(Peru, Neb.) – The third-ranked Baker (Kan.) Wildcats showed the Peru State alumni, fans, and friends why they were deserving of the ranking in the most recent NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Wildcats defeated the 22^nd-ranked Bobcats 42-21 on Saturday as Peru State celebrated its Homecoming.
 
However, the Bobcats did score the second-most points on Baker so far this season.
 
Baker is now 6-0 on the year while the Bobcats fell to 4-2.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats won the toss and deferred to the second half. On Baker's first possession, Peru State's defense forced a three-and-out.

 
Peru State took over on its 19-yard line after the punt. Travis Carnahan (Wahoo) found Jacob Coughlin (Omaha) for 11 yards and a first down. After no gain on a rushing attempt, Carnahan went for three before handing off to Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego) who went for eight yards and another first down. The Bobcats would get their next first down thanks to an offside penalty on the Wildcats which put them into Baker territory at the 48-yard line. A short gain, was followed by a Bobcat false start. Then, on the next play, Peru State fumbled and it was recovered by the Wildcats on the Bobcat 39-yard line.
 
The Wildcats would make Peru State pay for the mistake as six plays later the Wildcats scored on a five-yard run. After the PAT was good, Baker led 7-0 with 7:45 left in the first quarter.
 
Peru State only managed one first down in their next possession before turning it back to Baker. On the second play of the Wildcat possession, Darius Finley (Roanoke, Ala.) intercepted a Baker pass at the Baker 44-yard line. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Bobcats moved it back to Peru State's 41-yard line. The Bobcats were not able to get anything going and had to punt.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
While the Wildcats managed a first down in their next possession, Peru State did force a Wildcat punt and started their first drive in the second quarter on their 17-yard line.
 
Peru State had three rush plays which brought up a fourth and one. The Bobcats' coaching staff decided to gamble and gamble did not pay off. Baker held Peru State for no gain and took over on the Bobcats' 26-yard line. Two pass plays later, the Wildcats were down to Peru State's four-yard line. It took the Wildcats three plays to score and with the PAT, Baker led 14-0 with 10:53 remaining in the first half.

 
After Mamoudou Drame (Aubersville, France) returned the kick-off for 16 yards, Peru State started on their 21-yard line. Coughlin took a reverse for 22 yards moving the ball out to their 43-yard line. The Bobcats could not get anything else going and they were forced to punt.
 
The Wildcats took over on their 27-yard line. With a mainly passing offense, Baker moved the ball down the field. After nine plays and 73 yards, the Wildcats scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass. With the PAT, the Wildcats led 21-0 with 5:29 left in the second quarter.
 
Peru State started their next drive on their 30-yard line. The Bobcats were aided by two personal fouls called on Baker and moved into Wildcat territory at the 37-yard line. Later in the drive, Peru State was intercepted and the Wildcats took over on their 34-yard line.
 
Baker did move the ball on Peru State and was on the Bobcat 11-yard line. After a holding penalty moved the Wildcats back ten yards, the next Wildcat pass attempt was intercepted by Trey Carr (Omaha) in the end zone for a touchback.
 
With just 17 ticks on the clock before halftime, the Bobcats just took a knee and trailed 21-0 at the half.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Drame returned the kick-off 15 yards and the Bobcats started on their 16-yard line. After a short gain, James Sluka (Milligan) carried the ball for ten yards to give Peru State a first down. Carnahan then found Justin Haystrand (New Port Richey, Fla.) for ten yards and another first down on the Bobcats' 38-yard line. After a one-yard gain, Coughlin took the reverse and went down the side line for 61 yards and Peru State's first touchdown. Gabe Hoins (Papillion) hit the point after and with 12:22 left in the third quarter, the Bobcats trailed Baker 21-7.
 
On the Wildcats' next possession, they moved the ball down the field in six plays for 62 yards and scored on a 43-yard pass play. With the PAT, Baker led 28-7 with 9:14 to go in the quarter.

 
Peru State would come back and answer the Baker score on their next possession. The Bobcats would get excellent field position as the Wildcats had to kick from their 15-yard line after a delay of game penalty on their previous score. Carr took the kick-off back 23 yards allowing Peru State to start their drive on their 48-yard line.
 
The Bobcats had three short rushing gains and were facing a fourth and one. Morrison-Smith got the one yard for the first down to keep the drive going. Carnahan scampered nine yards and on the next play Morrison-Smith went for ten yards down to Baker's 33-yard line. After a loss of three yards and then an incomplete pass, Carnahan passed to Morrison-Smith who gained 12 yards on the play. Again, the Bobcats were facing a fourth and one and Morrison-Smith came through – this time for two yards. On third and ten, Carnahan found Sluka in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass. Hoins' point after was good and it was now Baker 28 – Peru State 14 with 3:07 left in the quarter.
 
