NAIA Football-2001 Wheat Bowl Results

Peru State College rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit to knot Baker University at 14-all in regulation, then struck for the winning touchdown in overtime for a 21-14 Wheat Bowl VII victory in the regional sporting attraction's first-ever, extra-session thriller.   The winning margin came on a 21-yard aerial strike from quarterback Tommy Aldana to wide receiver Justin Bartling, followed by Austin Arnold's placement kick.  Baker was unable to reciprocate on the Wildcats' ensuing possession,.  Baker broke on top in the first period on a 20-yard pass from Martin Updike to Ryan Costello; Matt Tripplett's 40-yard pass interception return found paydirt, providing the Wildcats' intermission cushion.  Chaney Smith's 1 yard run put Peru State on the scoreboard in the third quarter, and Aldana flipped 2 yards to Joe Tynon in the fourth stanza to push the game into overtime.

*Recap from Wheat Bowl Official Web Site