(Peru, Neb.) – If you are a football fan who loves offense and you were at the Peru State homecoming football game on Saturday, you got your wish!
 
Peru State defeated Graceland 55-34 in a match-up that produced nearly 1,000 yards of offense – 986 to be exact!
 
More importantly, the Bobcats improved to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. The Yellowjackets fell to 1-8 on the season and are 0-3 in conference play.
 
With the win, Peru State assured itself of a winning season – just its fourth out of the past ten seasons.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Graceland had the ball first and the Bobcats allowed them one first down before forcing a Yellowjacket punt. Peru State took over on their 31-yard line for their first possession.

 
After two short gains, Justin Haystrand (New Port Richey, Fla.) rushed for seven yards for the first down. On the next play Travis Carnahan (Wahoo) found AJ Flodman (Hickman) for 34 yards through the air to move the ball to Graceland's 22-yard line. Carnahan then ran twice to gain a first own to the Yellowjacket ten-yard line. With 9:33 on the clock, Sean Van Briesen (Papillion) took the ball to the end zone for the first score of the game. John Brady's kick was good and Peru State led 7-0.
 
The Yellowjackets took the kickoff back 31 yards to their 37-yard line. Three plays later, Graceland scored from 43 yards out. Their PAT was good and it was tied 7-7 with 8:16 left in the first quarter.
 
The teams would trade possessions the rest of the first quarter as it ended knotted at 7-7.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
With the possession the Bobcats had at the end of the quarter, they moved it down to the Graceland seven-yard line before their drive stalled. The field goal try was blocked and the score remained 7-7.
 
The Bobcat defense forced a three-and-out on Graceland's next possession and took over on their own 44-yard line. After two plays only netted three yards, the Yellowjackets were flagged for pass interference on third down moving the ball into their territory at the 38-yard line. Carnahan then went 11 yards for another first down. Van Briesen followed with a gain of 13 yards and Peru State was again in the Yellowjacket red zone. Carnahan carried the ball for seven yards before Mason Smith (Grain Valley, Mo.) went two yards down to the five-yard line. Carnahan would get two yards for a first down. After no gain on the first and three, Derren Pass (Naples, Fla.) went in from three yards out. Brady's PAT was good and Peru State led 14-7 with 7:27 left in the first half.
 
On Graceland's next possession, the Yellowjackets threw the ball seven times and ran once on their way to a score. The eight-play drive went 71 yards in 2:27 to tie the game at 14-14.
 
Peru State came right back as they started their drive on their 39-yard line. Smith had consecutive carries of 11 and 25 yards and the 'Cats were at the Graceland 25-yard line. Carnahan went nine yards to move the ball into the red zone at the 16-yard line. Van Briesen gained three yards for a first down to the 13-yard line. Pass went five yards and then Van Briesen scored from eight yards out with 2:44 on the clock. Brady's PAT was good and the Bobcats were back on top 21-14.
 
The Yellowjackets then put together a nine-play, 73-yard drive that only took 2:10 off the clock. The PAT was blocked so Peru State maintained its lead at 21-20.

 
With 34 seconds on the clock, the Bobcats decided to see what they could do after Flodman had returned the kickoff 48 yards to Graceland's 47-yard line. Carnahan found Haystrand for an 18-yard gain down to the 29-yard line. Then, Carnahan hit Jake Coughlin (Omaha) for six yards before calling a timeout. On the next play, Van Briesen carried the ball into the end zone from 23 yards out for another score. Brady's PAT was good and it was now Peru State 28 Graceland 20.
 
Graceland had one play before the second quarter ended with the Bobcats leading.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
As the Yellowjackets had personal foul to end the second quarter, the kickoff came from their 20-yard line. Graceland then kicked it out of bounds and Peru State started their drive on the 50-yard line. Van Briesen had a gain of three yards and then Carnahan went 15 yards for the first down. On the next play, Carnahan scored from 32 yards out. The PAT was not good and Peru State now led 34-20 with 13:47 left in the third quarter.
 
Graceland would then put together an eight-play, 64-yard drive which was aided by a Peru State unsportsmanlike conduct to score. Their PAT was good and with 11:20 left in the third stanza, the 'Cats lead had been trimmed to just seven at 34-27.
 
The quarter would eventually end at that same score with Graceland having the ball.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Yellowjackets had run three plays to end the third quarter and then would continue on their longest drive of the game to score after 13 plays and 80 yards. With the point after, Graceland had tied the game at 34-34 with 12:15 left on the clock.
 
