The Washburn Ichabods look to keep their three-game winning streak alive as they travel to Kirksville, Mo., to take on the Truman Bulldogs in Stokes Stadium. The Ichabods are 5-2 and 3-2 in MIAA play after topping Emporia State last time out 14-6. The Bulldogs fell to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in conference play after dropping a 45-28 decision at Pittsburg State.

Washburn (5-2, 3-2 MIAA) vs Truman (3-3, 2-3 MIAA)
Game Notes: Washburn | Truman
Date: Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Time: 2 p.m. CST   
Site: Kirksville, Mo.
Stadium: Stokes Stadium   
Opened: 1930
Surface: AstroTurf (Artificial)   
Capacity: 4,000
Series History: TSU leads 18-7 … WU has won five of the last nine meetings and two of three in Kirksville
WU Rankings (AFCA/D2football.com): WU (NR/NR), TSU (NR/NR)
Television: None
WU Radio:  KTPK 106.9 FM with Bruce Steinbrock (play-by-play), Mark Elliott (color analyst), Jan Lunsford (sideline). The broadcast begins 30 minutes before kickoff.
Streaming Video: Live online through themiaa.tv (free)
Internet: Live audio available through www.wusports.com
Live Stats: Available at http://gobulldogs.truman.edu/livestats/basketball/xlive.htm

Ichabods on Radio . . .
The game will be broadcast live on KTPK 106.9 FM. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.wusports.com. Bruce Steinbrock will be the play-by-play voice of the Ichabods and former WU quarterback Mark Elliott will be the color analyst. Jan Lunsford will provide sideline insight for listeners on the field.

The Coaches . . .
Washburn head football coach Craig Schurig was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. Schurig is 45-31 (.581) in his seventh season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 35-23 (.590) against the MIAA. He has led the Ichabods to two NCAA Playoff appearances in the last three seasons and to the 2005 MIAA Championship. Schurig is 4-2 against Truman and 2-1 against the Bulldogs in Kirksville. Schurig picked up his first head coaching win against Truman on Oct. 12, 2002.
Truman head coach Shannon Currier is in his fifth season directing the Bulldogs program and his ninth year as a collegiate coach after serving as head coach of Concordia University-St. Paul for four years (2000-03). Currier (Hamline, '93) has a 19-31-0 (.388) record at Truman and a 51-43-0 (.548) overall mark.

Last time out for the Ichabods . . .
TOPEKA, Kan – The Washburn Ichabods won their fifth straight game over the Emporia State Hornets in a 14-6 homecoming victory in Yager Stadium. With the win, the Ichabods improve to 5-2 overall and 2-3 in MIAA action.
The Ichabods scored first in the game after Garrett Cummings kicked a 23-yard field goal capping a 15-play, 73-yard drive.
The Ichabods added another field goal in the second quarter when Cummings connected on a 34-yard field goal with 2:17 remaining in the first half. The Ichabod special teams unit set the offense up after Austin Hills' 45-yard punt was muffed by Xavier Smith and Cameron Knox recovered at the ESU 25. It was the second of three muffed punt return by the Hornets in the first half. The final one, came after a 56-yard punt by Hills at the end of the half which ESU recovered at their own 9-yard line and recovered at the ESU 2.
Neither team would score in the third quarter after the Ichabods held the Hornets to -7 yard rushing. The Ichabods picked up 69 yards on 39 carries.
The Ichabods used a 60-yard, 11-play drive for the games first touchdown as Terrence Lowe scampered 4-yards to put Washburn up 13-0 with 14:19 to go in the game. Ichabod quarterback Dane Simoneau, making his first start of the season, hit Drameagon Powers on the two-point conversion to put the Ichabods up by two touchdowns.
After the Hornets and the Ichabods traded punts, ESU scored when Andre Sloan EL completed a 42-yard pass to Danny McEvoy capping a 96-yard drive covering 2:44 on the clock. The extra point attempt was missed following a bad snap.
After four consecutive punts by the teams, the Ichabods wrapped up the game with two first downs.
The Ichabods' had two interceptions with Naji Shinskia and Nathan Gaswick picking off the Hornet passes. For Gaswick, who moved from fullback to linebacker last week against Missouri Southern, it was his second career interception.
Casey Curran had eight tackles with a sack for 10 yards. Zach Watkins also had eight tackles and a tackle for loss. As a team, the Ichabods recorded 10 tackles for loss for 30 yards.
Washburn' Justin Cooper hit the century mark for the second straight game as he rushed for 115 yards on 22 carries. Lowe rushed for 63 on 17 carries and the one score.
Simoneau was 10 of 29 for 115 yards. Joe Hastings had 50 yards on three catches.
Hills averaged 40.6 yards per punt including four inside the 20 with a career-long 56 yard punt.
Sloan El had 15 carries for 32 yards and passed for 188 completing 16 of 27 with the one touchdowns and two interceptions.
ESU's defense was led by Chris Poston who had nine tackles. Katrel Larkins also had nine tackles with one sack.
Washburn had 293 total yards compared to 267 for the Hornets. Washburn gained 178 yards on the ground. 