That would be the end of the scoring in the third quarter as the Wildcats had one drive that stalled and Peru State started a drive that ended at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
After taking over after a punt, the Wildcats only needed one play to put another touchdown on the board as they completed a 44-yard touchdown pass. With the PAT, Baker led 35-14 with 14:46 left in the game.
 
After Sean Van Briesen (Papillion) went for seven on a third and seven for Peru State, on the next play, the Bobcats fumbled and Baker took over on the Bobcats' 32-yard line. It did take the Wildcats longer to score this time as they went seven plays and scored with a quarterback keeper. After the PAT, Baker led 42-14 with 11:05 left in the game.
 
On Peru State's next possession, they did manage a first down as Morrison-Smith carried the ball for 11 yards and moved into Baker's territory at the 49-yard line. Later in the drive, the Bobcats suffered an interception and the Wildcats took over on their 40-yard line.
 
The Bobcats did stop the Baker drive forcing a 48-yard field goal by the Wildcats which was wide right. Peru State then took over on their 30-yard line for what would be their final drive of the game.
 
Carnahan would start the drive with a seven-yard scramble which was followed by an incomplete pass. Alex Coffman (Dunning) would go for seven yards giving the Bobcats at first down on their 44-yard line. A new quarterback for Peru State, Warren Johnson Jr. (Severn, Md.) then found Van Briesen for a 25-yard pass play moving the ball to Baker's 31-yard line. However, the Bobcats were called for holding and the ball went back to the Wildcat 41-yard line. After a five-yard gain by Johnson Jr., the Wildcats came up with a one-yard rushing loss for Peru State. Then, Johnson Jr. again went to the air, this time to Deshawn Phelps (Austin, Texas) and was good for 24 yards down to Baker's seven-yard line. Two rushes resulted in no yards, but Johnson Jr. found Coughlin in the end zone for seven yards. Hoins PAT was good and it was now Baker 42 Peru State 21.

 
After two rush plays by Baker, the Wildcats did run out the clock with a kneel down and left the Oak Bowl with their sixth-straight victory of the 2016 season.

BAKER GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The first downs were nearly even as Peru State actually had one more 22 compared to Baker's 21. However, the Wildcats had the total yardage advantage as they finished the game with 442 total yards while the Bobcats finished with 340. Baker had 332 of their yards through the air while Peru State gained 239 of theirs on the ground.
 
The Wildcats won the turnover battle as both teams had two interceptions, but Peru State lost two of three fumbles.
 
Peru State did control the time of possession as they had the ball for over 37 minutes which did help keep Baker's offense off the field.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Coughlin led the rushing offense with 90 yards on three carries with one touchdown. Morrison-Smith added 54 yards on 16 carries.
 
Johnson Jr. went three of five passing for 56 yards and one touchdown while Carnahan was four of nine for 45 yards and one touchdown.
 
Six different Bobcats caught passes. Coughlin caught two passes for 18 yards and one touchdown. Van Briesen, Phelps, Sluka, Morrison-Smith, and Haystrand each caught a pass which was for more than ten yards. Sluka's reception was good for a touchdown.
 
Special Teams Statistics
 
Hoins punted four times averaging 36.3 yards and had one touchback.
 
Carr had one punt return for eight yards and one kick-off return for 23 yards. Drame had two kick-off returns for 31 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.) had his best game in a Peru State uniform as he finished with 12 tackles – seven of which were solo. Barnes also had a 1.5 tackles for losses of four yards and also broke up a pass.
 
Brandon Fletcher (Maxwell) and Drame each finished with eight tackles – Fletcher with four solo and Drame with three solo. Drame was also credited with 0.5 tackle for a loss of one yard. Collin Weingaertner (Omaha) added six tackles – two solo and had a tackle for a loss of one yard.
 
Chris Johnson (Phoenix) and Rashad Baker-Walker (Tempe, Ariz.) each had five tackles. Johnson had two solo while Baker-Walker had one. Baker-Walker added one sack for six yards and broke up three passes.
 
Carr and Finley each had one interception.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Most of the Heart teams have a bye week and will not return to action until Oct. 15. Peru State will travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to take on William Penn. The Statesmen are 3-3 after having won their last two games. On Saturday, William Penn defeated Avila (Mo.) 65-30. Earlier in the season, the Bobcats held on for a 30-28 win over the Eagles.