Setting the scene. . .
The Washburn Ichabods (6-4, 4-4 MIAA) will wrap up the regular season on senior day in Yager Stadium when they play host to Nebraska-Omaha at 1 p.m. The Ichabods are coming off a 48-17 loss at No. 12 Pittsburg State while the Mavericks (6-3, 5-3 MIAA) topped Fort Hays State 27-14. Washburn sits in a three-way tie for fourth place in the MIAA with Central Missouri and Missouri Western. The Mavericks are in third in the conference race trailing Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri. The Bearcats have already clinched at least a share of the MIAA title. Saturday's game will be the final home game for seniors Xavier Beckford, Bruce Ringwood, Brandon Walker, Jake Forck, D.J. Formmoethelydo, Jake Righter, Andy Kavanaugh, Martell Underwood and Byron Smith.

Game 11
Washburn (6-4, 4-4 MIAA) vs Nebraska-Omaha (6-3, 5-3 MIAA)
Game Notes: Washburn | Nebraska-Omaha
Date: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008
Time: 1 p.m. CST   
Site: Topeka. Kan.
Stadium: Yager Stadium   
Opened: 1928
Surface: Sportexe Field Turf  
Capacity: 7,200
Series History: UNO leads 14-13-1 … the teams have not met since Sept. 29, 1973 when UNO won 13-7 in Topeka
WU Rankings (AFCA/D2football.com): WU (NR/NR), UNO (RV/NR)

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 www.wusports.com/sports/2008/2/15/BB_0215082407.aspx

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 46-33 (.581) in his seventh season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 36-25 (.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 has never coached against UNO.
Nebraska-Omaha's Pat Behrns is in his 15th season as the head coach with a 111-56 record at UNO and a 147-83 record in more than 20 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Behrns is the all-time leader in wins at UNO. He is a 1972 graduate of Dakota State. Under Behrns UNO has won NCC titles in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and has made six NCAA II playoff appearances. He has been named the NCC Coach of the Year six times.

Last time out for the Ichabods . . .
PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods fell behind 14-0 five-plus minutes into the game and never recovered as they fell 48-17 to No. 12-ranked Pittsburg State. The Ichabods drop to 6-4 overall and 4-4 in MIAA play.
Caleb Farabi put the Gorillas up 14-0 with 9:46 remaining in the first quarter on runs of 7- and 8-yards. Washburn got on the board with a 22-yard field goal by Garrett Cummings set up by an interception by Casey Curran.
The Gorillas added two more touchdowns on 1-yard runs. The first by Farabi and Brandon Clark added another with 5:11 to go in the first half.
Brandon Walker, on the ensuing kickoff, after dropping the ball returned it 89-yards for a touchdown cutting the margin to 28-10.
In the second half, the Gorillas had only four possessions, but scored touchdowns on three drives stretching the lead to as many as 38 at 48-10. A late touchdown run by Terrence Lowe capped a 86-yard, 13-play drive with one second remaining.
Lowe led the team with 33 yards rushing and Dane Simoneau was 6 of 15 with one interception. Drameagon Powers had four catches for 76 yards.
Defensively Zach Watkins had 13 tackles for the Ichabods. Curran had 11 with the one first quarter interception.
Washburn was limited to 228 yards of total offense while Pitt State had 492. Washburn was also held to 77 yards rushing. 

About the opponents . . .
Senior quarterback Zach Miller leads Nebraska-Omaha's offensive attack, averaging 233.7 yards of total offense per game which ranks fourth in the MIAA. Miller (6-4, 230) has completed 102 of 158 passes (.646) for 1338 yards (148.7 ypg) and nine touchdowns with six interceptions on the season. He also has rushed the ball 135 times for 765 yards and 14 TDs on the year, averaging 85.0 rushing yards per game, which is also fourth in the MIAA.
Senior running back Brian McNeill (5-9, 180) rushed for a MIAA-high 272 yards against Missouri Western on Oct. 11. McNeill has rushed 206 times for 1199 yards and 10 TDs on the year, averaging a league-leading 133.2 yards per game.
Senior wide receiver Troy Kush has been Miller's favorite receiving target. Kush (6-3, 196) has caught a team-leading 36 catches for 368 yards (10.2 ypc). Sophomore tight end Mike Higgins (6-5, 232) has proved to be a deep threat for the Mavericks with 18 grabs for 326 yards (18.1 ypc) and two TDs. As a team, UNO is averaging 418.7 total yards (277.7 rushing) and 31.7 points per game. The Mavericks lead the MIAA in rushing and rank third in total offense.
Defensively, the Mavericks are allowing 25.1 points and 346.1 total yards per game. Senior linebacker Jeff Souder (6-0, 215) has contributed 59 stops (28 solo) with 2.5 QB sacks and three pass breakups.
Sophomore kicker Greg Zuerlein (6-0, 168) has converted 9 of 11 field goal tries and 36 of 37 PAT conversions, scoring 63 points the season. Redshirt freshman Jason Schlautman (6-1, 185) has punted 33 times for a 38.4-yard average with 11 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line. Kush has averaged 14.5 yards per punt return, while senior Keith Eloi (5-10, 190) has averaged 24.6 yards per kickoff return.