About the opponents . . .
Senior quarterback Matt Ticich leads Truman's offensive attack, averaging 239.3 yards of total offense per game.
Ticich (6-0, 207) has completed 122 of 222 passes (.505) for 1,315 yards (219.2 ypg) and eight touchdowns with just two interceptions on the season. He also has rushed for 121 yards and two score on the year. The Bulldogs have averaged 76.5 rushing yards per game. Redshirt freshman Donald Harvey (5-9, 170) has carried the ball 48 times for a team-leading 166 yards.
Junior fullback Phil Kenney (5-11, 192) has caught a team-leading 25 passes for 297yards (11.9 ypc) and three TDs, while Harvey has 19 grabs for 170 yards. Defensively, the Bulldogs are allowing 28.8 points and 401.0 total yards per game. Junior free safety Demetrius Levant (5-10, 185) earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors in Truman's 26-20 double overtime win two weeks ago. Levant returned the game-winning interception 57 yards for a touchdown against the Mavericks.
Senior middle linebacker Jason Thier (6-0, 217) has logged a team-leading 60 tackles with 3.0 TFL, two interceptions and one PBU, while senior defensive end Les Hammers (6-3, 260) has registered 37 tackles (18 solo) with a team-leading 8.0 TFLs and 4.5 QB sacks along with two forced fumbles. Junior kicker Mickey Masucci (5-11, 196) booted a 42-yard field goal that forced OT and a 49-yard kick in the first overtime period against Nebraska-Omaha two weeks ago. Masucci has converted six of nine field goal attempts (.667) on the season as well as all 17 of his PAT tries, scoring a team-leading 35 points.

Last time out for the Bulldogs . . .
PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The 14th-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas jumped out to a 35-7 lead, then weathered a second-half rally by Truman State University to claim a 45-28 victory Saturday (Oct. 11) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
Senior TB Caleb Farabi rushed 27 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns, while senior QB Mark Smith passed for 261 yards and a score and added a rushing touchdown to fuel a Gorilla offense that compiled 557 total yards in the game.
The Gorillas (6-1, 4-1 MIAA) scored the game's first 21 points on a 22-yard TD scamper by Farabi and a pair of short plunges by senior FB Brandon Clark, who chipped in with 51 rushing yards in the game.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 2-3 MIAA) got on the board thanks to a 10-yard run by sophomore RB Anton Bernard with 5:05 to play in the first half to make it a 21-7 game, but Pitt State scored twice in the final 1:36 of the half to break away.
Smith capped a 10-play drive with a 6-yard scramble, and after the PSU defense forced a three-and-out, Smith then fired an 11-yard TD pass to senior WR Marques Nelson with 37 seconds to play in the second period.
Senior QB Matt Ticich tossed a 68-yard touchdown pass to junior RB Phil Kenney, who broke a tackle after a 10-yard gain and scooted down the sideline for the score. The Bulldogs capitalized on a botched field goal attempt by PSU on its first drive of the third quarter.
Ticich then scored on a one-yard run to make it a 35-21 game with 7:21 to play in the third period. The Bulldogs gained possession at the PSU 16 after Nelson fumbled the ball and Truman' junior FS Demestrius Lavant returned it 36 yards deep into PSU territory.
The Gorillas broke the Truman run with a 39-yard field goal by sophomore K/P Jared Witter with 13:33 to play in the game. Pitt State caught a break the play before when Witter's 44-yard attempt was blocked and advanced by three Truman players with senior DE Les Hammers eventually running it in for an apparant score from 48 yards out.
The long return was negated by an offside penalty, however, and Witter made good on his second try.
Ticich, who finished the game 23 of 43 passing for 235 yards, tossed a 4-yard TD pass to junior WR Albert Coker to make it a 38-28 game with 11:37 to play, but PSU responded with a 56-yard scoring drive three minutes later to effectively seal the win.
Junior OLB Chris Swartz and freshman WR Jon Thomas each blocked Truman punt attempts in the first quarter to help set up the Gorillas' early scoring opportunities. Freshman OLB Spencer Worthington led PSU with a team-leading six tackles (four solo).
Ticich also led the Bulldogs with 44 rushing yards on six carries. Senior WR Tyler Fenton made five catches for 41 yards for Truman. Levant, who had the game-winning interception in Truman's overtime win against Nebraska-Omaha last week, had a team-high 13 tackles (five solos, one for loss) to go with his fumble return.

