(Peru, Neb.)—On a humid Saturday afternoon the Peru State football team defeated No. 11 Baker 19-14. The Bobcats improve to 2-2 on the year, while the Wildcats fall to 2-2.
Below is a breakdown of the Bobcat victory.
Both teams started out slow in the first quarter with multiple three and outs. The game turned as Baker was attempting a 39-yard field goal that got blocked and returned for a touchdown by Deointay Dozier
(Mesa, Ariz.) as the Bobcats would take an early 7-0 lead.
The lead would be evaporated immediately as Baker would return the ensuing kickoff 92-yards for a touchdown as the game would be tied 7-7. After a stalled-out Bobcat drive, punter
Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) booted a 63-yard punt as the Bobcats downed the ball at the one-yard line.
The Bobcat defense stepped up as
Gerald Smith (Baltimore, MD.) got at safety to put the Bobcats up 9-7 late in the first quarter. In the second quarter to Bobcats were in the red zone but were going to settle for a field goal but a 34-yard attempt was blocked by Baker.
Peru State's defense came up with a big stop on downs as
Kile Bentley (Cairo) had a tackle for loss on fourth-and-three. At the half, Peru State had a slim lead 9-7. Peru State's second drive of the second half started out with a bang as
Will Mueller (Springdale, Ark.) threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to
Tyreese Schieffer (Omaha) as the Bobcats would take a 16-7 lead.
Peru State's defense stepped up again as
Carlos Thomas (Gulfport, Miss.) intercepted Baker taking it down to the Baker three-yard line. Unfortunately, the Bobcats had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by
Mack Boekhout (Elkhorn) to make the score 19-7.
In the fourth quarter, Baker's offense finally woke up as they marched down the field and scored on a three-yard run making the score 19-14.
On the next Peru State drive the ball was intercepted by Baker but a penalty backed them up to the 45-yard line. Baker would get inside the ten-yard line but the Peru State defense bowed up and make Baker turn the ball over on downs.
The Peru State offense then drained the clock to 26 seconds with the help of a big 22-yard run from Stacy Livingston
(St. Louis, Mo.). That run would help the Bobcats hang onto a 19-14 win.
Mueller was 8-for-15 for 127 yards one touchdown and one interception on the day. Livingston led way in rushing as he carried the ball 16 times for 37 yards. Schieffer had four receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively Bentley led the way in tackles with 11 tackles, four of which were solo. Thomas had the lone interception.
Peru State hits the road next week as they face MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
