(Peru, Neb.) – For the first time since 2010, the Peru State football team lost its third game in a row to start a season. The visiting Evangel (Mo.) Crusaders topped the Bobcats 35-13 in Peru State's first home game of the season.
 
In 2010, the 'Cats started the season with four straight losses to Concordia, Jamestown (N.D.), Buena Vista (Iowa), and Sterling (Kan.). Prior to the loss to Evangel, the 'Cats had dropped contests on the road to Hastings and Central Methodist (Mo.).
 
Evangel improved to 4-0 on the year and had come into Saturday's contest as the NAIA's 11^th-ranked team.  
First Quarter Action
 
The first play of the game saw Dan Boshart (Wood River) find Joey Dominguez (Van Ormy, Texas) for a 37-yard pass play to the Evangel 39-yard line. Tajh Eaddy (Spencerport, N.Y.) ran for three yards and then Colton Audsley (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) went eight more for the second first down of the game. With the ball on the Crusaders' 28-yard line, the Bobcats could not get another first down and turned the ball over to Evangel on their 21-yard line.
 
Both teams' defenses would keep either team from scoring in the first quarter.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats did get the ball with 49 seconds remaining in the first quarter and faced a third and seven on Evangel's 39-yard line to start the second quarter. Ki'Jana Owens (North Platte) carried the ball for six yards to set up a fourth and one. Mason Smith (Grain Valley, Mo.) gained seven yards for a first down at the Crusaders' 26-yard line. On the next play, Audsley took the pitch from Boshart into the end zone to put Peru State on the scoreboard first. John Brady's (Hickman) point after attempt was good and the 'Cats led 7-0 with 13:33 remaining in the first half.
 
Neither team moved the ball much on their next possession, but with 8:11 left in the half, Evangel took over on their own 38-yard line. Seven plays and 62 yards later, the Crusaders had tied the game a 7-7 with 4:50 left in the half.
 
After forcing the Bobcats to punt on their next possession, the Crusaders only needed six plays to go 40 yards to gain the lead at 14-7 with 1:28 left in the first half.
 
The half would end with Evangel leading 14-7.
Third Quarter Action
 
Both teams were forced to punt on their first possessions of the second half. On Evangel's second possession, they started at midfield. Six plays later, the Crusaders scored from one-yard out to move the lead to 21-7.
 
That would be the only scoring in the third quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
On Peru State's second possession of the quarter, the Crusaders forced a three and out and then were able to partially block the Bobcat punt. Evangel would take over on Peru State's 46-yard line and it only took two plays to score. With 8:47 left in the game, the Crusaders now led 28-7.
 
The Bobcats inserted Dominguez into the lineup at quarterback and Peru State went three and out. Again, Evangel put pressure on the punter and were able to get the ball at the Bobcats' 44-yard line to start their next possession. Seven plays later, Evangel would score on a nine-yard run to go out to a 35-7 advantage with 3:56 left in the contest.
 
The 'Cats would start their next drive on their own 17-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Eaddy ran for nine yards. On the next play, Eaddy was able to go 74 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was no good and the score was 35-13.

Evangel would run the clock out and secured their fourth win of the year.  EVANGEL GAME BOOK

Team Statistics
 
Evangel was able to chew up 33 minutes on the clock as they had 24 first downs compared to just 11 for the Bobcats.
 
The rushing statistics were nearly even as the Crusaders finished with 255 and Peru State had 231. The biggest difference in the total yardage came through the air as Evangel finished with 141 yards passing while the 'Cats only had 50 yards.
 
The Crusaders were only penalized twice for ten yards while the Bobcats had seven penalties for 78 yards.
 
There were no turnovers in the contest.
 
Offensive Statistics
 
Eaddy led the Bobcats in rushing with 143 yards on 15 carries and had one touchdown. Audsley finished with 36 yards on three carries and had the other Peru State touchdown.
 
Boshart finished two for seven in passing for 50 yards while Dominguez was 0 for four on the day.
 
Dominguez had one reception for 37 yards while Dwight Butler (Rabun Gap, Ga.) had the other catch for 13 yards.
 
Special Team Statistics
 
Brady punted eight times and averaged 30.8 yards per punt while landing two within the 20-yard line.
 
Anthony Luckett (Los Angeles) returned one punt for 40 yards and had five kickoff returns for 83 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Victor Hubbard (Corinth, Texas), Nic Harris (Salt Lake City), Dylan King (Vancouver, Wash.), and Luis Constantino (Varzea Grande, Brazil) all finished with eight total tackles. Hubbard had five solo tackles while Harris and King each had three solo tackles. Constantino finished with one solo.
 
Zach Taylor (Gillette, Wyo.) added six tackles – two of which were solo. Tommy Hope (Ridgecrest, Calif.) and Jordan Willis (Denver) each finished with five tackles. Hope had four solo tackles.
 
Travis Reed (Hickman) and Stephen Bowers (La Vista) were each credited with a pass break-up.
Upcoming Game
 
Missouri Valley will be the opponent on Sept. 22 for Peru State's Hall of Fame game. The contest will begin at 1 p.m. The Vikings are 1-2 on the year having picked up a 59-21 win on the road over Graceland (Iowa) Saturday night.