Series Notes . . .
Saturday's meeting is the 26th in the series. Truman leads the all-time series 18-7. The Ichabods' win over the Bulldogs in 2002 gave head coach Craig Schurig his first collegiate win as a head coach. The Ichabods have won four of the last six meetings and five of the last nine overall. Since 1961, the Bulldogs are 8-5 against the Ichabods in Topeka. The Ichabods' 62-0 win over the Bulldogs on Sept. 18, 2004 in Kirksville was the fourth largest margin of victory in any game in school history.
Series Record: TSU leads 18-7
First Meeting: TSU 26, WU 13 (1958)
Last Meeting: WU 71-35 (10/20/07) in Topeka
Last WU win: WU 71-35 (10/20/07) in Topeka
Last TSU win: 21-7 (10/21/06) in Kirksville
Largest WU win: 62-0 (9/18/2004) in Kirksville
Largest TSU win: 39-0 (9/22/1962) in Kirksville

Last Meeting with Truman . . .
 (Oct. 20, 2007) TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods set a school record with 428 yards rushing placing three over the 100-yard rushing mark in a 71-35 win over Truman. Washburn (6-2, 5-1 MIAA) will travel to Northwest Missouri next weekend to take on the Bearcats in a battle for first place in the MIAA in Maryville.
The Ichabods took the opening kickoff and marched 50 yards in five plays as Brandon Walker scored the first of his four rushing touchdowns on the afternoon scoring from 18-yards out putting Washburn up 7-0.
After Truman's first drive stalled, the Ichabods took over at their own 4-yard line and put together a 96-yard drive in 14 plays as Ra'Shawn Mosley scored the first on a pass reception from Jordan Brill from 23-yards out doubling the lead to 14-0.
The Bulldogs got on the clock on their next possession as Mat Ticich hit Phil Kenney on a 53-yard strike cutting the Washburn lead in half.
Washburn scored on their next possession as defensive tackle Eric Butler was put in at fullback and carried from 1-yard out capping a 71-yard drive for the Ichabods. Washburn forced a three-and-out on the Bulldogs and took over at their own 49 yard line. Seven plays later and a Walker touchdown run from 1-yard out put the Ichabods up 28-7 with 11:06 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs tossed an interception on their next drive which was returned to the Truman 31 by Xavier Beckford. After an 18-yard rush by Brad Cole aided by a Bulldog personal foul, Mosley scored from 6-yards out putting Washburn up 35-7.
After a punt by the Bulldogs and a fumble by Washburn on their next possession, Truman scored on a 2-yard pass from Ticich to Ryan King cutting the Washburn lead to 35-15 after an unconventional 2-point conversion by the Bulldogs. Cary Williams blocked the extra point attempt, but Ticich scooped up the loose ball, rolled to his right and hit Les Hammers for the conversion.
After the Ichabods' drive was halted, Ben Boswell launched a 70-yard punt handing possession back to Washburn. After seven plays by the Bulldogs, Ticich was intercepted by WU's Williams at the Washburn 33 and returned it to 56-yards to the Truman 11 setting up a one-play, 11-yard drive as Mosley scored his second rushing touchdown.
With 34 seconds left in the half, Truman scored to cut the lead to 42-22 on a Ticich pass to Charlie Brunette. The Ichabods however drove 76 yards in seven plays after taking the kickoff as Brill hit Drameagon Powers for a 24-yard touchdown pass with three seconds remaining in the half putting Washburn up 50-22 after a two-point conversion from Brill to Jake Lebahn.
