Bobcats, Vikings Grab NAIA Football Spotlight
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The NAIA spotlight will be focused on two Heart of America Athletic Conference football teams this Saturday, Nov. 2 as No. 12-ranked Missouri Valley visits No. 9-ranked Peru State in the NAIA Game of the Week at Nebraska City High School.
NAIA Football Game of the Week - #12 Missouri Valley (5-2, 5-1 HAAC) at #9 Peru State (7-1, 5-1 HAAC), Pioneer Field, Nebraska City, Neb., 2:00 p.m.
All-Time Series: Missouri Valley leads, 5-4-0
Last Meeting: Missouri Valley 67, Peru State 13 (Oct. 27, 2012 - Marshall, Mo.)
Last Time Out: Baker 13, Missouri Valley 10 (OT); Peru State 51, Central Methodist 24
About the Vikings: The top-ranked defense in the NAIA will face another stiff test this week as Missouri Valley will be tasked with slowing down the #3 rushing offense per game. The Vikings held Baker to 66 yards on the ground last week and 1.5 yards per attempt, allowing an average of just 30.0 yards rushing over the past two games. The offense, however, has struggled the last two outings as the Vikings have not scored in the first half the last two weeks and managed an average of just over 100 yards rushing. Head coach Paul Troth has searched for an offensive spark in the passing game, which may come from WR Darrian Turk. The freshman wideout had a career-high 11 recpetions for 113 yards last week, almost half of the 25 completions for Bruce Reyes. The Vikings are much more effective when they are able to establish balance on the offensive side of the ball, but Reyes has been forced to make 30 or more throws in five games this season. While Reyes has shown the ability to pile up yards through the air, the Vikings will need to try and control the clock against a Bobcats offense that will try and do the same.
About the Bobcats: A steady march up the NAIA rankings has seen Peru State push its way into the top 10 for the first time this season and inch closer toward a guaranteed spot in the NAIA Football Championship Series. There is still work to do, however, as the Bobcats face two ranked teams in the final three weeks of the regular season. Peru State won't need any additional motivation heading into the most important game of the season, but a number of players can also look for some revenge after suffering a 67-13 loss in last season's meeting. There's no secret that the Bobcats will run it almost 90 percent of the time, but Tyler Audsley has shown the ability to connect on downfield throws to keep the secondary of the opposition honest. Audsley is coming off his most efficient performance last week as he completed 10-of-13 throws for 129 yards while also rushing for a pair of touchdowns. Ethan Bray has been almost unstoppable the last three weeks with an average of 179.7 yards, but the key for the Bobcats will be to get Marcus Spearman involved. Curtis Larsen had 11 solo tackles last week and will face plenty of physical blockers this week.
Extra Points: Reyes completed 21-of-26 for 207 yards and four touchdowns in last season's win over Peru State ... The #9 ranking is the highest for Peru State since Oct. 24, 2000 when the Bobcats were ranked #7 ... Missouri Valley had its 18-game regular season home winning streak ended with last week's loss to Baker ... Bray is ranked #14 in rushing yards (938) and #17 in rushing yards per game (117.3) ... Missouri Valley has won by an average of 45.0 points in the games following its last four regular season losses dating back to the 2009 season ... The Bobcats had five scoring drives of five plays or less last week against Central Methodist and scored two touchdowns of more than 50 yards.
Football Game Previews - Nov. 2
Central Methodist (4-4, 3-3 HAAC) at #4 Benedictine (8-0, 6-0 HAAC), O'Malley Field at Larry Wilcox Stadium, Atchison, Kan., 1:00 p.m.
All-Time Series: Benedictine leads, 24-3-0
Last Meeting: Benedictine 21, Central Methodist 14 (Oct. 6, 2012 - Atchison, Kan.)
