Butler and Bobcats in midst of career season

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN the midst of a career season, Michael Butler and his Peru State Bobcats will again in appear in a game televised by ESPN.

Peru State will host its ESPN3 game of the week this coming Saturday when they face the William Penn Statesmen at the Oak Bowl in Peru, Nebraska with an 11 am start time.

Last week, Bullard posted a career-best 12 tackles - five of which were solo and one pass breakup - in the Bobcats' 47-7 loss to the Grand View Vikings on the road last week in Grand View, Iowa.

In special teams, he also had one kickoff returned for 13 yards.

Following a three-hour rain delay, the Bobcats never recovered from a slow start when they were outscored by 27 points in the first half. The Vikings took an early 12-0 lead in the first quarter. They tacked on another 20 points in the second quarter before a 40point lead at the half. The Bobcats would score their only touchdown of the game on an early third quarter possession.

The Statesmen are presently 5-2 and are on a four-game winning streak while the Bobcats are 4-3 with consecutive losses to ranked opponents.

This will be the Bobcats' second appearance on ESPN 3 this season when they travelled to face Missouri Valley.

Peru State head coach Steve Schneider, who also serves as the athletic director, supports the broadcasts and the exposure it brings the Heart of America Conference.

"The opportunity to play when being broadcasted via different mediums and to a large constituency is a benefit to all of the Heart teams. It has been interesting seeing the process of what all is entailed in producing the games."

Bullard has recorded an interception in two of his last three games to set a new career high season total. This season, the junior defensive back has also totalled a season-high 43 tackles, 20 of which were solo and two for losses.

The Heart America Conference entered into an agreement with broadcast partners to bring further exposure to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to showcase its student athletes.