(Peru, Neb.)—Peru State football defeated Culver-Stockton 17-12 on senior day. The Bobcats finish the season 6-5 overall and 4-1 in Heart North Conference play while the Wildcats finish 5-6 and 3-2 in conference play.
 
This is the first time since the 2006 and 2007 seasons that the Bobcat football program has had back-to-back winning seasons. The Bobcats also finished the season second in the Heart North.
 
Below is a breakdown of how the game went…
 
The Bobcat defense has been stellar all year and that was no different today as they started with a 13-yard sack from Carlos Thomas (Gulfport, Mississippi) and the Wildcats ended up going three-and-out and were forced to punt.
 
After a kick-catch interference penalty the Bobcats would have excellent starting field position.
 
Peru State's quarterback Will Mueller (Springdale, Ark.) hit Tyreese Schieffer (Omaha) for a 14-yard completion on a third down play to get inside the redzone. Unfortunately, on a third-and-two from the Culver-Stockton seven-yard line the Bobcats fumbled giving possession back to the Wildcats.
 
Culver-Stockton then drove the ball down the field with passes of six, 17 and nine yard completions. Peru State's defense then bowed up around the 50-yard line as the Wildcats were again forced to punt.
 
Stacian Livingston (St. Louis, Mo.) had a big run of 21-yards on the Bobcats ensuing drive. Peru State's drive would stall out around the 50-yard line.
 
Culver-Stockton would go three-and-out on its next possession. Mueller on the next Bobcat drive found Lander Imbimbo (Newhaven, United Kingdom) for a 13-yard gain on a third-and-long at the tail end of the first quarter. Mueller would have a big nine-yard rush on a draw play in another third-and-long situation.
 
As the game turned to the second quarter, Mueller hit Jarrius Anderson (Cordova, Tenn.) for a 21-yard strike to get in a goal-to-go situation. Mueller then snuck it in on fourth-and-goal as the Bobcats took an early 7-0 lead.
 
Culver-Stockton on its next drive hit passes for 23 and 11 yards before the Bobcat defense again would make the Wildcats stall and have to punt.
 
Peru State would go three-and-out on its next possession. Culver-Stockton then drove the ball down the field with gains of 17 on the ground and 26 through the air. Peru State's defense forced Culver-Stockton to kick a field goal as the score would then be 7-3.
 
The Bobcats were clicking on all cylinders in their next offensive possession as Livingston started the drive with an 11-yard run. Then Mueller hit Schieffer for a 23-yard completion. Livingston had another nine-yard run and Anderson had an eight-yard reception during the drive.
 
Peru State would get another three points on the board from Mack Boekhout (Elkhorn) right before the half as the Bobcats led 10-3.
 
On the Bobcats first possession in the second half, they would be able to muster one first down, but would ultimately have to punt. Culver-Stockton had a big 36-yard rush on its first offensive possession. Then a pass interference penalty had the Wildcats all the way down to 23-yard line.
 
Then on a third-and-long the Culver-Stockton quarterback fumbled the ball and Aaron Thomas (River Ridged, La.) was credited with a 36-yard sack.
 
The Bobcats and Wildcats would then trade three-and-outs on their next two drives. Mueller then threw an interception that led to a Culver-Stockton field goal to make the score 10-6 in the third quarter.
 
Anderson then had a huge kick return starting the Bobcats already at the Culver-Stockton 22-yard line. The Mueller-Schieffer connection struck one final time this season for a touchdown as the Bobcats got back out in front 17-6.
 
In the fourth quarter neither offense could get much going early. Then Jarrius Curry intercepted the Wildcat quarterback giving the Bobcats good field position. Unfortunately, the Bobcats were not able to take advantage of the turnover.
 
The Wildcats then busted out a 43-yard rush as they would get all the way down to the Peru State 35-yard line. A  roughing the passer penalty and a completion had the Wildcats down to the 12-yard line.
 
Culver-Stockton then connected for a nine-yard touchdown reception. They would fail to convert the two-point conversion.
 
Peru State then went three-and-out on its next offensive possession. Cameron Davis (Hoisington, Kan.) and Thomas produced a huge fourth down stop to give the ball back to Peru State.
 
Culver-Stockton was about to have one more chance with about a minute left to play but they muffed the punt and Caleb Jackson (Oakwood, Ga.) recovered the punt to seal the Bobcat victory.
 
Mueller was 8-of-19 for 106 yards a touchdown and an interception. Mueller also had a rushing touchdown. Livingston led the way in rushes with 30 carries for 111 yards. Schieffer led the way in receiving with three receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.
 
Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Clayton Thrasher (Mandeville, La.) and Davis all led the way in tackles with seven. Adams, Davis, Carlos and Aaron Thomas each had a sack. Curry led the way in pass breakups with four he also had the lone interception. Aaron Thomas had a forced fumble and Jackson had the lone fumble recovery.
 
The Peru State athletic department would like to thank its 11 seniors for their contribution to the Bobcat football program.