Last Time Out: Peru State 51, Central Methodist 24; Benedictine 38, Culver-Stockton 13
Game Notes: Central Methodist is ranked #13 in rushing offense per game (222.3) and #19 in pass defense per game (176.9) ... Benedictine is ranked #6 in the NAIA in scoring offense (43.5), total offense (484.3) and first downs per game (24.8), #9 in pass efficiency (149.1) and #12 in pass offense per game (273.4) ... WR Martin Bayless Jr. had season-highs of six receptions and 86 yards in last week's loss to Peru State ... WR Jerrin Walton had a 61-yard touchdown reception last week against Culver-Stockton, the longest reception of his career ... The Eagles have averaged 38.8 points in their four victories, but 17.3 points in the four losses this season ... RB Cameron Fore rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown in last season's win over the Eagles.
Avila (3-5, 1-5 HAAC) at Culver-Stockton (0-8, 0-6 HAAC), Ellison Poulton Stadium, Canton, Mo., 1:00 p.m.
All-Time Series: Avila leads, 9-3-0
Last Meeting: Culver-Stockton 1, Avila 0 (forfeit)
Last Time Out: MidAmerica Nazarene 44, Avila 30; Benedictine 38, Culver-Stockton 13
Game Notes: Avila RB Kelwin Burke Jr. is ranked #9 in the NAIA in rushing yards per game (130.9) and #10 in total rushing yards (1,047) ... Culver-Stockton DE David Marcinko leads the HAAC and is ranked #5 in the NAIA with eight sacks ... WR Luke Oldham had a career-high eight receptions last week for the Eagles and is averaging 7.3 catches over the last three contests ... RB Tyrique Gordon has tallied 14 carries in each of his 100-yard rushing performances for the Wildcats this season ... Avila forced five turnovers last week against MNU, the third game this season with at least five takeaways ... Culver-Stockton was 3-for-3 on fourth down last week against Benedictine and has converted 9-for-19 (.474) this season.
Graceland (1-7, 0-6 HAAC) at MidAmerica Nazarene (2-5, 2-4 HAAC), Olathe District Activities Center, Olathe, Kan., 1:00 p.m.
All-Time Series: MNU leads, 19-14-0
Last Meeting: MNU 55, Graceland 0 (Oct. 27, 2012 - Olathe, Kan.)
Last Time Out: Evangel 38, Graceland 24; MNU 44, Avila 30
Game Notes: Graceland LB Billy Wendt ranks #10 in the NAIA in tackles per game (10.8) while Raysean Brown ranks #11 in receiving yards per game (92.4) ... MNU is ranked #7 in the NAIA in pass defense per game (148.1), #9 in punt return yards per attempt (15.5) and #10 in kickoff return yards per attempt (25.0) ... RB Mathis Thomas recorded season-highs of 31 carries and 144 yards for the Yellowjackets in last week's loss to Evangel ... QB Jabari Harris rushed for a career-high 164 yards for the Pioneers in last week's win over Avila ... WR Brandon McNeal posted a season-high of 18.3 yards per catch for Graceland in last week's contest against the Crusaders ... The Pioneers have averaged 59.8 points in the last five victories over the Yellowjackets.
Evangel (3-4, 3-3 HAAC) at #6 Baker (7-1, 5-1 HAAC), Emil S. Liston Stadium, Baldwin City, Kan., 1:00 p.m.
All-Time Series: Baker leads, 14-11-0
Last Meeting: Baker 48, Evangel 17 (Sept. 8, 2012 - Baldwin City, Kan.)
Last Time Out: Evangel 38, Graceland 24; Baker 13, Missouri Valley 10 (OT)
Game Notes: Evangel WR Jesse Vaughn ranks #7 in the NAIA in receptions per game (7.0) and #14 in receiving yards per game (88.0) ... K/WR Clarence Clark was named the NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting field goals of 59 and 52 yards last week against Missouri Valley ... RB Brock West tallied career-highs of 25 carries and 113 yards for the Crusaders last week against Graceland ... LB Darrick Smith ranks #5 in the NAIA with five interceptions ... QB Andrew Brimhall has averaged 269.0 yards passing in his last two starts against Baker ... The Wildcats are ranked #10 in the NAIA in scoring offense (36.5), #12 in first downs per game (23.3), #14 in pass efficiency (143.1) and #16 in scoring defense (20.6).