The Peru State Football team kicks off the 2022 season this Saturday as they head to Marshall, Missouri to face Missouri Valley as first year head coach Phil Ockinga takes the reigns. The Bobcats finished last season 7-4 overall and 3-2 in the Heart North.
Coach "O" brings in a talented coaching staff to the land of a thousand oaks for the 2022 season. Harold "H.T." Kinney comes in as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, Sean Wilkerson comes into coach a talented defense while also coaching the linebackers. Other coaching assistants include Tanner Stallings the offensive line coach, Lou Varley the tight ends coach, Andrew Burnham takes over for the wide receivers, Darin Fritz takes over the defensive line and graduate assistant Jonas Bailey will help with strength and conditioning and defensive line.
Late last month Peru State was picked to finish third in the Heart North division. Grand View who is No. 2 in the first NAIA Preseason Poll is projected to win the North division with 25 first place points. In the South Baker is projected to win receiving 24 first place points.
The Bobcats have a tough schedule as they play four teams that are in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll. A plus on the schedule is all ranked opponents will come to the Oak Bowl. In the home opener they face No. 18 Central Methodist, a few weeks later, Baker the projected South favorite comes to town as the No. 13 team in the country. Late in the season, No. 2 Grand View and projected North favorite comes to town October 29 and finally on senior day No. 22 Culver-Stockton will come to the Oak Bowl to face the Bobcats.
The 'Cats return a lot especially on the defensive side which was one of the best defenses in the NAIA last season. Returning on that defense is linebacker Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) he was selected as the Heart North Defensive Player of the Year a season ago. Adams was also selected on the Heart North First Team Defense. He had 43 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Defensive back Armunz Matthews (Quincy, Fla.) also returns to a star-studded defense, he also earned Heart North First Team Defense. Matthews was tied for the most interceptions with four, he had 31 total tackles and three pass breakups.
On the offensive side of the ball offensive lineman Mario Locke (Chickasaw, Ala.) returns as he was selected to Heart North Second Team a season ago.
There were several key losses that will not be returning from the 2021 season, most notably defensive back Delonte Hood (Washington, D.C.) who is currently a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Hood last season had 21 total tackles, seven pass breakups and one blocked kick.
Linebacker Travis Reed (Hickman) was a key piece of last year's defense as he led the team in tackles with 85, he had 7.7 tackles per game, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks on the year. Defensive lineman Nick Andrews (Ruston, La.) is gone as he had 31 total tackles, ten tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 2021.
The 'Cats also must replace place kicker Shane McInerey (Galway, Ireland) he made Heart North Second Team All-Conference. McInerey was 12-of-14 on FGs for the year hitting at an 86% success rate. He was a perfect 28-for28 on PATs and was named Special Teams Player of the Week twice last season.
There are several newcomers to help bolster the Bobcats roster for the 2022 season. Transfer quarterback Will Mueller (Springdale, Ark.), transfer offensive linemen Caden Luna (Deerfield, Kan.), transfer defensive tackle Nick Syms (Clearwater, Fla.) and defensive end Marcel Wood. (Augusta, Ga.).
Peru State kicks off at Missouri Valley in four days down in Marshall, Mo., on Saturday, August 27, at 6:00 p.m. You can watch live here: https://bit.ly/368Wj6X
Original source can be found here.
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