The Culver-Stockton College football team concluded the 2022 season with a 17-12 loss at Peru State College Saturday afternoon in Peru, Neb.

The Wildcats never led in the game and trailed throughout before stopping the Bobcat offense with 67 seconds left in the game and forcing the hosts to punt to get the ball back.

Given an opportunity for a possible game-winning drive, the Wildcats mishandled the punt and Peru State jumped on the free ball to regain possession and end any C-SC hopes. It was the Wildcats' second turnover of the game.

The Bobcats led 10-3 at halftime with all of the scoring coming in the second quarter in a defensive battle reminiscent of the season-ending game a year ago won by the Wildcats 10-3.

Peru State struck first on a one yard run by quarterback Will Mueller to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead. C-SC answered with a 28-yard field goal by Michael Velasco to cut the deficit to 10-7, however, the Bobcats' Mack Boekhout drilled a 25-yard field as time expired in the first half to give the home team a 10-3 halftime lead.

Velasco brough the Wildcats to within 10-6 with 3:28 left in the third quarter on a 40-yard field, but it took the Bobcats just one minute, 23 seconds to answer when Mueller found Tyreese Schieffer with a 12-yard touchdown pass to up the lead to 17-6 entering the final quarter.

C-SC closed to within 17-12 when quarterback Jase Orndorff connected with freshman receiver Mason Hackman for a nine-yard touchdown pass. However, the two-point conversion failed leaving the Wildcats five points short.

The defense, which allowed 277 total yards on the day, was able to force a punt, but the miscue on the punt ended the Wildcats' chances.

Orndorff finished the day with 183 yards passing on 17 of 37 accuracy with one touchdown and one interception. Isaiah Eppinger was his main target, registering seven receptions for 63 yards, while Hackman had three catches for 41 yards.

The Wildcats also recorded 108 yards rushing on the day with Tyler Danzey garnering a career-high 133 yards on 16 carries, an average of 8.3 yards per carry. His longest run went for 43 yards. C-SC was hampered in the running game with four sacks of Orndorff for 66 yards.

Defensively, Hyland Generlette led the Wildcats with 13 tackles, including seven solo stops. Darren Jones registered 11 tackles, while Shon Jackson had seven stops and an interception.

The Wildcats finish the season with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference's North Division.