(Peru, Neb.) – In a battle of teams looking for their first win of the season, it came out that the team winning the contest won its first-ever collegiate football game.
 
The Clarke Pride nudged the visiting Peru State Bobcats 18-17 in Dubuque, Iowa, to capture its first win as it started it varsity program this season. With the win, the Pride improved to 1-6 overall and 1-0 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) North Division. The Bobcats fell to 0-7 on the year and are 0-1 in the Heart North.
 
First Quarter Action
 
Clarke's first possession ended with an interception by Mardarius Adams (Lakeland, Fla.) in the end zone.

 
Peru State's first possession ended in a fumble.
 
A little later, Clarke would score on a pass play which was good for 20 yards. The two-point attempt failed and the Pride led for the first time in their history at 6-0 with 9:20 left in the quarter.
 
Clarke attempted an onside kick, but Michael Lombard (Peru) recovered the ball on Clarke's 46-yard line. After a penalty and an incomplete pass, Tajh Eaddy (Spencerport, N.J.) went 18 yards down to Clarke's 23-yard line. After a couple of short carries, J'Lon Horton (Valrico, Fla.) went two yards for a first down. The Bobcats' drive was stymied so John Brady (Hickman) kicked a 22-yard field goal to make the score 6-3 Clarke.
 
Later, Clarke would be moving the ball on the Bobcats only to have Adams intercept another pass. Peru State would have one play left in the first which ended Clarke 6-3.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
On second and eight, Harry Kanu (Brandon, Fla.) completed a pass to Horton which went for 28 yard out to the 50-yard line. Ki'Jana Owens (North Platte) had carries of 13 and 30 and the Bobcats were now down in the Pride red zone at the seven-yard line. It would take four tries, but Horton went in from four yards out to give Peru State the lead. Brady's PAT was good and Peru State led 10-6 at that point with 12:13 left in the first half.
 

Clarke was unable to move the ball on their next possession. Once Peru State had the ball, they would lose it on a fumble. The Pride would take just two pass plays to score and again, the two-point attempt failed. Clarke led 12-10 with 8:00 left in the second period.
 
Peru State would start their next possession. After a couple of losses on the plays, Zaron Wright (Gibsonton, Fla.) would have a good carry for a first down at Clarke's 19-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Horton went 15 yards down to the Pride's four-yard line. On the next play, Horton went in for a touchdown. Brady's kick was good and the Bobcats led 17-12 with 3:27 left in the half.
 
The Bobcats would stop a Pride drive as Nic Harris (Salt Lake City) recovered a fumble in the end zone. Peru State could not move the ball and had their punt blocked. Clarke would eventually score on a pass play. Again, their point after attempt was no good, but the Pride led 18-17.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Each team had only one drive each in the quarter which posed anything threatening to the other team.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
Similar to the third quarter, neither team had a substantial drive in the final quarter. Clarke won its first ballgame.

CLARKE GAME BOOK
 
Team and Peru Offensive Statistics
 
It should be noted that there are corrections to be made in the overall statistics, so there will be limited reporting of statistics. In particular, the rushing statistics are off considerably.
 
Kanu went eight of 19 in passing for 93 yards.

 
Horton had two receptions for 30 yards. Six other Bobcats had one reception – Dwight Butler (Rabun Gap, Ga.) – 32 yards, Wright – 18 yards, Jeremy Kaleikini (Brigham City, Utah) – 10 yards, Nathaniel Barbary (Rockford, Ill.) – six yards, Jackson Beatty (Garland) – zero yards, and Isaiah Cornell (Mount Vernon, Mo.) – loss of three yards.
 
Special Teams Statistics
 
Noah James (Cheyenne, Wyo.) had three kickoff returns for 25 yards while Lombardi had one for 19 yards.
 
Brady punted seven times averaging 30 yards per kick. Gustavo Brochetto (San Marcos) kicked off four times averaging 50.3 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Harris led the team with seven solo tackles, one sack for a loss of three yards, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. Luis Constantino (Varzea Grande, Brazil) had six tackles – four solo, one sack for a loss of six yards, and two tackles for losses of seven yards.
 
Adams, David Johnson (Chandler, Ariz.), Travis Reed (Hickman), Cameron Schlender (Kearney), and Jordan Willis (Denver) each had four total tackles. Adams, Reed, and Johnson's tackles were all solo. Adams finished with two interceptions while Johnson had two tackles for losses of six yards. Reed had two tackles for losses of two yards. Willis had one sack for a loss of 22 yards and 2.5 tackles for losses of 27 yards, and one forced fumble.

 
Mike Mitchel (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Ben Sode (Clermont, Fla.), Romeo Wright (Boys Town), Austin Rosas (Red Bluff, Calif.), and Robert Tilman (Detroit) each were credited with tackles for losses.
 
Upcoming Game
 
The Bobcats will be hosting Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m. The early start time is because this will be Peru State's ESPN3 contest.
 
The Wildcats are 2-5 on the season and are 0-1 in the Heart North having almost upset ranked Grand View (Iowa) on Saturday. Culver-Stockton lost 21-18.
 
It will also be the College's Hall of Fame game with five inductees being recognized at halftime of the contest.