Setting the scene. . .
The Washburn Ichabods and the Emporia State Hornets will battle for the 105th time in the series history in the 2008 edition of the Turnpike Tussle. It is also homecoming for Washburn as they host their arch-rival. The Washburn/Emporia State series is the most active series in the NCAA Division II ranks. Washburn is 4-2 and 2-2 in the MIAA currently sitting in a three-way tie for fourth in the standings. Emporia State is 3-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The Ichabods shutout Missouri Southern last time out 23-0 in Joplin and the Hornets fell 42-14 at Central Missouri for their second straight loss.

Game 7
Washburn (4-2, 2-2 MIAA) vs
Emporia State (3-3, 1-3 MIAA)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Time: 1 p.m. CST   
Site: Topeka, Kan.
Stadium: Yager Stadium   
Opened: 1928
Surface: Sportexe (Artificial)   
Capacity: 7,200
Series History: ESU leads 51-47-6 … WU has won 5 of the last 6 meetings
WU Rankings (AFCA/D2football.com): WU (NR/NR), ESU (NR/NR)
Game Notes: Washburn | Emporia State

Broadcast Information:
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://sidearmstats.com/washburn/football

Ichabods on Radio . . .
The game will be broadcast live on KTPK 106.9 FM - the home of the Ichabods and Lady Blues. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.wusports.com by following the “Live Audio” link under football. 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 44-31 (.581) in his seventh season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 34-23 (.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 5-1 against Emporia State and 3-0 against ESU in Topeka.
Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins has compiled a career record of 57-20 in his seventh year as a head coach. He is 6-11 in his second season at his alma mater. He had a 51-9 career record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State, including two trips to the national championship game. Higgins was a quarterback for the Hornets from 1987-90 and was a member of the 1989 national runners-up team. Higgins was 0-2 against Washburn as ESU's quarterback and 0-1 as a coach against the Ichabods.

Last time out for the Ichabods . . .
JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabod defense recorded its first shutout in 46 games and they scored two touchdowns in the process in a 23-0 win over Missouri Southern.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Ichabods' Brad Cole, who started the previous five games at wide receiver, made his first start at outside linebacker and picked off a tipped pass from the Lions' Adam Hinspeter and returned it 30 yards for the Ichabods' first score with 4:43 left in the second quarter.
Washburn added a field goal as time expired before halftime when Garrett Cummings connected on a 23-yard field capping a 11-play, 60-yard drive as the Ichabods took a 10-0 lead into the halftime break.
Neither team scored in the third quarter and it wasn't until 5:38 left in the game any points were put on the board when Cassey Curran picked off a Hinspeter pass and returned it 58 yards to put the Ichabods up 16-0 after the extra point missed.
After gaining the ball back on downs, the Ichabods Justin Cooper put the game out of reach with a 16-yard touchdown run with 1:37 to play topping off a 7-play, 50-yard drive giving Washburn a 23-0 win as Missouri Southern again turned the ball back to the Ichabods on downs and the Ichabods ran out the clock with one final kneel-down.
The shutout for the Ichabods was the first since Sept. 18, 2004 in a 62-0 win at Truman State. It was also the first time since the 2003 season the Lions had suffered a home shutout when Pittsburg State topped them in a 49-0 win on Oct. 25.
Each team recorded 15 first downs while the Ichabod defense held the Lions to 203 total offensive yards and 2.9 yards per play. The Ichabods also held the Lion defense to 20 yards rushing on 24 carries and to 183 yards passing after completing 25 of 45 attempts.
Cooper recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game at Washburn with 109 yards on 21 carries averaging 5.2 yards per attempt.
Curran led the Ichabods with 10 tackles including five solo stops. Bruce Ringwood had nine tackles including two for loss and Zach Watkins also had nine tackles. The Ichabods also had four sacks in the game with Ringwood, Dakota Palan-Johnson, Ian Williams and Martell Underwood each recording one.
Ichabod quarterback Jake Iverson was 8 of 21 for 86 yards and Drameagon Powers and Lloyd Bias each had two catches for the Ichabods.

About the opponents . . .
Emporia State is 3-3 overall and 1-3 in MIAA play after dropping their last two games, most recently at Central Missouri in a 42-14 setback. The Hornets fell at home to Missouri Southern 19-18 on Sept. 27.
Adrian Abner leads the Hornets with 47 yards per game on the ground picking up 235 yards on 39 carries. Andre Sloan El, who missed the Hornets' last game against Central Missouri, has passed for 128 yards per game completing 54 of 87 passes for 643 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.
Sean Partridge leads the Hornets in receiving with 51.8 yards per game with 19 receptions for 311 yards and two scores. He is averaging 16.4 yards per reception.
On defense, Katrel Larkins leads the team with 41 tackles, including 21 solo stops. Bryan Tarkington leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and four pass break ups.
ESU started the season with two non-conference wins over Western State in a 42-0 win and a 27-14 win over Augustana. They fell at Nebraska-Omaha 41-20 to open MIAA play and topped Fort Hays State in at home 24-13 before losing their last two games.

