Box Score | Season Stats

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods fell in a hard-fought battle to No. 3 Northwest Missouri in a 24-21 loss in Yager Stadium. With the loss, the Ichabods' record dips to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA while the Bearcats improve to 8-1 and 7-0 in conference play. Washburn will be back in action next Saturday against the Pttsburg State Gorillas on the road beginning with a 2 p.m. kickoff.

After neither team scored in the first quarter as they combined for 0 of 7 on third down conversions, the Bearcats scored first with 6:22 to go in the half as LaRon Council scored for 1-yard out putting Northwest up 7-0 following the extra point by Tommy Frevert. The key play in the drive was a fourth and nine fake punt in which Myles Burnsides carreid the ball 36 yards to the Washburn one.

In the third quarter, the teams combined for 24 points. The Bearcats scored the first touchdown of the half on their opening drive as Greg Applegate hauled in a 9-yard pass from Joel Osborn capping a 12-play, 84-yard drive with 10:18 left to go in the third quarter.

Washburn scored its first points of the game when Dane Simoneau hit Cameron Knox from 4-yards out cutting the Bearcat lead to 14-7. Frevert finished off a 14-play, 53-yard drive with a 32-yard field goal increasing teh Northwest lead to 17-7 with 1:55 to go in the third quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Simoneau led the Ichabods on a 2-play, 60-yard drive pulling Washburn within three points at 17-14 with 1:17 to go in the third quarter when he hit Drameagon Powers on a 37-yard strike.

The Bearcats then completed their longest drive of the day with 90-yard march in nine plays when Osborn hit Kendall Wright on a 3-yard completion putting the Bearcats up 24-14 with 13:37 to go in the game.

The Ichabods would then go on a 14-play drive and cut the lead back to three at 24-21 when Brandon Walker plunged in from 1-yard out. Washburn forced a turnover on downs with 3:39 left in the game, but the Ichabods had three incomplete passes and Simoneau was picked off by Myles Burnsides and after a first down by the Bearcats, Northwest took three snaps to finish out the clock wrapping up the 24-21 win at the Washburn five.

Simoneau finished 16 of 33 for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Walker finished with 48 yards rushing and 20 yards receiving on four catches.

Council rushed for 164 yards on 35 carries. Osborn finished 21 of 32 for 281 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Ichabods were led by Zach Watkins who finished with 18 tackles, which tied for the third-highest single-game total in school history. He had seven solo stops. Casey Curran had 11 tackles. Byron Smith had the only sack on the afternoon for either team for the Ichabods.

Burnsides had nine tackles to lead the Bearcat defense.

The Ichabods finished with 187 yards rushing and 272 yards in total offense.