(Peru, Neb.) – On Saturday, September 4, the Bobcats would lose a tough road game in Fayette, Mo., at the hands of Central Methodist (CMU) 27-24.
 
The Eagles improved to 1-1 on the season. Peru State fell to 1-1 on the season.
 
Game Action
 
The Bobcats would get the ball first but were unable to get any points on that drive as they would have a turnover on downs. CMU would strike first in the contest as they would take the early 6-0 lead in the first quarter with 8:21 remaining.
 
The 'Cats would get on the board in the second quarter as Shane Mclnerney (Galway, Ireland) nailed a 21-yard field goal. The Eagles' lead would be trimmed down to three at 6-3 with 11:32 remaining until intermission.
 
Central Methodist would score on another long touchdown pass with 3:13 until half time to take a ten-point lead at 13-3. CMU would lead 13-3 at the half.
 
To start the third quarter the Eagles would get a scoop and score off a Bobcat fumble to extend their lead to 20-3 with 13:06 left in the third quarter.
 
The Bobcats would get six after Grant Gutschow (Elkhorn) would run it in for eight yards as they would cut into the Eagles lead as Mclnereney would make the PAT. CMU would lead 20-10 late in the third quarter at the 2:11 mark.
 
Gutschow would sling a 46-yard passing touchdown to Jarrius Anderson (Cordova, Tenn.) with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter. The PAT by Mclnerney would bring the Bobcats within three at 20-17.
 
CMU would get a pick-six and extend their three-point lead to ten with 4:08 remaining in the game.
 
The 'Cats would not be done as they would make one last comeback after Gutschow passed to Kyle Owens (Imogene, Iowa) for a three-yard touchdown. After Mclnerney made the PAT, Peru State would trail by three points once again with 57 seconds left in the game.
 
CMU would run out the clock as they would earn their first win of the 2021 season.
 
Statistics
 
Gutschow led the team in passing with 234 passing yards and two touchdowns after going 20 of 31. He also had one running touchdown.
 
Hawkins led the team with 43 yards on the ground on 14 attempts.
 
Anderson had team high seven catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. Garry Fleming (Saint Petersburg, Fla.) grabbed four receptions of 43 yards.
 
Nick Andrews (Ruston, La.) led the team with six total tackles with four of them being solos. He also had two tackles for losses. Travis Reed (Hickman) recorded five total tackles with four of them being solos.
 
Michael Lombardi (Peru) would have five tackles with two of them being solos. Lombardi also had one sack for a loss of 11 yards. Ethan Skarmas (Palm Desert, Calif.), Desmond King (Orlando, Fla.), Clayton Thrasher (Mandeville, La.), and Nate Barbary (Rockford, Ill.) all were credited with three total tackles.
 
Upcoming Contest
 
Peru State will be hosting Benedictine (Kan.) Saturday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. in the Oak Bowl. The Ravens will enter the contest with a 1-1 mark having won their opener 35-13 over William Penn (Iowa) and then dropping their home game with Grand View (Iowa) 41-20 this past weekend.
 
The Bobcat athletic department will be recognizing its winter and spring sport student-athletes at halftime of the contest.