(Peru, Neb.) – Seventeen unanswered points by the Culver-Stockton (C-SC) football team was just enough as the Wildcats spoiled the Peru State Senior Day by winning 38-35 in the Oak Bowl Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, the Wildcats improved to 3-7 overall and 1-3 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. Peru State fell to the exact same marks.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Culver-Stockton got the first kick-off and methodically moved the ball down the field on Peru State. The Wildcats took 15 plays and went 74 yards to go up 7-0 with 9:06 left in the first quarter.
 
Peru State took over on their 25-yard line after the fair catch. Dan Boshart (Wood River) started the Bobcats' first drive with two runs resulting in a first down. After a loss on a rushing play, Boshart found Austin Connot (Allen) for a nine-yard gain making it third and two. Boshart then again kept the ball and ran seven yards for the second first down to the C-SC 45-yard line. A Boshart pass to Colton Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) for eight yards setting up a second and two. A loss on third down made it third and five and once again, Boshart carried for the first down – this time for six yards to the 34-yard line of the Wildcats. Two more carries in a row by Boshart – the first 19 yards and the second 11 yards – moved the ball to the C-SC four-yard line. Audsley would take the pitch from Boshart into the end zone for Peru State's first score. The PAT by John Brady (Hickman) was good and the game was tied 7-7 with 3:51 left in the first quarter.
The Bobcats forced a three and out and took over on their 30-yard line with 1:38 left in the quarter. After a sack, Bryson Duncan (Hamburg, Iowa) carried for six yards. This was followed by a 41-yard rush by DeOndrae Mayo (Ocala, Fla.) which moved the ball into Wildcat territory at the 28-yard line. Boshart carried the ball for 16 yards and the first quarter ended 7-7 with Peru State into the red zone at the Wildcat 12-yard line.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
Mayo would gain one yard on first and ten with Audsley then taking the pitch for 11 yards into the end zone to give the Bobcats the lead. Brady's PAT was good and Peru State led 14-7 with 14:19 left in the first half.
 
Culver-Stockton would be called for a block in the back on the kickoff and would start their drive on their 12-yard line. On the second play of their possession, Jordan Willis (Denver) picked off the pass and went into the end zone for the Bobcat score. Again, Brady's PAT was good and Peru State now led by 14 at 21-7 with 14:08 left in the second quarter.
 
The pick six did not faze the Wildcats as they put together a nine-play, 78-yard drive to score. With 10:09 left in the first half, Peru State now led 21-14.
 
After neither team moved the ball on their next respective possessions, Peru State took over on their 30-yard line. After gaining a first down, on the Bobcats second and four play, Peru State fumbled and C-SC took over at the Bobcats' 41-yard line. It only took one pass play for Culver-Stockton to tie it at 21-21.
 
The Bobcats would start their next possession on their 38-yard line after the kick-off. Mayo would carry the ball for 27 yards and then Audsley went for 13 yards and suddenly the Bobcats were at the Culver-Stockton 22-yard line. Peru State would eventually move the ball down to the Wildcats' two-yard line after an eight-yard carry by Duncan. A personal foul would give the Bobcats a first and goal at the one-yard line. It would take Boshart two plays to score, but he did and after Brady's kick was good, Peru State was up 28-21 which would be the score at halftime.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Peru State had deferred after the coin toss to get the second-half kickoff. That proved to be the right decision as Mitchell Orr (Smithville, Mo.) went 84 yards for a kickoff return. Brady's kick was good and once again, the Bobcats would be up by 14 points at 35-21.
 
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they would not be able to score any more in the game.
 
It would be on Culver-Stockton's second possession of the second half that they would go 63 yards in five plays to score. After the PAT was good, it was now Peru State 35 – Culver-Stockton 28 with approximately 7 minutes to go in the half.
 
