Opening Notes
•     The Washburn Ichabods football team will open its 126th season on Sept. 1 when they will play host to Northeastern State in Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl.
•    Washburn is 73-46-6 all-time in season openers and the Ichabods have gone 52-22-4 when their opening game was played at home.
•    Washburn has won its last six of its last eight season openers with the losses both coming at the hands of Lindenwood including last season's defeat in a 20-14 game in St. Charles on Sept. 3.
•    The Ichabods are coming off a 5-6 season finishing eighth in the 2015 MIAA standings. 
•    The RiverHawks are coached by former Washburn assistant Rob Robinson who is in his third season as Northeastern State's head coach. He has several members of his coaching staff who played and coached at Washburn. Robinson spent 12 seasons at Washburn including four seasons as the offensive coordinator.
•    Also on his coaching staff is special teams and recruiting coordinator Rob Messinger who was a graduate assistant at Washburn from 2008-11.
•    Former Ichabod All-American quarterback Dane Simoneau is the RiverHawks' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Simoneau is the Ichabods' all-time leader in total offense, passing touchdowns, passing yards and 33 other school single-season, single-game and career records finishing in 2011. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at Washburn.
•    Defensive coordinator  Josh Lattimer is the son-in-law of Ichabod assistant men's basketball coach Dave Brown. Lattimer is married to Brown's daughter Nicole.
•    Former Ichabod quarterback Mitch Buhler is in his first season as a graduate assistant coach on the RiverHawk staff this season … he is coaching the running backs.
•    Washburn is 5-1 all-time against the RiverHawks and have won all three games in Topeka.
•    In games played in Topeka, Washburn has outscored the RiverHawks 89-48 including a 42-7 win on Nov. 8, 2014 in the last meeting in Yager Stadium.
•    In the last meeting with the RiverHawks, the Ichabods held NSU to -28 yards rushing …  that total was a Northeastern school-record-low for the RiverHawks and only four yards shy of a record for an Ichabod opponent of -32 yards set against Southwest Baptist in 1990.

 Coaching Staffs
Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•    was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 
•    is 96-63 (.611) in his 15th season as the Ichabod head coach. 
•    is 78-54 (.603) against the MIAA. 
•    has led the Ichabods to three NCAA Playoff appearances and two bowl appearance championships.
•    led the Ichabods to the 2005 MIAA regular season outright championship. 
•    led the Ichabods to the program's first 10-win season and their first NCAA or NAIA playoff game victory in school history with a win over Abilene Christian during the 2011 season.
•    is Washburn's all-time winningest coach with 96 wins.
•    is 4-0 against Northeastern State.

Northeastern State head coach Rob Robinson . . . 
•    is in his third season as the RiverHawks head coach.
•    was named the 19th head football coach in school history on Dec. 19, 2013. 
•    he owns a 3-19 all-time record at Northeastern State. 
•    spent 12 years under Craig Schurig as a member of the Washburn Ichabod coaching staff, serving as the offensive coordinator for the last four seasons in Topeka.
•    directed the running backs from 2007-13 and coached the wide receivers from 2002-06
•    he served as the recruiting coordinator from 2002-10 and was the academic coordinator from 2010-13.
•    Robinson is the second former coordinator under Schurig's tutelage to become the head coach of another program in the MIAA, joining Fort Hays State's Chris Brown.

