(Peru, Neb.) – It was a delayed season opener for a pair of football teams who had been sidelined by the Covid-19 pandemic for a couple of weeks.
 
In the end, the host Baker Wildcats prevailed 41-2 in Baldwin City, Kan., on Saturday, in a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) cross division contest.
 
The first half was relatively close with the Wildcats pulling away in the second 30 minutes.
 
First Quarter Action
 
The Bobcats started their first possession on their own seven-yard line and were forced to punt.

 
Baker took over on Peru State's 33-yard line and immediately gained 14 yards rushing to get to the 19-yard line. After two incomplete passes, Carlos Thomas (Cheyenne, Wyo.) stopped a third down rushing attempt after five yards which forced the Wildcats to kick a 31-yard field goal. With 13:06 on the clock, Baker led 3-0.
 
Peru State was able to initially move the ball on their next possession as Marlon Warren (Vancleave, Miss.) rushed for 11 yards for a first down. Sohail Mohsini (Brentwood, Calif.) found Garry Fleming (Saint Petersburg, Fla.) for a ten-yard passing completion for the second first down. Warren then went for 12 down to Baker's 30-yard line before the Bobcats' drive stalled forcing a punt.
 
The teams would trade several possessions before the quarter ended with Baker leading 3-0.
 
Second Quarter Action
 
On Baker's third play of the second quarter, the Wildcats got an eight-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was good and Baker now led 10-0 with 14:26 to go in the first half.
 
The Bobcats did manage one first down in their next possession as Mohsini found Garrison Dodge (Oakland) for a 12-yard gain on third and five which moved the ball to Peru State's 35-yard line. After two short rushing gains, a pass was broken up forcing the Bobcats to punt.
 
Baker would go 42 yards in five plays to score on a four-yard run. After the PAT was good, the Wildcats now led 17-0 with 8:32 remaining in the first 30 minutes.

 
Later, the Bobcats took over with just under six minutes to go in the first half. After a loss of yardage on first down, Mohsini found Javon Stephens (Gibsonton, Fla.) for 17 yard to move the ball into Baker territory at the 48-yard line. After two short passing gains, Mohsini scrambled for six yards for a first down at the Wildcats' 36-yard line. A personal foul on Baker moved the ball down to the Wildcat 21-yard line. The Bobcat pass attempt was intercepted at the Baker two-yard line.
 
After Baker attempted a pass, the Bobcat defense stopped the Wildcat runner behind the goal line for a safety with 2:32 to go in the half to make the score 17-2.
 
Neither team was able to put together anything in the rest of the first half as it ended with the Wildcats leading 17-2.
 
Third Quarter Action
 
Baker took the second half kickoff and returned it 37 yards to start the half on their own 47-yard line. It took the Wildcats just five plays to score their third touchdown of the contest. With the PAT, Baker now led 24-2 at the 12:45 mark.
 
After the Wildcats forced Peru State to a three and out, Baker took over on their own 19-yard line. The Wildcats would then take 12 plays to go 70 yards before the Bobcats forced Baker to kick a 29-yard field goal. Baker now led 27-2.
 
Peru State did get a first down on their next possession as Ki'Jana Owens (North Platte) had runs of three and seven to get a second set of downs for the Bobcats. That would be all they could muster and eventually the quarter ended with Baker lead 27-2.
 
Fourth Quarter Action
 
The Wildcats would continue the drive they had started to end the third quarter as they would finish an 11-play, 60-yard drive to start the fourth quarter with a touchdown. After the PAT was good, Baker now left 34-2 with 10:34 left in the contest.

 
Joey Dominguez (Van Ormy, Texas) would gain ten yards on third and seven to get a first down in Peru State's first possession of the fourth. However, the Bobcats would eventually punt it away.
 
The teams would trade possessions with Baker eventually getting the ball back with 1:26 left in the game after blocking a Peru State punt. The Wildcats would only need three plays to go 20 yards to score the final touchdown of the game to win 41-2.

BAKER GAME BOOK
 
Team Statistics
 
Baker finished with 23 first downs compared to ten for the Bobcats. The Wildcats had 390 total yards with 182 coming on the ground and 208 through the air. Peru State had 118 total yards with 83 of that coming through its passing game.
 
The Bobcats had two interceptions while intercepting one Wildcat pass.
 
Both teams were flagged eight times with Peru State having 55 yards in penalties and the Wildcats had 60 yards.
 
Peru Offensive Statistics

 
Warren rushed 11 times for 28 yards while Dominguez had two rushes for 14 yards. Owens also finished with 14 yards.
 
Mohsini was 9 of 17 for 80 yards, but suffered two interceptions. Dominguez was one for one for three yards.
 
Stephens caught three passes for 31 yards while J'lon Horton (Valrico, Fla.) had two grabs for 18 yards. Dodge also had two receptions for 14 yards with Zaron Wright (Gibsonton, Fla.) finishing with two catches for ten yards. Fleming's lone catch was for ten yards.
 
Special Teams Statistics
 
Jace Stewart (Slocomb, Ala.) had one punt return for ten yards. Horton had three kickoff returns for 36 yards while Marlon had one return for two yards.
 
Brochetto punted ten times averaging 34 yards and also kicked off once for 55 yards.
 
Defensive Statistics
 
Stewart led the team with seven total tackles – two of which were solo. Nick Andrews (Ruston, La.) had five tackles – four solo and was credited with two sacks for 18 yards and three tackles for losses of 21 yards.
 
Travis Reed (Hickman) added five tackles – three solo. Thomas had four total tackles and one tackle for a loss of one yard.

 
Deiontay Dozier (Mesa, Ariz.) also had four tackles and grabbed the interception. Dozier was also credited with one pass break up.
 
David Johnson (Mesa, Ariz.) had one tackle for a loss of four yards while Ethan Skarmas (Palm Desert, Calif.) and Ben Sode (Clermont, Fla.) each had one-half a tackle for a loss of one yard.
 
Upcoming Game
 
Peru State will hold its first home game of the season this coming Saturday, Oct. 3, as they host Central Methodist in their homecoming contest at 2 p.m. in the historic Oak Bowl. The Eagles have started the season with a pair of wins – 42-0 over Graceland (Iowa) then holding on for a 14-12 win on Saturday over William Penn (Iowa).