tackles – four solo and was credited with two pass break-ups.
 
Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Rashad Baker (Tempe, Ariz.) each finished with five tackles with Barnes having three solo and Baker two solo. Each was credited with a tackle for a loss.
 
Final Game for 14 Seniors
 
It was the final game for 14 Bobcat seniors. Those recognized prior to the game, along with their parents, were Audsley, Frink, Paben, Burr, Conry, Ben Watkins (Omaha), Robert Georges (Auburn), Tromblee, Camden Grasmick (Gurley), Brian Farley (Ralston), Jon Draeger (Dunbar), Dillon Bruggeman (Lincoln), Barnes, and Cody Piotrowski (Mishawaka, Ind.). Piotrowski finished his senior season as a student coach after injuries ended his playing career.