The Bobcats would move the ball down the field in their final possession of the third quarter, but the Wildcats would hold on fourth and one. Culver-Stockton would take over with seconds remaining in the third quarter trailing 35-28.
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Peru State's defense did force a punt by the Wildcats, but the Bobcats fumbled and it was recovered by the Wildcats at the Peru State eight-yard line. It took Culver-Stockton four plays to score and with the PAT, the game was all tied up at 35-35 with 11:25 to go in the game.
 
Two penalties on the Bobcats were followed by an onside kick by the Wildcats who recovered the ball on Peru State's 24-yard line. Culver-Stockton would move the ball down to the Bobcats' two-yard line, but the Peru State defense forced a field goals which was good by the Wildcats. C-SC would have their second lead of the game at 38-35 with more than nine minutes left on the clock.
 
The teams would trade possessions before the Bobcats would start what would be their final drive of the game on their 11-yard line with 5:36 left on the clock. On third and five, Boshart went for 30 yards to keep the drive alive. Then, on fourth and four, Mayo went for five yards and Peru State was now on the Culver-Stockton 43-yard line. Two plays later, it was third and 16. Boshart was able to find Jeremy Kalekini (Brigham City, Utah) for 12 yards to make it fourth and four. Mayo's carry went for three yards and was one yard short giving Culver-Stockton the ball with just 1:38 left on the clock. Three carries later, the Wildcats had pulled out the 38-35 win.
 
Team Statistics
 
As was the final score, the overall team statistics were close as well. Peru State did have a slight advantage in first downs finishing with 21 compared to 18 for Culver-Stockton. However, the Wildcats finished with 402 total yards while the Bobcats had 395. C-SC was more balanced in their total yards as they had 172 yards rushing and 230 passing while the Bobcats picked up 333 yards on the ground and only 62 yards in the air.
 
Peru State last the turnover battle as they gave up two fumbles but did get an interception.
 
Culver-Stockton was penalized eight times for 76 yards while the Bobcats were flagged six times for 66 yards.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
The Bobcats finished with two individuals gaining more than 100 yards. Boshart finished the game with 176 yards on 26 carries and had one touchdown. Mayo added 120 yards on 16 carries. Audsley finished with 34 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
 
Boshart added 62 yards through the air as he completed five of 11 passes.
 
Audsley caught two passes for 30 yards. Kalekini had one for 12 while Joey Dominguez (Van Ormy, Texas) caught one for 11 yards. Connot caught the other pass for nine yards.
Special Team Statistics
 
Brady punted two times for 67 yards. Boshart had one punt for 31 yards which landed inside the 20-yard line.
 
Orr had three kickoff returns for a total of 126 yards.
 
Brady had six kickoffs averaging 52.3 yards per kick.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Zach Taylor (Gillette, Wyo.) led the defense as he finished the game with 13 total tackles with two solo tackles. He added one tackle for a loss of 1.3 yards. Dylan King (Vancouver, Wash.) finished with seven tackles – two solo and had one pass break-up.
 
Myles Hicks (Independence, Mo.) was credited for seven assisted tackles and had one-half sack for a loss of one yard. Anthony Spead (Raytown, Mo.) added six tackles – two solo and also had one-half sack for a loss of one yard.
 
Langdon Douglas (Kansas City, Mo.) had five solo tackles and one pass break-up. Travis Reed (Hickman) finished with five tackles – two solo.
 
Mike Mitchell (Boys Town) had 1.5 tackles for losses of two yards while Willis had four assisted tackles and the pick six.
 
Stephen Bowers (La Vista) added one sack for eight yards, 1.5 tackles for losses of 8.3 yards, and forced a fumble. Nate Barbary (Rockford, Ill.) add one tackle for a loss of four yards.
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play its final regular season game next week on the road in Atchison, Kan., when they take on the eighth-ranked Benedictine Ravens. Benedictine improved to 8-1 on the year with a 25-13 win over the fifth-ranked Grand View Vikings on the road in Des Moines on Saturday.