Pride Fall to Bobcats 16-9

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Held to only 221 yards of total offense, Clarke fell 16-9 on Saturday afternoon to the Bobcats of Peru State College at Dalzell Field. 

Peru State (3-4 overall, 1-0 Heart North) moved into a three-way tie for second place in the Heart of America North division with the Pride (3-4, 0-1), who has dropped three of its last four games. 

With 43 seconds remaining, Victor Moreno connected on a 21-yard field goal to cut the Bobcat lead to seven. On the ensuing onside kick, Moreno placed the ball between multiple Bobcats off a bounce that almost landed in the hands of a Clarke athlete. However, a Peru State player was able to secure the ball and returned it 23 yards down to the Clarke 25-yard line, sealing the win for the Bobcats. 

The Pride's lone touchdown came from running back Darius Hernandez, as he caught a pass from quarterback Brandon Mueller near the corner of the endzone in the second quarter. 

Mueller finished 12-of-36 for 113 yards through the air, with an additional team-high 89 yards on the ground. Hernandez had 26 yards rushing, while sophomore wideout Jaquan Graham had a team-high 48 receiving yards. 

Peru State's QB Will Mueller was 8-of-13 passing for 145 yards and a score. On the ground, Gianni Dorsey led the way with 30 yards, followed by Mueller with 27. WR Tyreese Schieffer had 104 yards on three catches.

Defensively, defensive end Griffin Mulcahy led the team with nine total tackles (three solo). Jalen Smith had a team-high 1.5 sacks, followed by Mark Edwards (1), Israel Hernandez (1) and Kejuan Lankin (0.5). Hernandez led the team in tackles for loss with 2.5. 

Clarke will take to the road next weekend for the first time in nearly a month when it heads to Canton, Mo., on Saturday to face the Culver-Stockton Wildcats. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. 

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