(Peru, Neb.) – Thirty-one unanswered points in the second half catapulted the Peru State football team to a 48-17 season-opening win over the visiting Central Methodist (Mo.) (CMU) Eagles.
 
The 31 points in the second half were more points than the Bobcats had scored in any one contest during the 2014 season. With the win, the 'Cats improved to 1-0 while CMU fell to 0-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Eagles chose to receive and had the first possession in the 2015 season. After picking up two first downs – one by passing and one on a Bobcat penalty, the Bobcat defense stiffened and forced CMU to punt. Logan Paben (Columbus) returned the punt for 24 yards giving Peru State its first starting position on the 34-yard line.
 
Tyler Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) took the first carry for ten yards and a first down. After two runs by Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego, Calif.), Audsley scampered for another nine yards and another first down putting the ball in Eagle territory at the 40-yard line. On the next play Audsley found AJ Flodman (Hickman) for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Following the extra point by Greg Conry (Harlan, Iowa), the 'Cats led 7-0 at the 9:22 mark.

 
Peru State held the Eagles to a three-and-out on the next series and took over on CMU's 41-yard line.
 
James Sluka (Milligan) took the handoff and went 12 yards for another first down. Then Morrison-Smith had two carries resulting in another first down and the Bobcats found themselves down to the Eagles' 17-yard line. A couple of penalties stalled the drive, but Conry did kick a 32-yard field goal and with 4:22 to go in the first quarter, Peru State led 10-0.
 
The 10-0 score would stand at the end of the first quarter.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
CMU started a drive with a minute left in the first quarter on their 35-yard line. After two short rushing gains, the Eagles completed a 38-yard pass play which moved them to the Bobcats' 21-yard line. Three plays later, CMU scored and with the extra point, the Eagles had cut the deficit to 10-7 with 13:36 left in the first half.
 
The Bobcats started their first possession in the second quarter on their 37-yard line. Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) took the pitch from Audsley and went 12 yards for a first down. Back-to-back carries by Morrison-Smith resulted in a first down in CMU territory at the 37-yard line. Three first downs later, Morrison-Smith found the end zone with an eight-yard run. Following Conry's kick, Peru State was back in front by ten at 17-7 with 7:18 left in the second quarter.
 
The Eagles immediately came back and eventually scored on their next possession on a 27-yard touchdown pass. After the extra-point try, CMU trailed 17-14 with 3:58 left in the half.
 
Peru State did move the ball into CMU territory on their next possession, but the drive stalled when the Eagles grabbed an interception on a tipped ball.
 
With 1:06 left in the half, CMU threw the ball eight out of nine plays which resulted in a field goal attempt which was good from 24 yards to tie it at halftime 17-17.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
After a kickoff return of 22 yards by Travis Carnahan (Wahoo) to the Bobcats' 37-yard line, CMU committed a personal foul and immediately the 'Cats were in CMU territory.
 
Six rushing plays by Peru State moved the ball to CMU's 14-yard line before the Eagles forced the Bobcats to kick a field goal. Conry's kick was good from 31 yards and the 'Cats regained the lead at 20-17.
 
After the Bobcat defense forced a three-and-out, Peru State started on their 15-yard line. Audsley found Morrison-Smith for 16 yards to give the 'Cats a little breathing room. On the next play, Sluka took the ball for 66 yards to the Eagles' three-yard line. Two plays later, Morrison-Smith found the end zone and Peru State extended its lead to 27-17 after Conry's PAT was successful with 7:42 left in the third quarter.
 
Peru State's defense came through again forcing another three-and-out and this time the Bobcats had better field position as they started at their 46-yard line.
 
After three rushes resulted in a first down, Audsley would eventually find Jake Coughlin (Omaha) for a 12-yard pass reception and Peru State would be on the Eagles' 27-yard line. Morrison-Smith would gain four yards on a rush with Sluka going seven for another Bobcat first down at the 16-yard line. Audsley would then run the option and went into the end zone.  Conry's kick was good and with 2:25 remaining in the third stanza, Peru State led 34-17.
 
