Setting the scene. . .
The Washburn Ichabods are looking for their first conference win of the season as they play host to Missouri Western for Family Day at Washburn with a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 27 in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods (2-2, 0-2 MIAA) are coming off a 43-34 loss to then No. 20-ranked Central Missouri. The Griffons (1-3, 0-2 MIAA) dropped a 46-40 decision to Pittsburg State for their third straight loss.

Game 5: Washburn (2-2, 0-2 MIAA) vs  Missouri Western (1-3, 0-2 MIAA)
Game Notes: Washburn | Missouri Western (football page)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Time: 1 p.m. CST   
Site: Topeka, Kan.
Stadium: Yager Stadium   
Opened: 1928
Surface: Sportexe (Artificial)   
Capacity: 7,200
Series History: MWSU leads all-time series 19-15-2 … WU has won the last 3 of 4 meetings
WU Rankings (AFCA/D2football.com): WU (RV/NR), MWSU (NR/NR)

Broadcast Information:
Television: None
WU Radio:  AM580 WIBW 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 (free)
Live Stats: Available at http://sidearmstats.com/washburn/football (free)

Ichabods on Radio . . .
The game will be broadcast live on WIBW AM 580 - the home of the Ichabods and Lady Blues. 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 42-31 (.593) in his seventh season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 32-23 (.491) 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 3-3 against Missouri Western and 2-1 against the Griffons in Yager Stadium.
Missouri Western head coach Jerry Partridge Jerry Partridge is in his 12th season directing his alma mater and his 13th year as a collegiate coach.
Partridge (Western, '85) has an 81-49 (.628) record. He has managed one MIAA co-championship and one NCAA-II playoff appearance in his 12-year tenure. Partridge is 7-4 against the Ichabods.

Last time out for the Ichabods . . .
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The No. 25 ranked Washburn Ichabods lost 43-34 at No. 20 Central Missouri in a wild game in which the teams combined for 34 points.
After entering the fourth quarter trailing 29-14, the Ichabods rolled off 13 points in less than two minutes to cut the Mule lead to 29-27 after a two-point conversion failed. Jake Iverson had a pair of 1-yard plunges to cap the drives.
The Mules pushed their lead back to nine at 36-27 as Bobby Guillory scampered 41 yards on a reverse with 10:29 to go in the game. After the Ichabods were forced to punt, Guillory muffed a punt return and Xavier Beckford recovered for Washburn at the Central 28 yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Dane Simoneau connected with Powers for a 28-yard touchdown strike and his first collegiate touchdown pulling Washburn within two at 36-34 with 8:32 to go.
On Central's next drive, Guillory rushed for a 25 yard touchdown run on a fourth and two to put Central up 43-34. Washburn would take possession and drive to the Central 49, but a pair of incomplete passes turned possession back to the Mules and they would run on the clock picking up the win.
Drameagon Powers had a career-high 156 yards receiving on seven receptions to go with touchdown receptions of 76- and 28-yards. Cameron Knox recorded his first touchdown reception of his career in the first half on a 2-yard reception from Jake Iverson.
Iverson was 15 of 33 for 266 yards and the two touchdown passes and had one interception on a deflected pass from an Ichabod receiver. Simoneau was 2 of 5 for 29 yards and the one touchdown pass to Powers in his first action as an Ichabod.
Brandon Walker led the Ichabods on the ground with 21 yards rushing as the team was held to 68 yards on 36 carries.
Bruce Ringwood had 10 tackles in the game with one for loss. Michael Wilhoite and Zach Watkins each had nine tackles.
Each team had 17 first downs as Washburn had 363 yards of total offense.

About the opponents . . .
The Griffons are 1-3 and 0-2 in the MIAA after dropping their last three games. Missouri Western started the season with a 38-27 win over Northern State before falling 47-18 to Minnesota-Duluth at home. The Griffons followed that loss with a 42-35 defeat at No. 9 Northwest Missouri and a 46-40 setback to No. 7 Pittsburg State.
The Griffons are scoring 32.8 points per game while allowing 40.5 per game. On the ground, the Griffons are averaging 120.8 yards per game while yielding 183.0 per contest. Through the air, the Griffs are averaging 242.8 yards per game while opponents are throwing for 277.8 yards per game.
The 2007 MIAA Freshman of the Year, quarterback Drew Newhart has completed 73 of 115 passes with seven interceptions and nine touchdowns. His favorite target has been Cedrick Houston who is averaging 21.5 yards per catch and 107.8 yards per game receiving. He also has five touchdown receptions in 20 catches this season.
Sean Whiters leads the Griffons defense with 38 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss.
Missouri Western has outscored their opponents 51 to 29 in the third quarter, but their opponents have turned the tied on the Griffons in the fourth quarter as they have outscored MWSU 57 to 15 in the final 15 minutes of the game.