With back-up quarterback Dan Boshart (Wood River) at the helm, Peru State was back in action. After two short gains by the quarterback, Boshart called his number again and went 37 yards down to the Graceland seven-yard line. On the next play, Van Briesen scored his fourth touchdown of the game. Brady's kick was good and Peru State led 41-34 with 10:17 remaining in the contest.
 
The Bobcat defense kept Graceland from scoring on their next possession. The Yellowjackets went on a fourth and ten at Peru State's 48-yard line and their pass attempt was incomplete.
 
After two short gains, Boshart ran for 35 yards down to Graceland's ten-yard line. After a penalty on the 'Cats, Boshart went into the end zone from 17 yards out. Again, Brady's PAT was good and the Bobcats now led 48-34 with 7:13 left in the game.
 
On Graceland's first play of their next possession, Madarius Adams (Lakeland, Fla.) intercepted the Yellowjacket pass and the Bobcats took over on their 45-yard line.  
After a five-yard carry by Boshart, Graceland was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct which moved the ball down to the Yellowjacket 35-yard line. Van Briesen went for seven yards and Boshart carried for another ten yards which was followed by another 'Jacket penalty. Peru State would now be at the Graceland nine-yard line. After Boshart went for three yards, Van Briesen would get the ball to the goal line before being stopped just short. But, on the next play Van Briesen got his fifth touchdown of the game. Brady's kick was good and Peru State led by 21 at 55-34 with 3:28 left in the game.
 
Graceland's last drive stalled at the 35-yard line and the Bobcats would run the ball out for the win.

GRACELAND GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
The Bobcats led in almost every statistical category with the exception of passing which was expected. Peru State finished with 30 first downs compared to 23 for the Yellowjackets. The 'Cats finished with 467 yards rushing – their highest total of the season. Peru State added 137 yards passing for a total of 604 yards. Graceland had 94 yards on the ground and 288 in the air for 382 total yards.
 
Peru State had one fumble and lost it but tied the turnover aspect with an interception.
 
Graceland was flagged for seven penalties for 77 yards while the Bobcats had eight penalties for 95 yards.
The Bobcats maintained the ball for over 40 minutes which was a key to the game.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished with over 100 yards rushing and were led by Boshart who finished with 157 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. Van Briesen added 137 yards on 23 carries and had five touchdowns. Carnahan had 105 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Pass added the other touchdown.
 
Van Briesen's five touchdowns in a game were one shy of the record set of six touchdowns by Peru State Hall of Famer Alvin Holder in 1980.
 
Carnahan was four of six through the air for 105 yards. Boshart was a perfect three of three of 32 yards.
 
Coughlin caught three passes for 11 yards with Haystrand grabbing two for 45 yards. Pass had one catch of 47 yards and Flodman added one for 34 yards.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Alec McClendon (Pampa, Texas) only punted once for 35 yards, but it pinned Graceland deep inside their 20-yard line.
 
Flodman had one punt return for six yards and two kick-off returns for 68 yards. Ki'Jana Owens (North Platte) had two kick-off returns for 67 yards. Tommy Hope (Ridgecrest, Calif.) had one kick-off for 12 yards.
 
Brady had nine kickoffs for a total of 497 yards while averaging 55.2 yards per kick.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Justin Barnes (Tallahassee, Fla.) led the Bobcat defense with 11 tackles – four of which were solo. Michael Bullard (Nassau, Bahamas) added nine tackles – five solo.
 
In addition to his interception, Adams had five tackles – one solo, and broke up two passes.

 
Victor Hubbard (Corinth, Texas), Brant Therkelsen (Omaha), Collin Weingaertner (Omaha), Ismael Riggins (Sulligent, Ala.), and Gunnar Orcutt (Omaha) each finished with four tackles. Hubbard, Therkelsen, and Weingaertner each had two solo tackles. Hubbard also broke up a pass. Therkelsen was credited for a sack of seven yards while Riggins had a sack for a ten-yard loss. Stephen Bowers (Papillion) also added a sack for a loss of five yards while Cameron Schlender (Kearney) added a tackle for a loss of a yard.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will on the road next week when they will travel to Canton, Mo., to face Culver-Stockton at 1 p.m. The Wildcats are winless on the season at 0-9.
 
The Bobcats' final regular-season game will be at home on Nov. 11 when they host Benedictine at 1 p.m. for Senior Day. Currently, the Ravens are 8-1 overall and are 3-0 in the Heart North. Besides Senior Day, Peru State will be hosting a Veterans' Day program during the game.