 Defensive Notes
•    The Ichabods return 63.5 percent of it tackles from last season led by senior linebacker Cody Heiman who led the squad with 79 tackles with 35 solo stops and 5.5 tackles for loss.
•    Overall the Ichabods return seven starters on the defensive side of the ball.
•    In 2015, the Ichabod defense was the fourth-ranked defense in the MIAA allowing 379 yards per game while ranking fourth in rushing defense allowing 145 yards per game, fourth in sacks with 30 for 204 yards and eighth in pass defense at 233 yards per game.
•    The Ichabod defensive line will be anchored by four starters with two who earned all-MIAA honors. Senior Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq was a second team all-league pick after finishing fifth on the team with 62 tackles with a team-high 11 tackles for loss for 33 yards. 
•    On the other side is junior honorable mention all-MIAA selection Trey Parker who recorded 35 tackles with three for loss with six pass break ups. 
•    At a defensive end spot is senior Spenser Matthews who led the team with six sacks for 42 yards while recording 35 tackles adding 8.5 tackles for loss for 54 yards which were second on the squad. 
•    Also up front is junior Jalen Durham who recorded 34 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss for 20 yards adding two sacks for 11 yards. Others who saw action were senior Ardis Palmer and juniors Kastin Spencer and Ricardo Olivieri and sophomore Gary Wilson. 
•    In the mix for playing time include newcomer redshirt freshman Rashade Chester from Fort Scott Community College.
•    The Ichabods return one starter in senior second team all-MIAA pick Cody Heiman who led the Ichabods with 79 tackles adding 5.5 tackles or loss with a team-high three interceptions. 
•    The Ichabods also have experience back with junior Austin Tillman who played in 11 games last season recording 49 tackles with 29 solo stops and sophomore Derrick McGreevy who appeared in every game last season as a true freshman recording 20 tackles with eight solo stops with 2.5 tackles for loss for 12 yards and 1.5 sacks for nine yards. 
•    Junior transfer Cedric Gonzalez will also compete for time as will redshirt freshmen Nathan Mikoleit, Kyle Emerick and DeJuan Gardenhire.
•    Washburn has two starters back in the defensive backfield and four returning players will be highlighted by senior second team all-MIAA pick Zach Franklin who recorded 34 tackles with a team-high 13 pass break-ups. 
•    Also returning is junior Peter Pfannenstiel at safety who recorded 72 tackles with 43 solo stops. Also back are seniors Trevin Wiens at safety, Keaton Cofield at defensive back and sophomores Corey Ballentine and Trey Merritt. 
•    New to the player grouping is junior transfers Nick Foster, DeVonta Staples, Telvince Way and redshirt freshmen Josh Wright, Alvin Houston, Chase Williams and Heath Tucker.

 Offensive Notes
•    The Washburn Ichabod offense returns seven starters off the 2015 squad which averaged 378 yards of offense a game along with 25.3 points per game. Overall the Ichabods were sixth in the MIAA rankings in both rushing and passing averaging 158 yards and 219 yards respectively.
•    The Ichabods return 100 percent of their passing yards from last season with senior quarterback Derek McGinnis throwing for 2,409 yards with 26 touchdowns completing 188 of 378 passes.
•    Senior Derek McGinnis returns to a quarterback position after starting all 11 games last season passing for 2,409 yards and 26 touchdowns completing 50 percent of his passing attempts.
•    Sophomore Will Bolster appeared in four games while Logan Twehous and Cody Summers will be in the mix after redshirting the 2015 season.
•    Senior Mickeel Stewart is the Ichabods' leading returning rusher after appearing in eight games rushing for 192 yards and one score.
•    Junior Wesley Collins joined the Ichabods for spring practice as did junior Isaiah Ming. Redshirt freshman Kenyatte Harris, Jr. and redshirt junior Chris McGee, Jr., will also add depth at running back.
•    At fullback the Ichabods are returning one who saw action last season in sophomore Logan Lexow who played in 11 games and recorded two catches for 14 yards with both receptions going for touchdowns. Also in the mix will be redshirt freshmen Jackson Kirby as well as senior Michael Shirk who is making the move from linebacker. 
•    The Ichabods return two starters from last season led by senior Bryce Chavis who earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors after leading the team in 2015 with 51 receptions for 759 yards and eight touchdowns averaging 69 yards per game through the air.
•    Also back is senior Anthony Daniels, Jr. who had 305 yards receiving and three scores collection 18 catches making five starts playing in nine games. Sophomore Jake Horner appeared in 11 games recording 16 catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Will Hamilton was named the Ichabod freshman of the year after recording 15 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown playing as 10 games as a freshman. 
•    Junior Riley Davis also returns along with sophomore James Brania-Hopp and redshirt freshman Austen Hubert. Senior Tyrell Brown is back after missing the 2015 season with an injury. Transfers who will be also competing for time will be redshirt freshman Blake Peterson, who redshirted at quarterback at Texas State in 2015, Carey Wood, a junior transfer from North Dakota State and Blake Kitrell, a junior transfer from Tulsa.
•    The Ichabod offensive line returns four starters along with another two who played significant snaps helping the Ichabods to 159 yards per game on the ground and 219 through the air allowing only 18 sacks during the season.
•    Senior second team all-MIAA pick Michael Miller is back at left tackle and has started all 33 games in his Ichabod career. Also back is senior Zac Gillis who is moving from guard to center entering the season after starting 11 games last season. Junior Bob Marco is back at right guard after making three starts appearing in seven games overall and Colin McKeown made four starts as a freshman playing in 10 games. Senior Saul Monteon returns as well playing in 10 games making seven starters at left guard. Sophomore Trevon Allen also is back after appearing in seven games as a true freshman. Newcomer Jake Riederer, a transfer from Missouri State and redshirt freshman Joe Ferron will also make strong contributions to the offensive line.
•    The Ichabods return two players from 2015 who saw action in sophomores Michael Lickteig and Semaj Johnson. Lickteig had two catches for 17 yards and one score while Johnson appeared in seven games. In the mix for time this season will be redshirt freshman Marcus Meier and Kelton Fisher.

