The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN his sophomore season of college football, Michael Bullard looks to have a greater impact on the defensive backfield.

Bullard and his Peru State Bobcats are off to a 2-0 start this season in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I.

He is joined on the Bobcats roster by fellow Bahamian, freshman wide receiver Dwight Butler.

Playing at home at the Oak Bowl in Peru, Nebraska, the Bobcats scored a 42-10 win over Evangel Crusaders to move to 2-0 on the season.

Bullard, the sophomore cornerback and starter for the second consecutive year, finished with two pass breakups and two tackles.

In his freshman season with the Bobcats, he appeared in seven games and finished with seven tackles, four passes broken up and one interception.

The Bobcats opened the season with a 39-14 win over the Central Methodist Eagles. However, Bullard did not play in week one.

The Bobcats return to the road in week three when they face Avila at 12pm on September 10.

The ‘Cats will try to continue their winning trend and improve on a successful 2015 season. They have returned eight starters each on offence and defence, but have also replaced 13 seniors from last year’s squad, many of whom played key roles a season ago.

Prior to 2011, Peru State competed in the NAIA Division II Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) where they last captured the National Championship in 1990.

At the high school level, Bullard and Butler were members of the Rabun Gap Nacoochee High School programme that led the team to an historic 11-3 finish overall on the season.

A versatile senior, he was one of the team’s leaders on both sides of the ball, predominantly as a running back, and led the Eagles to the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association State Championship, Division III title game.

For his high school career he finished with 1,800 yards on 305 carries for an average of 5.9 yards per carry.

He finished with 25 total touchdowns, including 19 rushing. He also caught 25 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively he finished with 172 tackles, 12 tackles for losses, seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), five fumble recoveries and five blocked field goals.

In the special teams game he returned 11 kicks at 15.8 yards per return and 13 punts at a 13- yard average, including a 51-yard touchdown.

Butler finished his high school career with 56 catches for 812 yards and eight touchdowns.

Defensively, he also recorded 84 tackles, two sacks, one interception and three fumble recoveries.