(Peru, Neb.) – The Missouri Valley Vikings held Peru State out of the end zone in the second half while scoring 14 points to take a 21-17 victory in a Heart of America Athletic Conference match-up. The 16^th-ranked Vikings improved to 4-0 while the 'Cats, who were receiving votes this past week, falls to 3-1.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Peru State took the ball first only to see the Vikings force a three-and-out. Then, eight plays later, Mo Valley scored and went ahead 7-0 with 10:07 left in the quarter.
 
After AJ Flodman (Hickman) brought the kick-off back 14 yards, the 'Cats started their second possession on their 15-yard line. After a one-yard carry, Bobcat quarterback Travis Carnahan (Wahoo) scrambled for 53 yards for a first down to the Vikings' 31-yard line. Two back-to-back carries by Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego) resulted in a first down at Mo Valley's 20-yard line. Carnahan carried for five yards and then Morrison-Smith went for eight yards for another Bobcat first down. On the seventh play of the drive, Carnahan took it in from seven yards out for a touchdown. Gabe Hoins' (Papillion) point after attempt was good and the game was tied at 7-7 with 6:24 left in the quarter.

 
Later in the quarter, Peru State took over on their own 26-yard line after fair catching a punt. After an incomplete pass, Larry Hodnett (Riverdale, Ga.) took the pitch from Carnahan and went 74 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was good by Hoins and the 'Cats led 14-7 which is the way the quarter ended.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Peru State had a sustained drive to start the second quarter which ended up stalling on Mo Valley's 25-yard line.
 
The Bobcat defense stymied the Vikings for most of the second quarter. On Mo Valley's final drive of the quarter, they punted and Peru State started in the Vikings' territory at the 47-yard line. After a rushing first down, Carnahan found Hodnett for a 29-yard pass play to move to Mo Valley's seven-yard line. Peru State was not able to punch it in for a touchdown, but Hoins did kick a 20-yard field goal as time expired.
 
At the end of the first half, Peru State led 17-7.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
After the teams traded three-and-outs, Missouri Valley started their second drive of the second half at their 34-yard line. After a short gain on the ground, the Vikings connected on a 41-yard pass play which moved the ball into Peru State territory at the Bobcats' 23-yard line. After two rushes resulted in a first down at Peru State's seven-yard line, the Vikings scored with a touchdown pass. The PAT was good and Mo Valley now trailed 17-14 with 8:56 left in the third quarter.

 
With 4:06 left in the quarter, the Vikings started a drive which would take them into the fourth quarter still trailing 17-14.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Two plays into the fourth, the Vikings scored. With the PAT, Mo Valley now led 21-17 with 14:37 left in the game.
 
After a touchback, Peru State started on their 25-yard line for their first possession in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats put together a methodical which had three first downs rushing which moved the ball Mo Valley territory at the 29-yard line. On a fourth and eight, Carnahan found Jacob Coughlin (Omaha) for a 13-yard catch and the 'Cats were still alive at the Vikings' 16-yard line. Mo Valley's defense stiffened and Peru State failed to covert and gave the ball back to the Vikings eventually on the nine-yard line. The drive had taken over nine minutes off the clock.
 
The Bobcats would force a three-and-out on the Vikings and would take over eventually on their 40-yard line.
 
Peru State would get a 17-yard run by Justin Haystrand (New Port Richey, Fla.) to start the drive which put the ball into Viking territory at the 43-yard line. After a first-down rushing, the Vikings were called for a penalty which put the ball down into the red zone at the 16-yard line. A penalty on the 'Cats moved the ball back. Again, Mo Valley's defense stiffened and held the Bobcats from scoring.
 
Missouri Valley had to kneel down twice and held on for the 21-17 win.

MISSOURI VALLEY GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Statistically, the Bobcats outdid Missouri Valley in most facets with the exception of the final score. Peru State had 18 first downs while the Vikings finished with 13. The Bobcats finished with 387 total yards of offense included 334 yards on the ground while Mo Valley had 254 total yards, 160 of which was through the air.
 
It was a much cleaner game flag-wise for both teams as Peru State was whistled for just two penalties for 15 yards while Mo Valley had five penalties for 35 yards.
 
The Bobcats had the ball for over 36 minutes in the game.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Two Bobcats finished with over 120 yards. Hodnett gained 121 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown while Carnahan added 120 yards on 17 carries and also had one touchdown. Morrison-Smith finished with 85 hard yards on 22 carries.
 
Carnahan was 7 of 10 passing for 53 yards. Hodnett caught four of those passes for 40 yards with Coughlin nabbing two passes for 14 yards.
 
Special Teams Statistics
 

Hoins punted six times for 246 yards and had two punts within the 20-yard line. He also hit one field goal for 20 yards.
 
Hodnett had one kick-off return of 22 yards while Flodman had one for 14 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Elijah Lavalais-Hawkins (Omaha) led the Bobcats with 11 tackles with four solo. Lavalais-Hawkins also added one tackle for a loss of three yards. Rashad Baker (Tempe, Ariz.) and Mamoudou Drame (Aubersville, France) each had six tackles – two solo.
 
Chris Johnson (Phoenix) finished with five tackles – three solo and added two sacks for a loss of 18 yards. Gunnar Orcutt (Omaha) had five tackles – one solo.
 
Darius Finley (Roanoke, Ala.) finished the game with three tackles, but added an interception which thwarted one of the Viking drives. He also had one pass break-up. Matt O'Neill (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) also had two tackles and added one tackle for a loss of two yards.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will travel to Olathe, Kan., next Saturday to face the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers. Both teams will take 3-1 records into the fray as both lost on Saturday. The Pioneers, ranked 18^th last week, lost at #15 Benedictine on Saturday 24-14. Last year, the Bobcats won 24-20 at home.