 Special Teams Notes
•    At placekicker, sophomore Perry Schmiedeler returns after connecting on 33 of 36 point after touchdown attempts and one of four field goal attempts tying for second on the team with 36 points scored.
•    Schmiedeler is also returning to handle punting duties as well after averaging 36.8 yards per punt on 52 attempts. Quarterback Derrick McGinnis averaged 36.7 yards per punt attempt on 20 kicks when the Ichabods were in their offensive set. 
•    The Ichabods were fourth in the MIAA last season in kickoff returns averaging 21.5 yards per attempt.
•    Senior Zach Franklin was second on the team last season with a 22.7 yards per return average on 16 attempts including a 65-yard return against Northwest Missouri. Sophomore Jake Horner had six returns for 131 yards averaging 21.8 per attempts and senior Bryce Chavis had one return for 13 yards.
•    As a unit, the Ichabods were eighth in punt return average at 7.3 per return. Chavis had 14 returns for 129 yards averaging 9.2 per return and Franklin had one return for 13 yards as the only experienced punt returners for the Ichabods coming back this season.
•    Junior Zach Downing will return for a second year of snapping for the Ichabods. He recorded three tackles after snaps last season on special teams.
•    Redshirt Freshman Cody Summers will handle the holding duties after working as a holder during spring ball.

 Know the Foe
•    The Northeastern State football team was picked to finish ninth in the 2016 MIAA Coaches Poll. The RiverHawks were also selected by the league media to finish 10th this season. 
•    This ties the highest NSU has been picked in its four previous years as league members, as the green and white was also picked ninth (coaches) and 10th (media) in a then-15 team league in 2012. 
•    The RiverHawks were 3-8 a year ago and finished in a tie for ninth in the conference.
•    Northeastern State was ranked 10th in scoring offense in the MIAA last season with 17.5 points per game and ranked 11th in scoring defense allowing 35.4 points per game.
•    The RiverHawks were ranked 11th in total offense at 291.2 yards per game and 11th in total defense allowing 438.2 yards per game.
•    On the ground the RiverHawks were last in the MIAA in rushing offense at 99.1 yards per game giving up 247.8 yards per game which was also last in the conference.
•    The RiverHawk passing game was eighth in the MIAA at 192.1 yards per game and ranked second in passing defense allowing only 190.4 yards per game.

