(Peru, Neb.) – On Saturday night, September 11, the best place to be was Peru, Neb., as the Peru State Bobcats defeated nationally-ranked Benedictine (Kan.) 45-21.
 
Peru State improved to 2-1 overall this season. With the 'Cats are 2-0 at home this season in front of Bobcat Nation. The Ravens, who were ranked 17^th coming into the game, fell to 1-2 on the year.
 
First Half Game Action
 
The first possession of the game went to the Bobcats as they drove the length of the field. Joey Dominguez (Von Ormy, Texas) tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dremel Jackson (Kansas City, Mo.) for the first score. Shane McInerney (Galway, Ireland) nailed the PAT to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead with 10:26 remaining.
 
After Benedictine returned the kickoff for six and made the PAT and the game was tied up once again. The first quarter ended 7-7.
 
Dominguez broke the tie with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Garry Fleming (Saint Petersburg, Fla.) as Mclnerney made the PAT to give the 'Cats the 14-7 lead. Later, in the second quarter, Jermey Kucera (Overland Park, Kan.) rushed for a 13-yard touchdown to give the 'Cats a 21-7 lead with 4:38 remaining until intermission.
 
Peru State would get the ball back on an interception from Armunz Mathews (Quincy, Fla.). The Bobcats would be able to use the good field position and score a rushing touchdown from a yard out from Quinton Hawkins (Richmond, Va.). Peru State would take a big half time lead 28-7 over the Ravens.
 
Second Half Game Action
 
Benedictine would come out of halftime and get on the board with a touchdown to get back within two scores of the 'Cats as they would still trail 28-14.
 
The very next possession for the 'Cats saw them score in three plays. The touchdown play was a 24-yard passing touchdown coming from Dominguez to Fleming as the PAT was good from Mclnerney. Peru State led 35-14 with 3:35 remaining in the third stanza.
 
Another passing touchdown from Benedictine saw the score get a little closer at 35-21 in favor of Peru State with 13:55 left in the contest.
 
McInerny made a 36-yard field goal to extend the lead 38-21 with 4:27 remaining in the game. The 'Cats defense would get in on the scoring action as Nate Barbary (Rockford, Ill.) would get a scoop 'n score on a fumble recovery from 56 yards out to give the 'Cats a commanding lead 45-21 lead.
 
Statistics
 
Dominguez passed for 220 yards as he was 20-27 with three passing touchdowns.
 
Ki'Jana Owens (North Platte) rushed 23 times for 83 yards. Dominguez rushed nine times for 26 yards.
 
Fleming caught four passes for 85 yards and two scores while Jackson caught four passes for 52 yards. Jarrius Anderson (Cordova, Tenn.) caught four passes 33 yards. Orreon Finely (Memphis, Tenn.) caught four passes for 20 yards.
 
McInerney went perfect on the day – one for one on field goals and six for six on extra points.

Travis Reed (Hickman) led the team in tackles with nine total - four of them were solos. Mathews was second on the team in tackles with eight total – also with four solos.

Delonte Hood (Washington, District of Columbia) added four total tackles with three of them being solos. Clayton Thrasher (Mandeville, La.) also had four tackles with two of them being solos.

Nick Andrews (Ruston, La.) added four tackles with one solo. Andrews also recorded a 0.5 sack.

Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) had two sacks.

Mathews had the lone Bobcat pick.

Upcoming Game

Peru State will be back on the road in Baldwin City, Kan. as they take on Baker University in a big-time match with two teams that are 2-1 on the season. The kickoff time is 1 p.m.