In the first half, Washburn recorded 472 yards in total offense on 63 plays.
In the second half, Butler picked up his second touchdown of the afternoon on another 1-yard plunge putting Washburn up 57-22.
Ticich would toss his fourth touchdown pass of the game hitting Steve D'Antonio on a 28-yard reception with 5:28 to go in the third quarter.
Walker added to the Washburn score hitting paydirt from 8-yards out with 4:17 left in the third quarter putting the Ichabods up 64-28.
Truman scored as Ticich hit Kenney for his fifth touchdown pass of the afternoon on a 15-yard completion with 12:54 remaining in the game.
Washburn would wrap up the scoring as Walker scored from 2-yards out to reach the final points of the game at 71-35.
Mosley finished with 147 yards rushing with the two touchdowns and he added 40 yards receiving on two catches and another touchdown. Walker finished with his second straight 100-yard output with 133 yards on 19 carries and four touchdowns – one shy of tying the school record of five set by Art Fletcher against Benedictine in 1948. Terrance Lowe had 11 carries for 117 yards to help the Ichabods have three 100-yard rushers in the same game in school history.
Brill was 10 of 15 for two touchdowns and 162 yards.
On defense, Washburn was led by Zach Watkins who had 11 tackles. Eric Butler had two sacks and five tackles overall to go with his two rushing touchdowns.
Jake Cunningham had 67 yards on 10 carries to lead the Bulldog ground attack. Ticich was 21 of 40 for 280 yards and five touchdowns overall to go along with two Ichabod picks.
   
Washburn Football History . . .
Washburn is 488-543-44 in the 118th year of Ichabod football.

A win for Washburn would . . .
lift the Ichabods to 489-543-44 in its football history … push the Ichabods' record to 6-2 overall … be the fourth win in the last five meetings between the teams … be the sixth win in the last 10 meetings for the Ichabods over Truman … be the third win in the last four meetings in Kirksville.

A loss for Washburn would . . .
drop the Ichabods to 488-544-44 in its football history … be the second straight loss for the Ichabods at Truman … drop the Ichabods to 5-3 overall.

The Ichabods in the National Polls . . .
The Washburn Ichabods fell out of the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 after losing to Central Missouri on Sept. 20 and did not receive any votes after their wins over Missouri Western and Emporia State. Washburn also fell out of the d2football.com media poll. The Ichabods have been as high as No. 18 in the AFCA poll this season and No. 13 in the d2football.com poll in 2008.

Ichabods vs ranked opponents . .
   The Ichabods are 8-37 vs ranked Division II opponents after their win over No. 18 Pittsburg State on Nov. 3, 2007. The win over the then No. 14 ranked Colorado Mines in the 2005 opener was the first win over a ranked team on the road for the Ichabods and the win over then No. 5 Northwest Missouri was the Ichabods' highest win over a ranked opponent on the road.  The Ichabods' highest win ever over a ranked opponents is their 35-34 overtime win over Pittsburg State, who was ranked No. 4 before losing to the Ichabods on Oct. 1, 2005. Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 8-16 against ranked opponents since 2002. They are 6-8 since the 2004 season including a 3-1 record in 2005 and an 1-3 record in 2007.

