(Peru, Neb.) – After trailing by 14 at halftime, the Peru State football team scored 25 points in a row and held on for a 39-34 upset over the home-standing 13^th-ranked Missouri Valley (MVC) Vikings on Saturday.
 
With the win, the Bobcats improved to 3-1 on the season while the Vikings fell to 2-2.
 
This was Peru State's first win over Mo Valley since the Bobcats joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2011.
 
First Quarter Highlights
 
The Bobcats had trouble moving the ball in the first quarter while Missouri Valley was able to put two scores on the board and led 14-0.
 
Second Quarter Highlights
 
The Vikings added their third touchdown of the game early in the second quarter and with 13:08 left in the first half, Mo Valley led 21-0.

 
On Mo Valley's second possession of the quarter, Rashad Baker (Tempe, Ariz.) recovered a fumble on Peru State's 38-yard line. On fourth and two, Tyler Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) found Nate Tromblee (Lincoln) for what would result in a 54-yard touchdown pass. With Greg Conry's (Harlan, Iowa) PAT, Peru State cut the deficit to 21-7 with 11:16 left in the half.
 
After the teams traded possessions, the Vikings scored again and led 28-7 with 4:55 remaining in the half.
 
When the Bobcats got the ball, on the second play of their possession, Audsley went 61 yards on a quarterback keeper to move the ball into the Viking red zone at the nine-yard line. After two short rush attempts, Audsley found Andrew Robinson (Imperial Beach, Calif.) for seven yards for touchdown. The PAT by Conry was good and it was now 28-14 Vikings with 2:04 left in the half.
 
Peru State was able to keep Mo Valley out of the end zone as the half ended as Neiman Sneed (Phoenix, Ariz.) tackled a Viking on the Bobcat one-yard line.
 
Third Quarter Highlights
 
A great kickoff return by Colton Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) of 49 yards put the Bobcats into MVC territory to start on the 47-yard line. However, a penalty and several rushing attempts forced a Bobcat punt.
 

On Mo Valley's first play of the second half, the Vikings fumbled and Matt O'Neill (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) recovered the ball on the Viking 31-yard line.
 
Peru State was able to at least get a field goal off the turnover as Conry hit it from 41 yards out. With 10:46 left in the third quarter, it was now MVC 28-17 over the 'Cats.
 
That would be the score at the end of the third quarter although the Bobcats were driving the ball down the field.
 
Fourth Quarter Highlights
 
The Bobcats had started their drive late in the third quarter on their 27-yard line. Four first downs rushing and one passing resulted in a one-yard quarterback keeper by Audsley to make the score 28-23. Peru State decided to go for two and Audsley found Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego, Calif.) on a two-yard pass. With 14:46 left in the game, the Bobcats now just trailed 28-25.
 
Missouri Valley's next possession ended when Darius Finley (Roanoke, Ala.) intercepted a Viking pass and returned it 21 yards to the Bobcats' 46-yard line.
 
After a short rush, Audsley carried the ball for 22 yards into MVC territory at the 31-yard line. On the next play, Audsley again found Tromblee for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Conry's PAT was good and the Bobcats led for the first time in the contest at 32-28 with 12 minutes left in the contest.

 
The Bobcat defense shut down the Vikings on their next possession and Peru State took over on their 39-yard line. Eight rush attempts later, Morrison-Smith took it in from 24 yards out. Again, Conry made his PAT and the 'Cats were now up 39-28 with 6:59 remaining.
 
Mo Valley did not quit, but on their next drive, after moving the ball down to Peru State's 19-yard line, Jordan Steffen (Murdock) came up with a big interception at the goal line. Steffen ran it back 49 yards and the Bobcats took over with 4:28 left.
 
The 'Cats could not move the ball and eventually gave the ball back to MVC on their 22-yard line. The Vikings did put together a drive which resulted in a touchdown. The two-point try failed and with 1:03 left in the game, Peru State still led 39-34.
 
The Bobcats were able to just kneel down twice and preserved the upset 39-34 victory.

MO VALLEY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
MVC totally dominated the overall statistics as they had 38 first downs compared to Peru State's 15. The total offense also was dominated by the Vikings as they finished the game with 684 yards – 453 through the air and 231 on the ground. The Bobcats finished with 366 yards of total offense with 231 coming on the ground and 133 in the air.
 
The big difference is that Peru State won the turnover game as they recovered three Viking fumbles and intercepted two passes, most of which resulted in points.
 
The Bobcats also controlled the ball as they had it for over 34 minutes.
 
Offensive Statistics
 

Tyler Audsley accounted for 255 of the Bobcats' 366 yards. Audsley finished with 122 net yards rushing and had 133 yards passing connecting on 7 of 11 attempts. Audsley had one touchdown rushing and threw three TD passes.
 
Tromblee received three of those passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Four other Bobcats each caught one pass.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Conry hit one field goal and made all of his PAT attempts. He also punted seven times averaging 39.7 per attempt.
 
Colton Audsley had three kickoff returns for a total of 102 yards with a long of 49 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Elijah Lavalais-Hawkins (Omaha) led all defensive players with nine total tackles – eight of which were solo. Lavalais-Hawkins also had one tackle for a loss of three yards and broke up one pass.
 
Logan Paben (Columbus) added eight tackles – seven solo and broke up one pass. Besides his interception, Finley also recovered a fumble, broke up two passes, and had six solo tackles. Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.) finished with five total tackles.
 
Steffen finished with four solo tackles and one interception. Baker had one sack, one fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles. O'Neill had the other fumble recovery.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will return home this weekend for a contest with 21^st-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.). The game will begin at 1 p.m. The Pioneers are presently 2-2 and will likely move up in the rankings having topped #18 Benedictine (Kan.) 41-17 at home on Saturday.
 
It is Hall of Fame weekend for Peru State with a banquet being held Friday night with the inductees also introduced at halftime of the football game.