PERU, NE - The Peru State College football team defeated the William Penn Statesmen in the 2024 Homecoming Game, 28-21, on Saturday, October 19. The Bobcats are now 4-2 and 2-1 in The North Division of the Heart of America Conference.
 
The Bobcats had 188 passing yards and 169 rushing yards against William Penn for a total 357 offensive yards.
 
William Penn struck early in the first quarter, taking a 7-0 lead. The Statesmen had the second score of the game with a touchdown to take a 14-0 lead. The Bobcats responded with a 19-yard pass from Colin Shields to Daylan Jones. William Penn led 14-7 going into halftime.
 
The Bobcats struggled to stop the Statesmen as they scored another touchdown to put William Penn up 21-7. The Bobcats didn't let the deficit affect them as a nine-yard rush from Grant Gutschow scored a Bobcat touchdown to make the score 21-14 going into the fourth quarter.
 
The Bobcats carried their momentum into the final frame with a one-yard carry by Grant Gutschow scoring a touchdown on the Bobcats' first drive of the quarter to tie the game. On William Penn's first play of the next drive, Caleb Jackson intercepted a pass to score another Bobcat touchdown to put Peru State up 28-21. The Bobcats stopped the Statesmen's final attempts to score, to secure the homecoming game win.
 
Colin Shields had 15 completions for 276 yards resulting in one touchdown. Kaleb Herbel had eight receptions for 53 yards. Gio Contreras had two receptions for 36 yards.
 
Stacian Livingston had a total gain of 128 rushing yards. Grant Gutschow had 61 rushing yards with two touchdowns.
 
Jakari Starling had seven total tackles with three solo tackles. Ja-Quez Oliver had six total tackles with five solo. Duke McClinton added six total tackles with four solo. Gavin Dunkel had five total tackles and two solo tackles with Zahir Washington having four total tackles with three solo. Ashley Thompson had three solo tackles with one interception. Caleb Jackson had two interceptions for a total of 15 yards and a score.
 
Next: The Bobcats will be on the road to Fulton, Missouri, to take on the William Woods Owls on Saturday, October 26. Kickoff is set for 2:00pm.