(Peru, Neb.) – The monkey is off the back of the Bobcat football team as they broke a four-game losing streak in games with Evangel (Mo.) Saturday night. Peru State had fallen the last four times in what were all winnable contests.
 
In an outstanding evening in the Oak Bowl, the 'Cats defeated the Crusaders 42-10 to improve to 2-0 in the 2016 season. Evangel fell to 0-2.

 
First Quarter Action
 
Evangel took the opening kickoff and did move the ball down the field before the Bobcat defense stopped the Crusaders on Peru State's 34-yard line. Evangel punted and the 'Cats took over on their 15-yard line.
 
A pitch from Travis Carnahan (Wahoo) to Colton Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) went for 16 yards and a Bobcat first down. Six plays later, all rushing, Larry Hodnett (Riverdale, Ga.) scampered into the end zone from 18 yards out. Gabe Hoins' point after try was good and the Bobcats led 7-0 with 7:10 left in the first quarter.
 
Peru State forced a three and out on Evangel's next possession. The Bobcats moved the ball down to the Crusaders' 27-yard line where their drive stalled. A 44-yard field goal attempt by Hoins was wide right.
 
The first quarter would later end with Peru State leading 7-0.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Evangel had the ball for nine plays and did pick up a couple of first downs, but stalled with the Crusaders being forced to punt. Bobcat Trey Carr (Omaha) took the punt on his 21-yard line and returned it 53 yards into Evangel territory to the 26-yard line.
 
On the very next play, Eric Morrison-Smith (San Diego) took a hand-off up the middle for a score. Hoins' kick was good and Peru State led 14-0 with 11:52 remaining in the first half.

 
Both teams' defenses stiffened as the teams traded a couple of possessions. With 5:01 left in the half, Evangel picked up a Bobcat fumble on Peru State's 15-yard line. Three passes later, the Crusaders scored. After their PAT was good, Evangel trailed the 'Cats 14-7 with 4:44 left in the half.
 
Hodnett took the kickoff back 46 yards to Evangel's 47-yard line. After a first down with an Evangel penalty, Morrison-Smith took the ball down to the 11-yard line with a 13-yard run. Morrison-Smith then went eight yards and three yards to score for the Bobcats. The PAT by Hoins was good and with 2:15 left in the half, Peru State led 21-7.
 
The 'Cats had another opportunity to score before the half ended, but a fumble at Evangel's one-yard line was recovered by the Crusaders thwarting Peru State's potential scoring.
 
The second quarter ended with the 'Cats leading 21-7.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Peru State would put together an 11-play, 96-yard drive to start the third quarter. Carnahan would go in from 15 yards out and with Hoins' PAT, the Bobcats now led 28-7 with 8:59 left in the third quarter.
 
After Peru State's defense forced a three-and-out, Darius Finley (Roanoke, Ala.) returned a punt 16 yards and the 'Cats started their next possession on their 46-yard line. Carnahan would start the drive with a 33-yard pass to Audsley. Sean Van Briesen (LaVista) would then carry the ball for 11 yards for another first down and on the next play, Van Briesen would take it into the end zone for a ten-yard score. The PAT by Hoins was good and the Bobcats now led 35-7 with 6:32 left in the third.
 
And that was how the quarter ended.

 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Evangel did start a drive in the third quarter which would eventually results in a 35-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter. With 14:14 left in the game, the Crusaders trailed 35-10.
 
On Peru State's next possession, David Bond (New Port Richey, Fla.) took the ball on a reverse and went 64 yards down the field. However, a field goal attempt was this time wide left and the Crusaders regained possession.
 
Evangel did get a couple of first downs in their next drive, but were still forced to punt. The 'Cats took over on their 35-yard line. On the third play of this possession, Carnahan found Audsley who went 37 yards down to the Crusader 22-yard line. After four-yard gain by Van Briesen, Justin Haystrand (New Port Richey, Fla.) had his first carry of the game and went seven yards for a first down. After no gain, Carnahan found Haystrand who took it to the end zone from 11 yards out. Hoins' was good again with his PAT and the Bobcats led 42-7.
 
That would be the final scoring of the game as Peru State's defense did keep the Crusaders from scoring on their last two drives.

EVANGEL GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats outgained Evangel as they finished with 497 total yards compared to the Crusaders' 318 total yards. Peru State was one yard shy of 400 yards rushing while adding 98 through the air. Evangel was pretty balanced with 143 on the ground and 175 in the air.

 
Peru State finished with 24 first downs compared to Evangel's 16.
 
While the 'Cats won the game, Evangel won the turnover battle as the Bobcat lost two fumbles with the Crusaders coughing up one fumble.
 
The Bobcats had over an eight-minute time of possession as they had the ball for 34:03 minutes.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Five Bobcats finished with more than 50 yards on the ground. Morrison-Smith led the team with 86 yards and two touchdowns. Audsley added 65 yards while Bond finished with 64 yards on one carry. Hodnett added 59 yards with Jacob Coughlin (Omaha) adding 56 yards, also on one carry.
 
Hodnett, Carnahan, and Van Briesen each had one rushing touchdown.
 
Through the air, Carnahan was five of six for 98 yards and one touchdown pass.
 
Audsley caught three of the five passes for 80 yards. Haystrand had one reception for 11 yards and a touchdown. Coughlin caught the other pass.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Hoins punted three times with an average of 38 yards.
 
Finley had one punt return for 16 yards while Carr had one for 53 yards. Hodnett had one kickoff return for 46 yards with Audsley adding one return for 25 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Mamoudou Drame (Aubersville, France) led the Bobcats defensively with six solo tackles and one pass break-up. Ismael Calvillo (Tucson, Ariz.) also had six tackles – three of which were solo.
 

Carr, Brandon Fletcher (Maxwell), and Collin Weingaertner (Omaha) each finished with five total tackles. Carr and Fletcher each had three solo tackles while Weingaertner had two solo. Carr had one tackle for a loss of five yards and three pass break-ups. Fletcher recovered the Evangel fumble.
 
Stephen Bowers (LaVista), Gunnar Orcutt (Omaha), Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.), Chris Johnson (Phoenix), and Rashad Baker (Tempe, Ariz.) all had sacks. Bowers had one sack for a loss of five yards while Orcutt's sack was for a loss of nine yards. Barnes finished with two sacks for a total loss of 20 yards. Johnson and Baker were credited with one-half of a sack each for a loss of one yard.
 
Finley had a tackle for a loss of two yards, broke up one pass, and forced the Evangel fumble.

Michael Bullard (Rabun Gap, Ga.) and Mardarius Adams (Lakeland, Fla.) each were credited for two pass break-ups.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will be traveling to Kansas City, Mo., to face another Heart foe from the Heart South Division when they take on the Avila University Eagles. Avila has dropped their first two contests – Saturday to Benedictine (Kan.) 58-6 and to Graceland (Iowa) 16-9 in the first week of play. Game time is scheduled for 12 noon.