PERU, Neb. - Nic Stephens connected with Paul Stevens on an 18-yard scoring strike with 4:11 left in the game, giving Central Methodist a 22-15 season-ending Heart of America Athletic Conference victory at Peru State (Neb.) at Oak Bowl.

In a game with temperatures in the low 20s and six inches of snow on the ground, rushing offense was tough to come by. Central Methodist (5-6, 4-5) totaled only 77 yards on 27 carries Saturday afternoon, but the Eagles' defense held Peru State (2-9, 1-8) to minus-1 yards on 31 carries after allowing 339 rushing yards in last season's loss.

The Bobcats took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter after a Greg Conry 26-yard field goal capped a 15-play, 55-yard drive.

The Eagles jumped on the scoreboard early in the second quarter with a two-play, 41-yard drive and Shawn Whitley accounting for all the yards from scrimmage. Kaleb Borghardt found Whitley on an 18-yard touchdown pass to make the score 7-3.

Midway through the quarter, Borghardt started an offensive series with a 37-yard run. On the next play, a Stephens to Stevens completion of 26 yards set the Eagles up on the Bobcats' 1. Two plays later, Francois Mathews plunged in from two yards out to make the score 14-3.

Peru State cut the deficit to 14-9 five minutes into the third quarter when Nate Tromblee scored on a two-yard touchdown run.

The Bobcats regained the lead early in the fourth quarter when Ben Watkins intercepted a Borghardt pass and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. A second-consecutive unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt kept the score 15-14.

With 4:54 to play, Stephens started what proved to be the game-winning drive with a 65-yard completion to Stevens down to the Peru State 18. On the next play, Stevens outjumped Darvel Collins to haul in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Stephens. A Stephens to Jamall Williams two-point conversion gave the Green and Black a seven-point edge.



The Bobcats drove to the Eagles' 44 on the next series, but an incomplete pass on 4th-and-6 halted the drive 1:46 to play.

Peru State got the ball back at its own 15 with 30 seconds left but drove only 14 yards before a Chris Porter pass breakup on 3rd-and-10 ended the game.

Stephens was 15-of-24 passing for 245 yards with a touchdown. Borghardt was 4-of-15 with a passing touchdown and two interceptions to go along with 60 yards on the ground on eight carries.

Stevens caught five passes for 143 yards, while Whitley ended the day with 97 receiving yards on eight catches. Each player caught one touchdown.

The Eagles totaled 355 yards of offense, compared to only 254 by the Bobcats.

Hunter Kelley led the Eagles' defense with a career-high 12 tackles and a sack. Ethan Epperson totaled a career-high 11 tackles. Each player had three tackles for loss.

Skyler Jameson came up with eight tackles, three pass breakups and an interception in the win. Collin Sizemore had sick tackles, a sack and tackle for loss. Brandon Justin broke up five passes. Marco Romano had two tackles for loss.

Ezequiel Rivera ends his Eagles' career as the school's leader in made field goals (28) and point after attempts (89).

Marshall Klontz was 18-of-46 through the air for 255 yards with an interception for the Bobcats.

A.J. Flodman caught six passes for 96 yards in the loss.

Brian Burr had nine tackles and two passes defended in the loss.

Central Methodist finishes the season 5-5 against NAIA competition and with a win in the season-finale for the first time since a 27-10 triumph against Evangel (Mo.) in 2006.