 Series Facts With Northeastern State
Series Record: WU leads 5-1-0
Streak: WU has won the last four
First Meeting: WU 23-21 (09/26/1987) in Tahlequah
Last Meeting: WU 35-21 (11/07/2015) in Tahlequah
Last WU win: 35-21 (11/07/2015) in Tahlequah
Last NSU win: 35-30 (09/24/1988) in Topeka
Largest WU win: 48-3 (09/21/2013) in Tahlequah
Largest NSU win: 35-30 (09/24/1988) in Topeka   

 Series Notes With Northeastern State
•    The Ichabods are 5-1 all-time against the RiverHawks and have won the last four  in the series.
•     Washburn won last season's game in Tahlequah 35-21 on Nov. 7, 2015.
•     The RiverHawks lone win came in the second meeting in the series in a 35-30 win on Sept. 24, 1988 in Tahlequah.
•     Washburn is 3-0 in games played in Topeka and 2-1 in games played in Tahlequah.

 Last Meeting With Northeastern State
(11/7/2015) TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The Washburn Ichabod defense held Northeastern State to 19 yards of offense in the second half as the Ichabods turned a 21-7 deficit into a 35-21 win over the RiverHawks.
Washburn held the RiverHawks to a school-record-low -28 rushing yards in the game. The Ichabod record for an opponent low-rushing total is -32 set against Southwest Baptist in 1990.
Northeastern State scored first with a 2-yard touchdown run by Cody Busby after taking advantage of a pass interference penalty taking the lead with three minutes left to play in the first quarter.
Washburn tied the score on its ensuing drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Derek McGinnis to Bryce Chavis with 1:22 left to play in the first quarter.
The RiverHawks took a 14-7 lead on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Thor Long to Matthew Butler turning a sack into a scramble finding Butler for the score.
After the Ichabods had driven down into RiverHawk territory, Tony Newman picked off a Washburn pass and returned it 73-yard for a touchdown staking the RiverHawks (2-8, 2-8 MIAA) to a 21-7 lead with 4:45 to play in the first half.
In the first half the Ichabod defense limited the RiverHawks to 91 yards of offense on 35 plays while the Ichabods gained 148.
Brandon Bourbon opened the scoring for the Ichabods in the second half with a 2-yard touchdown plunge with 2:01 to play in the third quarter cutting the lead to 21-14.
Connor Crimmins caught a pass on the Ichabods' next drive tying the score at 21 on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 55-yard reception.
After an interception by Shay Wooten, Washburn (5-5, 5-5 MIAA) scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from McGinnis to Logan Lexow as the Ichabods would go up 28-21 with 8:58 left in the game.
The teams would trade punts, Hayden Groves broke off a 52-yard touchdown rush as the Ichabods would go ahead 35-21 with 2:15 to play.
The Ichabod defense held the RiverHawks to a school-record-low -28 rushing yards in the game and only 19 yards of offense in the second half leading to 110 total yards on 62 plays while the Ichabods recorded 401 yards on 80 plays.
The Ichabods recorded 10 tackles for loss for 51 yards and six sacks overall. Kingsley Ibeh led the Ichabods with three tackles for loss for 15 yards and two sacks for 11 yards. Cody Heiman had five tackles.
Bourbon finished with 131 yards on 25 carries and one score and Groves had 14 carries for 87 and a score as the Ichabods had 192 yards on the ground overall. 
Bryce Chavis had four catches for 45 yards and and a score and Crimmins had two catches and a score. Will Hamilton added three catches for 47 yards.
McGinnis was 14 of 29 for 209 yards and three scores.

