Kickoff
The Washburn Ichabods will open their 121st season of football on Sept. 1 in Sioux Falls, S.D. when they will take on the Sioux Falls Cougars at 6 p.m. inside Bob Young Stadium. The Ichabods are ranked No. 18 in the American Football Coaches Association preseason top 25 poll while the Cougars, who are in their third and final year of NCAA DII reclassification, were ranked 31st.
Game story lines
• The Ichabods are opening the season on the road for the third straight season. Washburn began the 2009 and 2010 seasons at Colorado Mines winning 27-14 in 2009 and 34-29 last season.
• The Ichabods are 69-46-5 (.596) in season openers all-time and they have won their last three and six of nine overall under head coach
Craig Schurig.
• Sioux Falls is playing its first game as an NCAA Division II school. The Panthers had won three of the last four NAIA Championships falling in the 2010 title game 10-7 to Carroll. Starting in 2011 the Cougars will be a member of the Northern Sun Conference.
• The Ichabods have won their last four road openers with wins over Colorado Mines in 2007, 2009 and 2010 as well as a win over Football Sub-Division foe Missouri State in 2008. Overall under head coach Criag Schurig the Ichabods are 7-2 in their first road games of the season.
Game center: Washburn vs Sioux Falls
Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
Location: Sioux Falls, S.D. - Bob Young Stadium (5,400)
Television: None
Internet: None
Radio: AM 580 WIBW and online at wusports.com
The Series: First meeting
Series Notes: The date between the Ichabods and the Cougars will be the first meeting between the two in football.
Coaches
Washburn head football coach
Craig Schurig was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. Schurig is 62-41 (.602) in his tenth season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 48-32 (.579) against the MIAA. He has led the Ichabods to two NCAA Playoff appearances in the last five seasons and to the 2005 MIAA Championship as well as recording seven straight winning seasons for the first time in the program's history. Schurig's 62 wins is the second-most in school history behind Dick Godlove (1946-58) who recorded 67 wins.
Sioux Falls head coach Jed Stugart is entering his second season on the Panther sidelines and has recorded a 13-1 recording leading them to the NAIA Championship game in his first season as their coach. Stugart spent the 2006-08 seasons as the head coach at MidAmerica Nazarene in Olathe, Kan., where he was 26-7 overall. He is 39-8 overall as a head coach. He was at Northern Colorado from 1999 to 2005 spending the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator. After coaching at MidAmerica Nazarene, he spent the 2009 season as the linebacker's coach at Nevada-Las Vegas.
Notebook
Quick Starts Key for Ichabods
Under head coach
Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 45-10 when leading after the first quarter and they have gone 41-11 when they score the first points of the ball game.
Se
ptember Action
The Ichabods are 20-16 under head coach
Craig Schurig. Since the 2005 season, the Ichabods are 15-9. During the 2010 season, the Ichabods dropped three straight during the month of September by a combined 25 points.
Number 9 . . . Number 9 . . . Number 9
Senior signal caller
Dane Simoneau has started the last 29 games … has passed for 7,202 yards averaging 240 yards per game in his career passing … he is tenth on the MIAA's all-time passing chart … he has thrown for a school-record 64 touchdowns completing 57.9 percent of his career passing attempts … he has thrown for at least 300 yards in a game 11 times … he also owns the Ichabod career touchdown passing mark at 64 and the single season record of 33 both set last season … he also owns the Ichabod single season total offensive record at 3,433 yards set in 2010 breaking his own record of 2,922 set in 2009 … he has recorded 7,086 career total offensive yards which is second on the all-time chart behind Tyler Schuerman's 8,315 yards.
MIAA Career Passing Chart Yards Att-Comp Pct TD's
1. Eric Czerniewski, UCM 2006-10 12,847 1678-1043 62.2 107
2. Drew Newhart, MWSU 2007-10 10,691 1348-817 60.1 95
3. Kasey Waterman, MWSU 1998-2001 10,025 1304-730 56.0 98
4. Eric Howe, TSU 1998-2001 9,097 1203-687 57.1 70
5. Adam Hinspeter, MSSU 2005-2008 9,016 1368-842 61.5 61
6. Blake Bolles, NWMSU, 2007-2010 8,668 995-662 66.5 79
7. Chris Greisen, NWMSU 1995-98 7,457 853-500 58.6 68
8. Josh Lamberson, NWMSU 2002-05 7,365 873-575 65.8 65
9. Paul Kaiser, UCM 1993-95, 1997 7,233 982-513 52.2 58
10.
Dane Simoneau, WU 2008-pr. 7,202 813-471 57.9 64
Washburn Career Total Offense Chart Yards Rushing Passing
1. Tyler Schuerman, 2000-04 8,315 1,790 6,525
2.