CMU did not have success on their next possession as Paben intercepted the Eagle pass attempt and returned it 35 yards to CMU's 47-yard line.
It took the Bobcats just one play to score as Audsley connected with Flodman for the second time in the game, this time on a 47-yard strike for a Bobcat score. After Conry's kick, the 'Cats now led 41-17 with 1:44 left in the quarter.
 
Peru State again forced a three-and-out and Sluka returned the Eagle punt 22 yards to the Bobcats' 37-yard line. After one play, the third quarter ended with the 'Cats leading 41-17.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
For the first time in the second half, the Bobcats failed to convert on a drive. Conry executed a good punt putting the Eagles deep in their own territory at their eight-yard line.
 
CMU managed a couple of first downs which did get them near mid-field, but a fourth and five pass attempt was broken up by Tom Martig (Omaha).
 
With back-ups in the game, Peru State took over. After a short gain by Carnahan, Levi Wasser (Seward) went 16 yards on the pitch for first down. Colton Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) took the next handoff for 12 yards the Bobcats found themselves on the Eagles' 16-yard line. After a short gain, Carnahan found Audsley in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass. For Carnahan, it was his first touchdown pass as a Bobcat and it was the younger Audsley's first touchdown reception in a Bobcat uniform. Conry's kick was good and the 'Cats led 48-17 with just under six minutes remaining in the game.
The Eagles had not given up on trying to score as they moved the ball down to the Bobcats' nine-yard line before Jordan Steffen (Murdock) broke up a fourth-and-seven pass attempt.
 
Peru State took over with 1:05 left in the game and ran two running plays to eventually run out the clock and claim the season-opening win.

CMU GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Peru State had 27 first down compared to CMU's 15. The Bobcats found their run game from two years ago as they racked up 347 yards on 53 carries. The Eagles rushed for 77 yards on 23 attempts.
 
The Eagles held the advantage in the passing game as they went 18 of 41 for 236 yards with one interception. Peru State was six of 12 for 142 yards and also had one interception.
 
The Bobcats were penalized just three times for 26 yards while CMU had five penalties for 49 yards.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Sluka led the Bobcat rushing attack with 107 yards on just seven attempts which included the 66-yard run. Morrison-Smith had 75 yards on 18 rushes while scoring two touchdowns. Tyler Audsley finished with 61 yards on the ground on nine attempts with one touchdown.
 
Tyler Audsley went five for 11 passing for 127 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Carnahan was one for one for 15 yards and threw a touchdown.
 
Flodman caught just two passes for 87 yards with both resulting in touchdowns. Morrison-Smith had 28 yards receiving on two catches. Colton Audsley caught one pass for 15 yards and a touchdown.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Conry only had to punt one time which went for 33 yards, but put the Eagles deep in their own territory. He also made two field goals – one for 31 yards and the other for 32 yards, but missed on a 52-yard try. Conry had nine kickoffs averaging 60.4 yards with one touchback.
 
Sluka had two punt returns for 35 yards and two kickoff returns for 37 yards. Paben had one punt return for 24 yards. Carnahan returned one kickoff for 22 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Ben Watkins (Omaha) led the Bobcats with five total tackles which included one solo. Watkins was also credited with .5 sack for 2.5 yards. Matt O'Neill (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) had four tackles, two of which were solo and added one sack for five yards. Nolan Siemonsma (Plattsmouth) also finished with four tackles, one of which was solo, and was credited for 1.5 for a loss of two yards.
 
Nine other Bobcats were credited with three total tackles. Paben was one of those and he added one interception for 35 yards. Briar Burr (Wood River) also had three tackles and one pass break-up.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will travel to Springfield, Mo., next Saturday to face the Evangel Crusaders. The Crusaders fell on the road to Benedictine (Kan.) by a score of 24-14. Last year, Evangel pulled out an overtime 24-21 win in Peru in the fourth game of the season.
 
Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.