Last time out for the Griffons . . .
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The seventh-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas needed to hold off the Missouri Western Griffons on three tries for the game-tying touchdown from the PSU 2 in the last 10 seconds to escape with a 46-40 victory Saturday night (Sept. 20) at Spratt Memorial Stadium.
The Gorillas (4-0, 2-0 MIAA) won for the first time in three tries against the Griffons (1-3, 0-2 MIAA), getting a big boost from a career game by senior TB Caleb Farabi. Farabi had a career-high 226 rushing yard on 28 carries with three touchdowns, and added two receptions for 74 yards to collect 300 all-purpose yards in the game.
Western had cut the gap to six points with 3:43 left on a 7-yard pass from sophomore QB Drew Newhart to junior WR Andrew Mead to wrap up an 11-play, 78-yard drive. That stopped a run of 18 straight PSU points, including Farabi's third TD of the game, which had the Gorillas ahead by 13 with 6:16 remaining.
The Griffons tried an onside kick, but PSU recovered at the Western 40-yard line. PSU was at the Western 23 when Farabi lost control of the ball following a hit by senior DL Soane Etu and junior DE Bradley Davidson recovered at the 28.
Newhart tossed three straight completions to senior WR Zach Sharp to get the Griffons inside the Gorillas' 40-yard line. He then hit junior WR Ferrell McGhee with a 12-yard pass to get the ball to the Pitt State 25.
The Gorillas thought they'd sealed the game when junior S Chadd Snyder forced a fumble by Newhart which was recovered by senior ILB Jeremiah Burton -- but PSU was flagged for defensive holding to give the ball back to Western with a fresh set of downs at the Gorillas' 15.
The Griffons returned the penalty favor when they were tagged with offensive pass interference and pushed back to the 30. Newhart found McGhee on the next play to get most of the yardage back, but Western had to burn its final timeout with 20 seconds left.
Newhart then connected with Mead on a 16-yard pass, with junior DB Ferrari Welch making a game-saving play to keep Mead out of the end zone by knocking him out at the PSU 1.
An illegal procedure penalty put Western back to the Pitt State 6, where Newhart would miss connections on a pair of throws to junior WR Cedric Houston, the last leaving just one second on the clock.
Newhart tried one last time to get into the end zone, throwing to junior TE Billy Babcock -- but Welch made another big play to knock the ball away to secure the win for the Gorillas.
The two squads combined for 986 yards of offense (PSU had the advantage, 557-429) and 20 penalties (Western had 11 for 106 yards). Each team had three turnovers (PSU lost three fumbles, Western threw three interceptions) and Western had just a 10-second advantage in time of possession, 30:05-29:55.
It was the first time in four games this season PSU had surpassed 200 rushing yards as a team, getting 351. Senior QB Mark Smith was 7-of-13 for 165 yards and added 64 yards rushing and a TD on 12 rushing attempts. Senior TB Brandon Clark made the most of three carries, getting 47 yards and two TDs. Senior WR Marques Nelson had four catches for 106 yards.
Newhart finished 24-of-39 passing for 260 yards, three TDs and three interceptions. Sharp finished with seven catches for 77 yards, while Mead added six receptions for 76 yards and two scores. Sophomore RB Thomas Hodges had 72 yards and two TDs on 17 carries.
Snyder, who was PSU's back-up quarterback last season, had a team-leading 13 tackles (nine solos), including two after blocked field goals to save touchdowns in the first half. Sophomore DB Kendall Davis (five solos) and sophomore LB Sean Whiters (three solos) each made eight tackles for Western.

Series Notes . . .
Saturday's meeting is the 37th meeting in the series between the Griffons and the Ichabods. The Griffons lead the all-time series 19-15 with two ties. Washburn has won three of the last four meetings. The Ichabods' longest winning streak was from 1986 to 1990 when they won five straight - only to lose five straight to the Griffons starting in 1991. The Ichabod snapped a five-game losing streak to the Griffons in Topeka during the 2005 season on Homecoming. The Ichabods won in St. Joseph last season 31-24 for their first win since Nov. 10, 1990 snapping an eight-game losing streak. In Topeka, the Ichabods lead the all-time series 10-7.
Series Record: MWSU leads 19-15-2
First Meeting: WU 58-3 (9/16/72) in Topeka
Last Meeting: WU 31-27 (9/29/07) in St. Joseph
Last WU win: 31-27 (9/29/07) in St. Joseph
Last MWSU win: 28-21ot (11/5/05) in St. Joseph
Largest WU win: 58-3 (9/16/1972) in Topeka
Largest MWSU win: 52-0 (11/7/1981) in St. Joseph

