Thirteen Bobcats receive HEART honors

(Peru, Neb.) – The Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) announced their all-conference football and award selections Thursday.
 
Peru State had two players receive individual Heart honors. Devin Adams (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was the Defensive Player of the Year for the Heart North Division and Quinton Hawkins (Richmond, Va.) was Freshman of the Year.
 
First Team Offense
 
The 'Cats would get one player on the first team. Sophomore punter Adams was recognized for his 2021 season. He registered 45 punts on the year for 1,868 yards. Adams had a per punt average of 41.5 yards. His longest punt was 65 yards and he placed 17 punts inside the 20-yard line.
 
First Team Defense
 
Adams and Armunz Mathews (Quincy, Fla.) were first team all-conference defense for Peru State.
 
Adams was third on the team in tackles with 43 total. He had nine solo tackles and 23 assisted. In addition, Adams was the Bobcats leader in sacks with seven which ranks 27^th in the NAIA and tackles for loss with 17.
 
Mathews tied for the most interceptions on the team with four for 29 yards. In addition, Mathews added 31 total tackles with 13 solo and 18 assisted. He had three tackles for loss during the 2021 season. Also, Mathews had three pass break ups.
 
Second Team Offense
 
Freshman running back Hawkins, in addition to being named Freshman of the Year, he was also named to the second team all-conference. He led the Bobcats in rushing attempts with 161, rushing yards with 642, and rushing TDs with 11. Hawkins longest run of the season was 37 yards. His 11 rushing TDs placed him at 19^th in the NAIA.
 
Hawkins had a career day against Graceland University running for 151 yards and 5 TDs.
 
Mario Locke (Chickasaw, Ala.) and Jackson Gilbert (Omaha), both offensive linemen, were named to the second team. Peru State averaged 260.7 yards per game of offense – 137.5 of those yards came on the ground while the team average 123.2 passing yards per game. The team put up 24.7 pointer per game.
 
The other Bobcat named to the second team was place kicker Shane McInerney (Galway, Ireland). McInerney made 12-14 field goals for 86%. His 12 makes placed him third in the NAIA and his 86% placed fifth in the NAIA. In addition, he was perfect on PATs going 28-28. McInerney also earned two special teams player of the week honors throughout the year.
 
Second Team Defense
 
Travis Reed (Hickman) led the Bobcats in solo tackles (44), assisted tackles (41), and total tackles (85) for a per game average of 7.7 tackles per game. Reed also registered 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss and forced one fumble and recover two.
 
Delonte Hood (Washington, D.C.) added 21 total tackles with 16 solo and five assisted. Hood had one interception for 21 yards while breaking up seven passes which led the team. Hood also blocked one kick.
 
Gerald Smith (Baltimore, Md.) was second on the team in sacks with six. In addition, he had 6.5 tackles for loss and had one fumble recovery for 27-yard score against Benedictine.
 
Nick Andrews (Ruston, La.) had 5.5 sacks on the season while being tied for second on the team in tackles for loss with ten for 40 yards. Andrew also forced one fumble. He finished with 31 tackles on the year with 12 solo and 19 assisted.
 
Honorable Mention Defense

Craig Jones (Philadelphia, Penn.) was tied for interceptions with four for 29 yards on the returns. In addition, he had two pass break ups. Jones added 21 tackles with 14 solos and seven assisted.

Michael Lombardi (Peru) was fourth in total tackles for the 'Cats with 40. He had 18 solos and 22 assisted. Lombardi was tied for second on the team with ten tackles for a loss for a loss of 47 yards. Lombardi recorded 4.5 sacks.

Ethan Skarmas (Palm Desert, Calif.) had 31 tackles on the season while 11 were solos and 20 were assisted. Skarmas added two sacks and five tackles for loss.

The Bobcats finished the 2021 season with a 7-4 overall record and 3-2 in the Heart North Division.