Last time out for the Mavericks . . .
OMAHA, Neb. - The UNO football team used a strong first half to outlast the Fort Hays State Tigers 27-14 on Senior Day at Caniglia Field.  The Mavericks scored all of their points in the first two quarters to earn the win and improve to 6-3 and 5-3 in the MIAA.  UNO has now secured a winning season for the 13th straight year.
The Mavericks started quickly, scoring on a 5-yard run by Zach Miller on their first possession. The drive nearly ended one play earlier when Brian McNeill fumbled the ball at the five, but the Mavericks recovered. The drive covered 68 yards in just 3:13.
The Tigers were held to a three and out on their first possession, and the Mavericks got good field position when they blocked Tyler Elder's punt. One play later, Miller hit Troy Kush with a 26-yard pass to make it 14-0.
Fort Hays State got on the board in stunning fashion on its next possession. Mike Garrison found Anthony Dickson with a pass down the right sideline, and he raced 78 yards for the touchdown to make it 14-7.
UNO got a pair of field goals from Greg Zuerlein to boost its lead to 20-7. The second kick went for a season-high 48 yards.
The Tigers threatened late in the first half, but Drew Steffen bobbled away a sure touchdown. Fort Hayes then missed a chip shot field goal to keep the game 20-7.
The Mavs got the ball back with 1:15  to go and chewed up 83 yards in just 33 seconds. The drive was keyed by a 41-yard run by John McCardle. McNeill finished the drive with a 16-yard run for a touchdown that put the Mavs up 27-7 at the half.
In the second half, defense reigned supreme as neither team dented the end zone in the third quarter.  Fort Hays State tacked on a touchdown in the fourth when backup quarterback Anthony Smith, a converted wide receiver, eluded the grasp of Jacob Chandler to avoid a sack and ran 18 yards for a touchdown.
The Tigers had one last chance to put pressure on the Mavericks but a pass by Garrison was picked off by Trevor Maldon to end the threat.
McNeill led the Mavericks in rushing with 109 yards while Miller was 8-for-16 passing for 100 yards and one interception.  Kush led all Maverick receivers with five catches for 80 yards.

Series Notes . . .
Saturday's meeting will be the 29th in all-time series with UNO holding a 14-13-1 lead. The two teams have not met since a Sept. 29, 1973 meeting in Topeka which the Mavericks won 13-7. The lone tie in the series came on Nov. 14, 1970 in a 15-15 game in Omaha. The last win for the Ichabods in the series came on Oct. 25, 1969 when the Ichabods won 24-21 in Topeka.
Series Record: UNO leads 13-14-1
First Meeting: WU 31, UNO 0 (1933)
Last Meeting: UNO 13-7 (9/29/73) in Topeka
Last WU win: 24-21 (10/29/66) in Omaha
Last UNO win: UNO 13-7 (9/29/73) in Topeka
Largest WU win: 31-0 (1933)
Largest UNO win: 47-0 (10/26/68) in Omaha

Last Meeting with the Mavericks . . .
 (Sept. 29, 1973) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Mavericks scored two second quarter touchdowns and it was enough to top the Ichabods 13-7. A third quarter touchdown pass from Brad Wright to Kurt Eichelberg capped a 68-yard, 14-play drive was the only points for the Ichabods with an extra point added by Russ Hill. The Ichabods were held to 91 yards passing and 59 yards on the ground on 58 carries. The Ichabods ran 87 total offensive plays in the game gaining 170 total yards while the Mavericks ran 58 plays for 190 yards. Ray Gerstenkorn led the Ichabods on the ground with 51 yards on 16 carries. Paul Garrett passed for 38 yards and Wright finished with 43 yards passing. Steve Coover had five punts for 150 yards. Hank Cramer had an interception for 31 yards.
   