 Last Time Out For Northeastern State
(11/14/2015) ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Northeastern State football team defeated Lindenwood 17-14 in the last game of the season.
The RiverHawks were able to end the season at 3-8 overall. This was the highest victory total since 2012. They also leapfrogged the Lions (3-8, 3-8 MIAA) in the final conference standings to land in ninth place a year removed from a winless campaign.
Senior running back Joel Rockmore ended his career with a bang, as he tallied 116 yards rushing on 23 carries and 25 yards receiving on three catches. Senior quarterback Thor Long had career highs in completions (19), passing yards (260) and passing TD's (2), while also running for 88 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Zac King posted a career-high 104 yards receiving on four catches.
Both teams drove into enemy territory on their opening possessions, but both were ultimately forced to punt.
The RiverHawks were the first to strike, as they marched 92 yards on six plays during their second possession to snag a 7-0 lead. The longest drive of the season for NSU was capped by a 17-yard TD pass from Long to junior wide receiver Jamari Pope.
Lindenwood answered on its next drive, when Mason Bendigo found Tre' Roby for 27 yards late in the first quarter.
The two teams were unable to add to the score until the final play of the first half, when junior kicker Eddie Garcia's 34-yard field goal gave the visitors a 10-7 halftime lead.
The Lions took a 14-10 lead late in the third quarter when Connor Harris scampered for a 23-yard score. The starting middle linebacker lined up in the wildcat formation to start the second half and gave NSU fits for the second-straight year. Last season he posted 188 yards rushing and four TD's on just 11 carries, while also registering a game-high 14 tackles.
He tallied 53 yards on his first three carries Saturday, but this time Northeastern State was able to shut him down. In his final four rushing attempts, he lost a fumble and had -2 yards.
The game-winning score for the RiverHawks came with 4:52 left on the clock. Long sailed a pass up the middle to sophomore tight end Decoryan Holman, and he leapt over the defenders and made the catch to win the game for NSU.
Lindenwood was able to drive into RiverHawks territory, but Brandon White missed a 35-yard field goal and NSU ran out the clock to secure the victory.
NSU outgained LWU 441-298, and the visitors dominated time of possession 34:18-25:42.

 Last Time Out For Washburn 
(11/14/2015) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod football season came to an end with a 49-13 loss to No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri. Washburn finishes the season 5-6.
Washburn fell trailed 18-0 at the half and would trail by as many as 25 before Jake Horner pulled down a 30-yard touchdown reception from Derek McGinnis on a fourth and 24 putting the Ichabods on the board 25-7.
The Bearcats (11-0, 11-0 MIAA) blocked a punt returning it 24 yards for a touchdown with 3:44 to play in the third quarter stretching the lead to 32-7.
Washburn added to its score on a 4-yard touchdown pass from McGinnis to Logan Lexow with 2:29 to play in the third quarter.
The Bearcats added 17 more points in the fourth quarter leading to the 49-13 win.
Washburn (5-6, 5-6 MIAA) was led defensively by Cody Heiman who had 12 tackles and Peter Pfannenstiel who recorded 11 tackles adding an interception. Shay Wooten finished with nine tackles recording an interception.
The Ichabods were limited offensively to 18 yards rushing on 29 carries and McGinnis had two touchdown passes and 139 yards through the air. Brandon Bourbon had three catches for 40 yards to lead the receiving numbers for Washburn.

 A Win Over Northeastern State Would ...
•     lift the Ichabods to 535-571-44 in their football history.
•     move the Ichabods to 1-0 on the season.
•    improve the Ichabods to 6-1 all-time with Northeastern State and be the fifth-straight win over the RiverHawks.
•    improve Washburn to 74-46-6 all-time in season openers and to 53-22-4 in seaon openers played in Topeka.

 A Loss To Northeastern State Would ...
•     drop the Ichabods to 534-571-44 in their football history.
•     snap a two-game season-opening-game losing streak to open the season.
•    snap the Ichabods four-game winning streak over Northeastern State.
•    drop the Ichabods to 0-1 on the season for the second-straight season.

  Washburn Football History
•    Washburn is 534-570-44 (.484) in the 125th year of Ichabod football.
•    The Ichabods are ranked 15th in NCAA Division II history in wins.
•    The Ichabods have 12 conference titles with the last coming in 2005 in the MIAA.
•    Washburn has had 126 first team all-conference picks and 44 first team all-MIAA selections.
•    Washburn has had 78 all-American selections and 54 all-American picks since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in 1989.
•    Five Ichabods have been picked in the NFL Draft.

  Ichabods In The National Polls
WACO, Texas -- The Ichabods did not receive votes in the initial poll of the 2016 season. Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 55 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times. 

  Up Next
The Ichabods will hit the road for the first time in 2016 as they travel to Northwest Missouri to take on the No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Bearcats in their home opener.