Newcomers Host Veteran in Oak Bowl

The matchup: #13 Benedictine (3-0, 1-0) at Peru State (1-1, 1-1), Oak Bowl, Peru, Neb., 2:00 p.m.

All-Time Series: Benedictine leads, 14-13

Last Meeting: Benedictine 28, Peru State 0 (November 6, 2010 - Oak Bowl)

About the Ravens: While several other teams around the HAAC have received more of the headlines in the opening month of the season, Benedictine has begun its season in impressive fashion. The Ravens have allowed just one touchdown through three games and lead the NAIA in total defense (107.7 yards/game), scoring defense (2.0 points/game) and opponent first downs (18). Defending HAAC Offensive Player of the Week Kevon McGrew leads a Benedictine rushing attack that is averaging just over 200 yards per game. McGrew has turned into a potent double-threat for the Ravens as he hauled in three passes last week against Graceland for 126 yards and a touchdown. QB Bill Noonan bounced back from a 6-interception performance against Sterling (Kan.) three weeks ago to throw for 222 yards and a touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Moses Kato joined his teammate as a weekly award winner as he was the Defensive Player of the Week after making seven tackles (five solo) that included a sack. The defense allowed 125 total yards last week to Graceland - its highest output of the season - while intercepting four passes. Six different players have double-digit tackles and the Ravens have 16 tackles for loss.

About the Bobcats: The debut for Peru State in the HAAC didn't turn out as most in Peru would have hoped, but the Bobcats bounced back the following week to earn their first-ever conference win over Culver-Stockton. They have had two weeks to prepare for the Ravens, a team that claimed a 28-0 victory at the Oak Bowl last season. The Bobcats will be hoping to repeat their performance from two weeks ago against CSC when they piled up 497 total yards and scored 7 touchdowns. Nate Moore led a 303-yard team rushing attack with 108 yards on 14 carries while finishing off the 58-point output with a 9-yard scoring run. Antonio Turner also ran for 97 yards on just six carries that included a touchdown while Tyler Francis threw for 190 yards and a touchdown. Jake Mertens spearheads a linebacking corps that should be plenty busy as the Ravens will look to control the ball on the ground. Mertens has 18 tackles through two games while Preston Bruss (14 tackles) and Curtis Larsen (11) lead the defense. The Bobcats do have an important weapon in K Levi Cockle, who made a pair of 40-yard field goals against Culver-Stockton and 3-of-3 total.