Dane Simoneau, 2008-pr 7,086 -116 7,202
3. Jordan Brill, 2003-07 6,766 -275 7,041
4. Joe Schartz, 1993-96 6,622 1,095 5,527
5. Dustin Hickel, 2001-04 5,242 1,098 4,144
Hanging with Mr. Cooper
Senior running back
Justin Cooper has rushed for 1,510 career yards and 15 career touchdowns … he is 14th on the all-time rushing chart entering his senior season.
Washburn Career Rushing Chart Yards Attempts YPC TD's
1. Ra'Shawn Mosley, 2004-07 3,416 602 5.7 34
2. Trent Hearn, 2003-06 3,154 679 4.6 48
3. Dino DeLisa, 1983-85 2,794 665 4.2 29
4. Les Williams, 1986-90 2,209 522 4.2 19
5. Brandon Rainer, 1998-2001 2,171 457 4.8 31
6. Brandon Walker, 2005-08 2,015 437 4.6 21
7.
Vershon Moore, 2009-10 1,968 337 5.8 19
8. Leroy Harmon, 1945-49 1,927 - - -
9. Willie Sapp, 1995-97 1,816 322 5.6 14
10. Tyler Schuerman, 2000-04 1,790 422 4.0 25
14.
Justin Cooper, 2008-10 1,510 366 4.1 15
Fear the Beard
Ichabod sophomore DeJuan Beard finished the 2010 season second in the MIAA punt returns with an 11.8 yard per return average … he also finished second on the team in 2010 with 374 receiving yards and 26 receptions adding four touchdowns.
Ichabods in Non-conference Action
Since joining the NCAA ranks, the Ichabods are 21-17 in non-MIAA games. Under head coach
Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 13-6 in non-conference games since the 2002 season during the regular season following the loss to Abilene Christian in their 2010 home opener. In non-conference regular season away games under Schurig, the Ichabods are 7-2 and in home games during the regular season against non-MIAA foes, the Ichabods are 6-4.
Red Zone Success
The last two seasons the Ichabods have been outstanding in the red zone converting on a combined 101 of 113 trips into the red zone scoring 74 touchdowns with 27 field goals.
Welcome Back
The Ichabods welcome back three starters from the 2010 and 2009 seasons who were injured and now return for the 2011 campaign. Senior linebacker
Michael Hollins started the first four games recording 33 tackles with 18 solo stops before suffering an injury on the fourth play of the game at Central Missouri. He recorded back-to-back double-digit tackle totals against Abilene Christian and Missouri Western with 10 and 11 respectively while forcing two fumbles and recovering one. Senior free safety
Casey Curran started the first three games before going down after a punt return against Missouri Western. He had recorded 13 tackles in three appearances in 2010. Junior tight end
Ryan Mertz missed the entire 2010 season with a foot injury after starting 11 games as a sophomore. He recorded 26 receptions in 2009 for 547 yards and three touchdowns.
In the Middle
In the middle of the defensive line is senior defensive tackle
Ian Williams who has started the last 25 games. He has appeared in 31 games recording 66 tackles with four for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Folk hero
Senior offensive lineman
Brian Folkerts has started the last 26 games appearing in 31 for the Ichabods at left tackle and at right tackle. As a junior he started all 12 games on the left side of the line after starting 14 on the right side as a sophomore and redshirt freshman.
Man of Steel
Senior linebacker
Marty Pfannenstiel has played in 36 career games at Washburn and has started the last 21 games. He has 152 total career tackles after tying for the team lead with 91 tackles as a junior in 2010.
Taylor Made
Junior linebacker
Jahmil Taylor started the final eight games of the 2010 season and has made 18 career starts recording 143 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss. He tied with
Marty Pfannenstiel for the team-lead last season with 91 tackles with 40 solo stops.
Showing the Way
Senior fullback
Greg Schoenberg has started 11 games at Washburn rushing for 118 yards with 11 catches for 182 yards. He has cleared the way for one of Washburn's six single-season 1,000-yard rushers at Washburn while recording 24 tackles on special teams appearing in 34 career games.
In the Trenches
For the five Ichabod offensive line starters, Washburn averages 6-foot-2 and 321.6 pounds while the three Cougars' defensive linemen - in a 3-4 scheme - average 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds. When the Cougars have the ball, their five offensive linemen average 6-foot-2 and 287 pounds while the Ichabods four defensive linemen average 6-foot-2 and 273 pounds.
About Sioux Falls
The Cougars are coming off a 13-1 season and a fifth National Athletic Intercollegiate Association (NAIA) national championship appearance. The 2011 season marks USF's third and final year of NCAA DII reclassification, the Cougars will compete as a member of the NSIC in the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year. Second-year head coach Jed Stugart is on the lookout for 13 new starters (six offense, seven defense), including vacancies left at quarterback by first team Great Plains Athletic Conference selection Jon Eastman and at wide receiver by NAIA Player of the Year Jon Ryan. Stugart will welcome back 10 returning starters (five offense, four defense, K/P).