Last Meeting with Missouri Western . . .
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods snapped an eight-game losing streak against No. 24 Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo., as the Ichabods topped No. 24 ranked Missouri Western 31-24. Washburn put up 444 yards on 80 plays while the Ichabod defense held the Griffons to 246 yards overall.
Ichabod running back Ra'Shawn Mosley put up the third best rushing total in Washburn history as he ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries.
After the Griffons scored on their first drive of the game, the Ichabods put together a 12-play 80-yard drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown reception from Jordan Brill to Jake Lebahn with 3:06 left in the first quarter.
The Ichabods' Kyle O'Neal hit a 31-yard field goal with 11:50 in the second quarter wrapping up a 14-play drive which covered 77 yards.
Mosley finished the scoring for the Ichabods in the first half as he scampered in from 6-yards out finishing a 74-yard drive. Mosley finished the first half with 123 yards and 17 carries.
In the first half, Washburn racked up 265 yards on 45 plays while the Ichabod defense held the Griffons to 88 yards on 26 plays.
The Ichabods scored first in the second half as Mosley rushed for his second touchdown of the day capping a 10-play 57-yard drive putting the Ichabods up 24-7 with 8:23 to play in the third quarter.
Andrew Mead scored on a 6-yard pass reception from Drew Newhart cutting the lead to 24-14 with 1:24 to play in the third quarter.
After a punt by the Ichabods and the Griffons driving, Jarod Tetuan picked off Newhart at the Washburn 41 and returned in 47-yards to the Missouri Western 12 yard line.
Four plays later, Brill used a keeper from 1-yard out to put the Ichabods up 31-14 with 8:18 to play.
The Griffons scored on their next drive as Dustin Strickler to cut the lead to 31-17.
On the ensuing Washburn drive, the Griffons picked up an Ichabod fumble and returned it 70 yards to cut the lead to a touchdown at 31-24 with 3:05 to play.
Washburn then finished out the game as they picked up four first downs on the final drive chalking up the 31-24 win.
For the game, Washburn's Brill passed for 151 yards and one touchdown. Lebahn finished with five catches for 83 yards and the lone touchdown.
Adam Ewy led the Ichabod defense with 11 tackles, including nine solo stops. He also had a sack. Tetuan had nine total tackles and the interception return for 47 yards.
   
Washburn Football History . . .
Washburn is 485-543-44 in the 118th year of Ichabod football.

A win for Washburn would . . .
lift the Ichabods to 486-543-44 in its football history … snap a two-game losing streak … improve the Ichabods to 3-2 on the season and 1-2 in MIAA play … would give the Ichabods a 16-19-2 all-time record against the Griffons … be the third straight win for the Ichabods in Topeka over the Griffons.

A loss for Washburn would . . .
drop the Ichabods to 485-544-44 in its football history … give the Ichabods a 15-20-2 all-time record against the Griffons … drop the Ichabods to 0-3 in MIAA play for the first time since the 2003 season when the Ichabods opened the season with four straight conference losses … snap a two-game winning streak for the Ichabods over the Griffons.

The Ichabods in the National Polls . . .
The Washburn Ichabods fell out of the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 after losing to Central Missouri this past weekend. The Ichabods did receive votes in the poll. 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.

Bods and Ends . . .
• The Ichabods have not had a 100-yard rusher this season and a total of five games dating back to last season since an Ichabod running back has gone over the century mark (Terrence Lowe had 177 and Ra'Shawn Mosley had 145 - both against Southwest Baptist on Nov. 10, 2007).
• Since 1961, the Ichabods are 1-5 on Sept. 28 dropping their last five games with the only win coming during the 1963 season when they topped Central Missouri 34-0 in Topeka.
• Drameagon Powers' 156 receiving yards against Central Missouri was a career-high for Powers and the most 19-best all-time at Washburn in a single game.

Record Chasers . . .
Several Ichabods enter the 2008 season with top 10 career records on the line in different categories.
• Senior running back Brandon Walker moved into ninth on the career rushing chart with 1,804 yards trailing all-time leader Ra'Shawn Mosley with 3,416. Against Missouri State, Walker passed Bill Baker (1951-53) and Art Fletcher (1946-49) to move into ninth on the career chart. He needs 60 yards to pass Tyler Schuerman (2000-04) for eighth on the chart.
• Walker is also tied for ninth on the all-time career touchdowns scored chart with 23 (19 rush, 4 receiving). The all-time leader is Trent Hearn (2002-06) with 49 (48 rush, 1 receiving).
• Junior linebacker Zach Watkins has 274 career tackles, which is seventh on the all-time Washburn chart … he trails Grant Gould (2002-05) who had 459 career tackles on the top of the charts.
• Watkins' 155 career assisted tackles is third all-time at Washburn trailing Gould's 254. He passed Tony Scollieri on Saturday against Central Missouri.
• Senior defensive end Eric Lawrence has 32.0 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 13.5 trailing Jim Butler (1985-87) who had 29.5 in his career.
• Bruce Ringwood is eighth in career tackles for loss with 24.

Up next . . .
Following the Griffons, the Ichabods will again hit the road for an Oct 4 date with Missouri Southern before returning home for homecoming festivities with Emporia State on Oct. 11.