Pride drop Heart North matchup at Peru State

PERU, Neb. - Coming off of their first win of the season, the Clarke University football team was unable to produce a matching performance a week later in a 54-0 loss at Peru State College on Saturday afternoon.

The Bobcats shutout CU for their first scoreless game of the season in their lowest yardage output of the season as the Pride were dealing with various injuries on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball to limit their depth in the final week of the first half of the season.

Peru State produced at least two scores in each quarter of the game with two touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters, a field goal and touchdown in the second quarter, then two touchdowns and a safety in the third quarter with quarterback CJ Dixon contributing five of the six offensive scores in the game with four through the air and one on the ground.

Down starting running back Caleb Perry, the Pride's leading rusher was sophomore Bradey Huseman, who averaged 6.8 yards per carry after gaining 61 yards on nine rushes with a long rush of 21 yards for the best game of his young career as three other backs carreid the ball at least six times but for a combined 21 yards.

Carson Estrada got the nod back in the starting role behind center with Mike Reese still ailing from his injury a week ago where Estrada would struggle to complete passes at a consistent rate, going 16-for-38 with an interception before giving way to sophomore Xzaveon Segner in the second half as Segner finished 7-for-13 for 66 yards and an interception that was returned for for a Bobcats' touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 47-0 at the time.

Dixon finished 15-of-27 for 302 yards and ran for 23 yards with the five total touchdowns but also threw two interceptions, both recorded by junior Chadlin Seymore for his first and second career picks while adding another pass break up and three total tackles in the game.

Heading into the Heart bye week with a 1-1 record in the Heart North Division, Clarke football will host their next game when they welcome Culver-Stockton College to Dalzell Field for their Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 18 for a 1:00 p.m. CT scheduled kickoff between the Pride and Wildcats.