Washburn Football History . . .
Washburn is 489-545-44 in the 118th year of Ichabod football.

A win for Washburn would . . .
lift the Ichabods to 490-545-44 in its football history … be the first win over UNO since Oct. 25, 1969 (0-3-1 since then) … improve the Ichabods to 7-4 overall and 5-4 in conference play … even the record with UNO at 14-14-1 all-time … snap a two-game losing streak overall … give the Ichabods a chance at postseason play depending on other games in the MIAA.

A loss for Washburn would . . .
drop the Ichabods to 490-546-44 in its football history … be the fourth-straight loss to the Mavericks … finish the 2008 season with a 6-5 overall record …

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.

Bod Notes . . .
Senior Day Sendoffs -  Under Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 6-0 on senior day. The Ichabods have won their final regular season home game each of the six seasons under Schurig by an average score of 37.1 to 24.6.

Walker rushing up the charts - The Ichabods' Brandon Walker, a Garland, Texas native, rushed for 1,989 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.

Hanging with Mr. Cooper - Ichabod redshirt freshman Justin Cooper has rushed for 460 yards this season and four touchdowns after missing the first two games with a hand injury.

Watkins climbing tackle charts - Ichabod junior linebacker Zach Watkins continues to climb the tackle charts after recording 13 against Pittsburg State. He went over the 300 tackle mark after recording eight against Emporia State. He career total now stands at 347, which is third 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 Tony Scollieri (1994-97) who had 349 career stops. Watkins' 190 career assisted tackles is second all-time at Washburn trailing Gould's 254. Watkins' 157 solo tackles for his career is fourth all-time at Washburn.

A one-sided coin?? - The Ichabods won their first opening-game toss this season at Pittsburg State and now sit 1-9 in the opening coin toss this season.

Special team tackle leaders - Washburn's Casey Curran leads the team with nine special teams tackles this season. All nine stops have come on kickoff coverage teams. Brad Cole has five total special teams tackles with a team-high four coming on punt coverage teams.

Starting field position - This season, the Ichabods average starting field position has been their own 37-yard line. Opponents have started at their own 30-yard line.

Watkins (v. 2.0) - Ichabod junior linebacker Zach Watkins' has a MIAA-leadering 104 tackles this season. The total ranks 17th on the Washburn single-season charts. His five interceptions, which also lead the MIAA, is tied for ninth on the Ichabod single-season chart.

Hill moving up punting charts - Ichabod sophomore punter Austin Hills has averaged 39.2 yards per punt this season, which is the 10th-best single-season average entering the final game of the season. His has punted for 2,314 yards, which is the 13th-most punt yards in a single season.

On this date in Ichabod football - Nov. 8. . .
Since 1961, the Ichabods are 1-5 on Nov. 8.
11/8/1969 - at Emporia State, L 14-28
11/8/1975 - Northern Colorado, L 7-22
11/8/1980 - at Missouri Southern, L 9-35
11/8/1986 - Nebraska-Kearney, W 24-3
11/8/1997 - at Central Missouri, L 14-20
11/8/2003 - at Missouri Western, L 14-30
Other items of note from items on Nov. 8: 1793-French Revolutionary government opens the Louvre to the public as a museum … 1889 - Montana is admitted as the 41st U.S. state. … 1895 - While experimenting with electricity, Wilhelm Röntgen discovers the X-ray. … 1933 - US President Franklin D. Roosevelt unveils the Civil Works Administration, an organization designed to create jobs for more than 4 million of the unemployed. … 1966 - U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law an antitrust exemption allowing the National Football League to merge with the upstart American Football League.
 
Schurig moving up the coaching ranks . . .
Seventh-year head coach Craig Schurig has compiled a 46-33 all-time record at Washburn. He is tied for fourth on the all-time victory chart with Ernest Bearg who had two stints as the Ichabod head coach (1918-19 and 1929-35) and recorded 46 victories. Bearg coached at Nebraska from 1925 through 1928 and compiled a 23-7-3 record before returning to Washburn.

Up next . . .
Time will tell. With a win over UNO, the Ichabods keep a postseason berth alive however with a loss, the season with end with a 6-5 overall record.