Last time out for Sioux Falls
Carroll College topped Sioux Falls by a score of 10-7 in the 2010 NAIA National Championship held in Rome, Ga., ending USF's NAIA record-tying 42 game win streak. Eric Anderson was named the Defensive Player of the Game after a 17-tackle, two sack performance. Carroll's quarterback Gary Wagner earned Offensive Player of the Game honors completed 12 of 21 passes for 107 yards and adding 103 rush yards on 12 attempts, including the 75 yard touchdown score in the second quarter.
Last time out for Washburn: WU 45, #24 Midwestern State 14 • Dec. 4, 2010
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods won their fourth straight game wrapping up the season with an 8-4 record topping Midwestern State 45-14 in the second annual Kanza Bowl at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka.
Washburn's
Joe Hastings was named the Washburn Most Outstanding Player after recording 10 catches for 223 yards after opening the scoring on a 74-yard touchdown reception from
Dane Simoneau capping a four-play, 92-yard drive with 6:17 to go in the first quarter.
Steve Ivanisevic wrapped up a 61-yard drive with 10:24 to go in the opening half with a 34-yard field goal. The field goal was his 16th of the season in 18 attempts and his 35th of his two-year Washburn career.
Midwestern State got on the board taking advantage of an Ichabod turnover when Lester Bush carried the ball four yards to cut the Ichabod lead to 10-7 with 1:04 to play in the half. However the Ichabods would stretch the lead out to 17-7 when Simoneau hit Tore Hurst on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds to go in the half.
After Washburn forced the Mustangs to punt on their opening drive of the second half, Washburn marched 57-yards in five plays when Simoneau hit DeJuan Beard on a 19-yard scoring strike with 9:16 to play in the third quarter.
Washburn added fourth quarter on a
Terrence Lowe touchdown with 11:01 to play.
Simoneau finished 18 of 26 for 350 yards with three touchdowns upping his school-record single-season total to 3,459 yards while breaking Jordan Brill's school career passing mark raising his total to 7,202 yards. Hastings finished his Washburn career with a single-season school-record of 1,546 yards breaking Troy Slusser's mark of 1,512 yards from 1988. He also broke Ron Hamilton's single-season reception record of 84 recording 87 in 2010. Lowe finished with 73 yards on 11 carries.
The Washburn offense racked up 520 total yard while holding the Mustangs to 255 yards. The Ichabods averaged 8.3 yards per play and 18 yards per completion. The Mustangs averaged 3.4 yards per play and 5.0 yards per completion.
Washburn Football History
Washburn is 505-553-44 (.478) in the 121st year of Ichabod football.
A Win for Washburn
lift the Ichabods to 506-553-44 in their football history … move the Ichabods to 8-2 in their first road game of the season under head coach
Craig Schurig … move the Ichabods to 1-0 all-time against Sioux Falls … give the Ichabods their fourth-straight season-opening win.
A Loss for Washburn
would drop the Ichabods to 505-554-44 in their football history … would drop the Ichabods to 0-1 on the season … would be Washburn's first season-opening loss since an Aug. 25, 2007 defeat to Chadron State in Topeka 34-24.
The Ichabods in the national polls
The Ichabods opened the 2011 season ranked 18th in the AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll and ranked 22nd in the D2football.com media poll.
Bods and ends
Even though the Ichabods have never faced the Cougars in football, the Ichabod basketball team is 1-0 against the Cougars facing them on Dec. 6, 1980 winning 85-72 in the Emporia State Classic … the Ichabod baseball team is 4-0 against the Cougars sweeping a pair of doubleheaders during the 1999 and 2000 seasons … the Ichabods and the Cougars each have one player who redshirted at Nebraska-Omaha in 2010 before the Mavericks cut the program earlier this season -
Michael Lisher from Lawrence, Kan., for the Ichabods and J.T. Surgant for the Cougars - both redshirted on the offensive line last season … the Cougars have no players from Kansas on their roster, while the Ichabods have no players from South Dakota …the Ichabods are 4-2 against schools from South Dakota going 2-1 against Augustana (who is located in Sioux Falls), 1-1 against South Dakota and 1-0 against Northern State.
On this date in Ichabod football
The Ichabods are 1-1 since the 1961 season in games played on Sept. 1. Washburn fell in its last game on Sept. 1 37-18 at Wisconsin-LaCrosse during the 2001 season while topping Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T) 13-7 on the road in 1990.
Up next
The Ichabods will open the home slate in Yager Stadium on Sept. 8 in a Thursday night game with the Lincoln Blue Tigers with a 6 p.m. kickoff. The game will be the first game of the MIAA TV Game of the Week for the season. Washburn is also scheduled to be the featured game on Oct. 8 when they will travel to face Truman State in Kirksville in a 2 p.m. start time. Overall, Washburn is scheduled to have three game broadcast on regional and national television this season. The Sept. 22nd game with Missouri Western from Yager Stadium is the CBS College Sports Television National Game of the Week.
