(Peru, Neb.) – If you look at the statistics, they are nearly even and it shows Peru State football with a big time of possession lead. But, when you look closer, you notice five turnovers by the Bobcats which cost them in their efforts against the seventh-ranked Grand View Vikings on Saturday.
 
The Vikings won the game 31-21 over the 'Cats who were receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
 
Grand View is now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division. The Bobcats fell to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in the Heart North.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Peru State's defense forced a three-and-out on the Vikings' first possession and the 'Cats took over on their 38-yard line after the punt. After a first down rushing, Peru State was intercepted on Grand View's 22-yard line.

 
After one first down, the Bobcats forced another Viking punt and this time the 'Cats started on their 31-yard line. Peru State did manage to get two first downs rushing in their drive, but a holding penalty negated a good gain. Eventually, the 'Cats punted and Grand View would start their third possession on their own 10-yard line after an illegal block in the back penalty moved them back 12 yards.
 
The Bobcat defense rose to the challenge again and forced another punt. The 'Cats took over this time on their 41-yard line. On the first carry, a personal foul penalty was called on the Vikings which moved the ball into Grand View territory at the 45-yard line. A Carnahan pass to Jacob Coughlin (Omaha) was good for eight yards. Then after no gain on the next play, Carnahan called his own number and got a first down with four yards. With the ball at the 33-yard line of Vikings, Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego) got the hand off and went for 33 yards for the first touchdown of the game. The point after attempt (PAT) by Gabe Hoins (Papillion) was good and the Bobcats led 7-0 with 2:28 left in the first quarter.
 
The teams traded possessions which took the game into the second quarter.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
On Grand View's first possession in the second quarter, Dylan King (Vancouver, Wash.) forced a fumble which was recovered by Brandon Fletcher (Maxwell) at Grand View's 44-yard line giving the 'Cats good field possession.
 
Unfortunately for Peru State, on the very next play, the Vikings intercepted a Bobcat pass and took over on their 15-yard line. Once again, the Bobcat defense forced a three-and-out and did not allow Grand View to score on the turnover.

 
For the 'Cats on their first play of their possession, Larry Hodnett (Riverdale, Ga.) gained 11 yards rushing for a first down into Grand View territory at their 46-yard line. On the fifth play of the drive, an excellent run by Carnahan which moved the ball down to the Viking two-yard line was nullified with a chop block penalty and force the Bobcats to punt.
 
Grand View would mount a 14-play, 95 yard drive which resulted in a 20-yard field goal attempt which was good. With 4:02 left in the first half, Peru State led 7-3.
 
On Peru State's next possession, on the second play, the Bobcats fumbled and Grand View recovered on the Bobcats' 35-yard line. It only took one play as the Vikings connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass and with the PAT, Grand View went in front for good at 10-7 with 2:59 left in the second quarter.
 
Peru State could not do anything in their next possession and after a 34-yard punt return by Grand View, the Vikings would start their drive at Peru State's 42-yard line with 1:20 left in the half. The Vikings moved the ball down into the red zone and went for it with a fourth and three on Peru State's 10-yard line. The Viking pass was incomplete and Peru State stopped the drive.
 
The first half would end with Grand View leading 10-7.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
It was not until the second possession of the third quarter before Grand View would eventually score. The Vikings moved the ball 51 yards on 7 plays to score on a four-yard rushing touchdown. With the PAT, the Vikings led 17-17.
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Grand View would start a drive at the end of the third quarter and on their third play in the fourth quarter would score on a 17-yard touchdown pass. With the point after, the Vikings led 24-7 with 14:10 left in the game.
 
On Peru State's third play of their first drive in the fourth, a Bobcat pass was intercepted and returned to the Bobcat 26-yard line. A personal foul was called on the 'Cats which moved the ball to their 13-yard line. Three plays later, Grand View scored. With 12:30 left in the contest, the Vikings led 31-7.
 
After the teams traded possessions, Peru State took over with 7:14 left in the fourth on their 33-yard line. With Warren Johnson Jr. (Severn, Md.) in at quarterback, he called his own number and went six yards out to the Bobcat 39-yard line. After Morrison-Smith went two yards, Peru State called Morrison-Smith's number again and this time he broke up the middle and went 59 yards for a score. With Hoins' PAT, it was now Grand View 31 – Peru State 14.
 
The Bobcats pulled off the onside kick as Hoins got a good bounce which was recovered by Garrett Harring (Salem) at the Grand View 49-yard line.
 
Peru State moved the ball methodically down the field and 13 plays later, the 'Cats scored as Johnson Jr. on a quarterback keeper went one yard for the score. Hoin's PAT was good and it was now Grand View in the lead 31-21 with 41 seconds left in the game.

 
The 'Cats tried another onside kick, but Grand View recovered it. Two kneel downs later, the Vikings had picked up their seventh win of the season.

GRAND VIEW GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
Both teams had 18 first downs and were nearly equal in total yardage as Grand View finished with 354 total yards and Peru State had 353. The Bobcats did most of their damage on the ground as they had 334 yards rushing while the Vikings were nearly even as they had 176 yards rushing and 178 yards passing.
 
Peru State did lose two fumbles and had three interceptions and lost the turnover battle as Grand View only gave up one fumble. The Bobcats were whistled for eight penalties for 93 yards while the Vikings had four penalties for 48 yards.
 
The Bobcats had the time of possession edge as they had the ball for 35 minutes compared to 24 plus for the Vikings.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Morrison-Smith led all rushers with 137 total yards on 15 carries while having two touchdowns. James Sluka (Milligan) gained 56 yards on three carries.
 
Carnahan was 2 of 7 passing for 15 yards and had two interceptions. Johnson, Jr. went 1 for 5 for four yards. Coughlin's only toss was intercepted.
 
Coughlin did catch all three passes for 19 yards.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Hoins punted six times and averaged 37.7 yards per punt. He had one inside the 20-yard line.
 
Trey Carr (Omaha) had three punt returns for eight yards and one kickoff return for 23 yards. Hodnett had three kickoff returns for 68 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Chris Johnson (Phoenix) finished with a game-high 11 tackles – three solo and added 0.5 tackles for a loss of 0.5 yards and had one pass break-up. Fletcher and Gunnar Orcutt (Omaha) each finished with eight tackles – each with four solo. Fletcher was credited with a fumble recovery while Orcutt had 1.5 tackles for losses of 2.5 yards.
 
Rashad Baker (Tempe, Ariz.) finished with seven tackles – two solo and added 0.5 tackles for a loss of 0.5 yards. Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.) added six tackles – three solo while Mamoudou Drame (Aubersville, France) finished with five tackles – three solo.
 
Stephen Bowers (LaVista) had one tackles for a loss of four yards while Darius Finley (Roanoke, Ala.) had a tackle for a loss of one yard.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will be traveling to Lamoni, Iowa, next week to take on Graceland University at 11 a.m. as the Bobcats will part of the ESPN3 games in consecutive weeks. Presently, the Yellowjackets are 3-5 overall and 1-1 in the Heart North after upsetting 19^th-ranked Benedictine (Kan.) on Graceland's home field on Saturday.