The Ichabods on homecoming . . .
Saturday's game will be the Ichabods' second of two homecoming games this season. The Ichabods have won 19 of their last 25 homecoming match ups played on the road and in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods have won seven straight homecoming games after Emporia State last week in Topeka. The last time the Ichabods fell in a homecoming game in Topeka was on Oct. 26, 2002 in double overtime to Missouri Western 34-28.

Bod Notes . . .
Hanging with Mr. Cooper - Ichabod redshirt freshman Justin Cooper recorded his second straight 100-yard rushing game at Washburn with 115 yards on 22 carries on the heels of his 109 yards on 21 carries performance against Missouri  Southern. Cooper has rushed for 285 yards this season and two touchdowns after missing the first two games with a hand injury.
Walker rushing up the charts - The Ichabods' Brandon Walker, a Garland, Texas native, rushed for 29 yards against Missouri Southern to give him 1,939 yards for his career placing him in sixth all-time at Washburn on the career rushing chart. His is looking to become the sixth Ichabod running back to have 2,000 yards in a career at Washburn. Next on the chart is Brandon Rainer, who had 2,171 yards. Walker missed the Emporia Stat game with an injury.
Watkins climbing tackle charts - Ichabod junior linebacker Zach Watkins went over the 300 tackle mark after recording eight against Emporia State putting his career total at 307, which is fifth on the all-time Washburn chart. Watkins trails Grant Gould (2002-05) who had 459 career tackles on the top of the charts. Next on the career chart is Matt Cahill (1979-82) who had 323 career stops. Watkins' 171 career assisted tackles is third all-time at Washburn trailing Gould's 254. He needs four more assisted tackles to move into second passing Joe Corcoran (2000-04) on the career chart. Corcoran had 174 assisted tackles.
Special Teams play turning tide - The Ichabods' special teams have come up with some big plays in the last three weeks. The first was an onside kick converted by freshman Greg Schoenberg after the Ichabods' first score against Missouri Western. This past week, Brad Haug took a direct snap in punt formation and carried the ball 37 yards for a first down. Against Emporia State, the Ichabods recovered two fumbles on punt returns by the Hornets and halted an extra point attempt. Garrett Cummings became the first Ichabod to hit two field goals in a single game since Connor Sable did it the first week of the 2006 season against Colorado Mines.
Time is on our side - Against Emporia State, the Ichabods led the Hornets in time of possession 33:11 to 26:49 … it was the second straight game the Ichabods led an opponent in TOP … The Ichabods had possession for 30:05 while Missouri Southern had the ball for the remaining 29:55. It was the first game since the Nov. 11 loss in the NCAA playoffs to West Texas A&M, the Ichabods had the advantage in time of possession.
Lawrence shutting down for the season - Washburn senior defensive end will be around one more season after suffering a knee injury on the first series of the Missouri State game.

On this date in Ichabod football - Oct. 18 . . .
Since 1961, the Ichabods are 3-3 on Oct. 18. Other items of note from Oct. 18 -
10/18/03 - at Southwest Baptist, W 41-37
10/18/98 - at Missouri Western, L 12-13
10/18/86 - at Wayne State, W 31-6
10/18/80 - at Fort Hays State, L 17-28
10/18/75 - at Southern Colorado, L 8-20
10/18/69 - at Pittsburg State, W 19-17

Record Chasers . . .
Several Ichabods enter the 2008 season with top 10 career records on the line in different categories.
• Senior defensive end Eric Lawrence has 33.0 career tackles for loss trailing Tony Scollieri (1994-97) who had 37.0 tackles for loss.
• Lawrence is fifth in all-time sacks at Washburn with 14.5 trailing Jim Butler (1985-87) who had 29.5 in his career.
• Bruce Ringwood is sixth in career tackles for loss with 26.

Schurig moving up the coaching ranks . . .
Seventh-year head coach Craig Schurig has compiled a 45-31 all-time record at Washburn. He is fourth on the all-time victory chart trailing Ernest Bearg who had two stints as the Ichabod head coach (1918-19 and 1929-35) and recorded 46 victories.

Up next . . .
The Ichabods will face three ranked teams in home games against No. 5 Northwest Missouri on Oct. 25 and No. 22 Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 8 with a road trip to No. 13 Pittsburg State on Nov. 1 in between.