Last time out for the Hornets . . .
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Junior QB Eric Czerniewski threw for a career-high four touchdowns and ran for another as the No. 22 Central Missouri Mules collected a 42-14 victory over Emporia State Saturday afternoon (Oct. 4) at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field.
Czerniewski was 14-of-19 for 283 yards through the air, as UCM (5-1, 3-1 MIAA) would collect 432 yards of offense -- 309 passing.
The Mules jumped out to a 42-0 lead before the Hornets (3-3, 1-3 MIAA) spoiled the shutout with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes by freshman QB Sheldon Smith.
Senior RB Glenn Milner caught Czerniewski's first two TD passes -- connections of 56 and 49 yards -- in the first half. Those TDs sandwiched a 10-yard blocked punt return by junior DE Mark Tiernan with 2:58 left in the first period. Tiernan reaped the rewards when freshman DB Brent Ginn smothered a punt by senior P Johnny Torres.
Milner had five catches for 114 yards and added 42 rushing yards on 12 carries for the Mules.
UCM took a 28-0 lead into halftime after sophomore TE DeMarco Cosby connected with Czerniewski for a 55-yard TD with 7:00 left in the second quarter.
Czerniewski made it 35-0 with a 3-yard run with 3:08 to go in the third quarter. The drive started at the ESU 24, when the Mules forced a fumble on a fourth-and-15 play by the Hornets.
The last Central Missouri score came on a 2-yard toss from Czerniewski to sophomore FB Brent Boehringer, which was set up by a 54-yard connection between Czerniewski and Cosby. Cosby finished with four catches for 121 yards.
Smith, a true freshman who relieved redshirt freshman starting QB Zach Rampy, was able to get two of his three completions into the end zone during the fourth quarter. He and senior WR Sean Partridge got together for a 39-yard TD pass with 10:36 left, then Smith found freshman RB Xavier Smith for a 67-yard connection.
Xavier Smith ended up with three catches for 119 yards.
Junior DB Mike Stevenson (4 solos) and senior LB Max Fairclough (2 solos, 2 for loss) each had eight tackles for UCM. Freshman DB Tyler Mikkelson had seven stops (3 solos) for ESU.

Series Notes . . .
Today's meeting is the 105th in the series between the Ichabods and the Hornets. Emporia State and Washburn have met every year since 1899 with the exception of 1943 through 1945 because of World War II and 1989 and 1990 after Washburn moved to NCAA Division II and the Hornets remained in NAIA until 1991. The teams also played twice during the 1966 season. Emporia State leads the all-time series 51-47-6. The Ichabods have won five of the last six meetings. The Ichabods have won the last three games played in Topeka and have not won five or more straight games over the Hornets since a six-game winning streak between the 1973 to 1978 seasons.
Series Record: ESU leads 51-47-6
First Meeting: ESU 11, WU 0 (1899)
Last Meeting: WU 31-21 (10/13/07) in Emporia
Last WU win: 31-21 (10/13/07) in Emporia
Last ESU win: 35-28, OT (9/20/2003) in Emporia
Largest WU win: 41-7 (10/1/83) in Topeka & (1913)
Largest ESU win: 45-6 (1928)

Longest Running Rivalries in NCAA D2 . . .
Entering this season, the WU/ESU series is the most played in NCAA Division II after North Dakota and North Dakota State and South have played 110 times, but not since the 2003 season after North Dakota State has moved up to NCAA I-AA in football. South Dakota and South Dakota State have played 104 times, but not since the 2003 season after South Dakota State moved up to NCAA I-AA in football.
Games     Opponents     Series    1st meeting
110     North Dakota-North Dakota St.%     62-45-3     1894
104     South Dakota-South Dakota St. %     50-47-7     1889
104     Emporia St.-Washburn     51-46-6     1899
98     Virginia St.-Virginia Union     48-40-9     1900
96     Tuskegee-Morehouse     60-27-8     1902
96     Presbyterian-Newberry     58-32-5     1913
92    North Dakota St.-South Dakota St.&     51-36-5     1903
91    South Dakota-Morningside#     57-29-5     1898
92    Truman-Central Mo.     52-33-5     1905
88     Colorado Mines-Colorado Col.#     46-37-5     1889
88     Pittsburg St.-Emporia St.     54-31-2     1915
86     Catawba–Lenoir-Rhyne     44-38-4     1907
87     Truman-Northwest Mo. St.     54-28-4     1908
84     Central Ark.-Arkansas Tech^     41-40-3     1911
83     Virginia Union-Hampton#     41-39-3     1906
#Have not met since 2000. &Both teams are reclassifying to Division I-AA. %Have not met since 2003. ^Did not play in 2006.

