(Peru, Neb.) – On Saturday, August 28, on a hot and humid night in the Oak Bowl, Peru State would get their initial win of 2021 versus the Missouri Valley Vikings 47-21. The 47 points were the third-most scored by an NAIA school during the first week of action.
 
Peru State is now 1-0 to start the 2021 football season while the Vikings are 0-1.
 
First Half
 
After Missouri Valley received the ball and went three and out, the Bobcats started their first possession on the Missouri Valley 39-yard line. The 'Cats would get on the board first after Joey Dominguez (Von Ormy, Texas) went up the middle on a 36-yard touchdown run with 12:29 on the clock. Peru State would end up converting on the two-point conversion by Parker Gutschow (Elkhorn) to take an 8-0 lead.
 
The Vikings got on the board in the middle of the first quarter to pull within one at 8-7 in favor of the Bobcats.
 
In the begin of the second quarter Peru State would take the lead off a Dominguez and Orreon Finely (Memphis, Tenn.) connection for a 46-yard passing touchdown to make it 15-7. Shane McInerney (Galway, Ireland) provided the point after kick.
 
After the defensive was able to hold the Vikings, Missouri Valley punted. The Bobcats would be able to extend their first half lead after Quinton Hawkins (Richmond, Va.) rushed for a three-yard touchdown run to take a commanding 23-7 lead. The two-point conversion was good.
 
McInerney (Galway, Ireland) would make a 30-yard field goal to extend the lead even more going into intermission as Peru State led 26-7.
 
Second Half
 
Finley returned the second half opening kickoff 89 yards to the house as the Bobcats were in complete control leading 33-7 with 14:45 left in the third quarter.
 
Later in the quarter, Dominguez would find Finley again for a 56-yard touchdown pass as the score is now 40-7 with 6:23 left in the quarter. McInerney hit the PAT.
 
Missouri Valley, after going scoreless in the third quarter, as able find the endzone on a touchdown run to cut into Peru State led at 40-14.
 
The ensuing kickoff was returned 94 yards to the house by Kobe Windham (Petal, Miss.) to make the score 47-14 after a McInerney kick.
 
Missouri Valley would score a touchdown off a 74-yard bomb to put the score at 47-21.
 
Statistics
 
Peru State would gain 278 yards of total offense. They would have 121 passing yards and 157 rushing yards.
 
Dominguez threw for 106 and two scores and also had 36 yards rushing and one score on the ground.
 
Hawkins had 28 carries for 126 yards and one score.
 
Finley caught two passes for 102 and two scores.
 
Travis Reed (Hickman) had 10 total tackles with four of them being solos. In addition, Reed recovered a fumble and broke up one pass. Clayton Thrasher (Mandeville, La.) recorded seven total tackles with two being solos. Jace Stewart (Slocomb, Ala.) added six tackles – four solo and had an interception which he returned for 42 yards.
 
Gerald Smith (Baltimore, Mo.) registered one sack. Ethan Skarmas (Palm Desert, Calif.) and Nick Andrews (Ruston, La.) each recorded a half of a sack.
 
Next Game
 
The Bobcats will be on the road as they head to Fayette, Mo., to take on Central Methodist with a kickoff start time of 1 p.m. The Eagles fell in their opener 37-10 to Grand View in Des Moines on Saturday.