Last Meeting with Emporia State . . .
 (Oct. 13, 2007) EMPORIA, Kan. -- The 104th meeting of the Turnpike Tussle went to the Washburn Ichabods as Brandon Walker rushed for 153 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns in a 31-21 win.
The Ichabods scored first as Drameagon Powers pulled in a 44-yard touchdown reception from Jordan Brill at the 9:28 mark of the first quarter.
The Hornets answered on their next drive as quarterback Andre Sloan El rushed in from 3-yards out with 7:34 on the clock in the first quarter. On the Ichabods next possession, Ra'Shawn Mosley capped an 8-play, 54-yard drive to put the Ichabods up 14-7.
The Ichabods scored the only points of the second quarter as Andrew Knight connected on a 25-yard field goal with 3:22 left in the half putting Washburn up 17-7.
Neither team could put any points on the board in the third quarter, but it set up a wild fourth quarter with the team combining for 28 points.
ESU's Seville Ko scored on a 9-yard touchdown run with 14:12 left in the game, but his extra point was blocked by Ben Bianchino, leaving Washburn with a 17-13 lead.
Walker rushed for his first touchdown in the quarter as he went over right end for a 70-yard touchdown run putting the Ichabods up 24-13. The Hornets would come back on their next drive chewing up 7:04 off the clock going 68-yards in 16 plays cutting the lead to 24-21 after the two point conversion was successful after Sloan El's 2-yard run.
The Ichabods' Walker scored his second TD of the quarter going around left end this time galloping 68 yards putting Washburn up 31-21.
Washburn iced the game on ESU's drive final drive when, Bruce Ringwood caused a fumble and Eric Butler fell on it and the Ichabods ran out the clock for the 10-point win.
Walker led the Ichabods with his 153 yards on the ground and Mosley rushed for 93 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown while Washburn finished with 254 yards on the ground on 38 carries and three touchdowns. The Ichabods had 10 receivers with at least one reception and Trent Stepps had two. Ben Boswell had four punts for 178 yards including a 63-yard kick in the third quarter.
Ringwood and Zach Watkins each had 11 tackles to lead the Ichabods and Ray Trice had a career-high 10 tackles, including one for loss.
The Ichabods recorded 412 yards of offense while the Hornets had 435. Washburn was 0 for 10 on third down conversions, but were 3 of 4 on fourth down.
   
Washburn Football History . . .
Washburn is 487-543-44 in the 118th year of Ichabod football.

A win for Washburn would . . .
lift the Ichabods to 488-543-44 in its football history … be the fifth straight win over the Hornets and the sixth in the last seven games in the series … improve the Ichabods to 5-2 on the season and 3-2 in MIAA play … give the Ichabods a 48-51-6 all-time record against the Hornets … be the fourth straight win for the Ichabods over the Hornets in Topeka …

A loss for Washburn would . . .
drop the Ichabods to 487-544-44 in its football history … snap a five-game winning streak over the Hornets … be ESU's first win over the Ichabods since Sept. 20, 2003 in a 35-28 overtime win in Topeka … snap a three-game winning streak over the Hornets in Topeka … drop the Ichabods to 47-52-6 all-time against ESU.

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 win over Missouri Western. 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 18 of their last 24 homecoming match ups played on the road and in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods have won five straight homecoming games after beating Truman 71-35 in Topeka last season in Yager Stadium. 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 first 100-yard rushing game at Washburn with 109 yards on 21 carries against Missouri  Southern including the games' final touchdown which put Washburn up 23-0 following the extra point. Against Missouri Western, the week before he crossed the end zone for his first collegiate touchdown.

Walker, Texas Ichabod - 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.

A “Zach” Attack - Ichabod junior linebacker Zach Watkins has 299 career tackles, which is fifth on the all-time Washburn chart. Against the Lions, he passed Wade Dennis (1986-89), who had 295 career tackles. 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' 168 career assisted tackles is third all-time at Washburn trailing Gould's 254. He needs seven more assisted tackles to move into second passing Joe Corcoran (2000-04) on the career chart. Corcoran had 174 assisted tackles.

Isn't that special - The Ichabods' special teams have come up with some big plays in the last two 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.
Time is on our side - Against the Lions, the Ichabods led an opposing team in time of possession for the first time this season. 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.

On this date in Ichabod football - Oct. 11 . . .
Since 1961, the Ichabods are 2-4 on Oct. 11. Other items of note from Oct. 11 include Saturday Night Live made its first show with host George Carlin. Famous birthdays from Oct. 11 include one-half of the recording group Hall and Oats (Daryl Hall in 1946), 49ers' quarterback Steve Young, and golfer Michelle Wie. It is also the birthday of Ichabods' strartind defensive end Brandon Jackson.
10/11/1969 - Fort Hays State, W 27-6
10/11/1975 - Benedictine, W 42-13
10/11/1980 - Wayne State (Neb.), L 18-24
10/11/1986 - Pittsburg State, L 7-21
10/11/1997 - Truman, L 7-37
10/11/2003 - Pittsburg State, L 10-37

Record Chasers . . .
Several Ichabods enter the 2008 season with top 10 career records on the line in different categories.
• Watkins' 162 career assisted tackles is third all-time at Washburn trailing Gould's 254. He needs 13 more assisted tackles to move into second passing Joe Corcoran (2000-04) on the career chart.
• 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 44-31 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 . . .
Following the homecoming game with Emporia State, the Ichabods will travel to Kirksville, Mo., to take on the Truman Bulldogs in a 2 p.m., kickoff.