Game Facts Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 Time: 1:30 p.m. CST Location: Maryville, Mo. Stadium: Bearcat Stadium (6,500) Series History:     NWMSU leads 23-6 Streaks:  NWMSU has won the last four

Washburn Ichabods (6-2, 4-2 MIAA) Polls #16 in AFCA Poll #19 in d2football.com Poll Leaders Rushing: Vershon Moore 118 att/537 yds/6 TD/67.1 ypg Passing: Dane Simoneau 136-221-6/2,265 yds/23 TD/283.1 ypg Receiving: Drameagon Powers 30 rec./541 yds/5 TD/67.6 ypg Tackles: Zach Watkins 74 TT / 8.5 TFL / 1 INT / 3 FF

Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (7-1, 6-0 MIAA) Polls #4 in AFCA Poll #4 in d2football.com Poll Leaders Rushing: LaRon Council 145 att/783 yds/11 TD/97.9 ypg Passing: Blake Bolles 157-238-6/2,058 yds/25 TD/257.2 ypg Receiving: Jake Soy 37 rec./704 yds/15 TD/88.0 ypg Tackles: Myles Burnsides 44 TT/ 1.0 TFL / 1 INT

Radio: KTPK 106.9 FM Web Stream Live Stats: through northwestbearcats.com Live Video: Through b2tvlive.com Washburn Football Page Roster Statistics Schedule Game Notes Athletic Web Site Northwest Missouri Football Page Roster Statistics Schedule Game Notes Athletic Web Site

Setting the scene. . .
The No. 16th-ranked Washburn Ichabods (6-2, 4-2 MIAA) will play in their third straight homecoming game as they travel to Maryville, Mo., to take on the No. 4th-ranked Northwest Missouri Bearcats (7-1, 6-0 MIAA). The Bearcats are ridding a nine-game home field winning streak. The Ichabods snapped the Bearcats' 12-game home field winning streak on Oct. 8, 2005. The Bearcats have won their last 34 MIAA contests and their last 37 consecutive games against MIAA opponents including two playoff wins against Pittsburg State and one against Washburn.

Ichabods on Radio . . .
The game will be broadcast live on KTPK 106.9. 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 52-36 (.575) in his eighth season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 40-29 (.580) against the MIAA. He has led the Ichabods to two NCAA Playoff appearances in the last four seasons and to the 2005 MIAA Championship. Schurig is 1-7 against Northwest Missouri and 1-2 in games played in Maryville.
Northwest Missouri head coach Mel Tjeerdsma is 223-80-4 in his 26th year as a head coach and 164-41 in 16 years at NWMSU.   Tjeerdsma has guided the Bearcats to 10 MIAA championships, two NCAA national championships and six title game appearances in the last 11 seasons.

Last time out for the Ichabods . . .
(Oct. 17, 2009) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 20-ranked Washburn Ichabods held Pittsburg State to their lowest point total in an MIAA game in a 55-3 win over the Gorillas on Homecoming Saturday in Yager Stadium.
The Ichabods opened the game with a 73-yard kickoff return by Pierre Desir to the Pittsburg State 18, but the drive stalled and Steve Ivanisevic connected on a 31-yard field goal putting the Ichabods on the board. After the teams traded interceptions, The Ichabods drove 38 yards on five plays with Drameagon Powers recovering a Washburn fumble in the end zone putting the Ichabods up 10-0.
On the first play of the second quarter, Dane Simoneau hit Cameron Knox on a 4-yard touchdown pass wrapping up a 45-yard, six-play drive increasing the Washburn lead to 17-0.
After forcing a Gorilla punt, Simoneau hooked up with Brad Cole for a 22-yard touchdown reception. On PSU's ensuing drive, the Ichabods held the Gorillas on a fourth-and-one from the Washburn 33. Washburn would then take over possession and drive 66 yards in six plays capped by a Simoneau pass to Vershon Moore from 26-yards out.
The Ichabods would wrap up the scoring in the half on another Simoneau touchdown pass to Greg Schoenberg from 12-yards with 55 seconds to play in the half. Washburn outgained the Gorillas 249 to 96 in the second quarter only.
The lone points for the Gorillas came on a 26-yard field goal by Jared Witter with 11:11 to go in the third quarter.
Ivanisevic responded with a 32-yard field goal of his own wrapping up a 47-yard drive in eight plays with 8:51 on the clock.
After forcing a Gorilla punt, the Ichabods took possession and Simoneau hit Powers on a 31-yard completion putting the Ichabods up 48 to 3 with 4:55 to play in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Simoneau wrapped up the Ichabod scoring with a record-breaking pass to Cole on a 77-yard touchdown pass. Simoneau's touchdown pass was his sixth of the afternoon tying both the MIAA's and Washburn's single-game record. He tied the school record of six set by Barry Griffiths, who recorded six against Emporia State in 1988.
Simoneau finished 20 of 28 for 362 yards with the six touchdown passes playing into the first drive. Cameron Kasel came in the game was completed three of seven passes for 16 yards.
Cole led the Ichabods receivers with six catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Casey Curran led the Ichabods with 11 tackles with five solo stops. Zach Watkins had nine with 1.5 tackles for loss. Eric Lawrence had eight tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss. Pierre Desir recorded two interceptions, a pass break up and three tackles.
Washburn recorded 26 first downs gaining 588 total yards averaging 8.4 yards per play. The Ichabod defense held the Gorillas to 266 total yards. 
Game Notes:
* The three points by the Gorillas were the fewest they had scored in an MIAA game since joining the conference in 1989.
* The win was also the largest margin of victory by an Ichabod team topping the previous margin of 23 set in 1953.
* The 55 points was also the most points scored by the Ichabods in the 82-game history of the series.
* The win was the third-straight win over the Gorillas in Topeka following wins in 2005 and 2007.

About Northwest Missouri . . .
The Bearcats are 7-1 and 6-0 in MIAA play ranked No. 4 in the AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Bearcast have won 37 consecutive games (34 in MIAA play) against MIAA teams including playoff wins against Washburn in 2005 and against Pittsburg State in 2005 and 2008. The Bearcats lead the MIAA in scoring offense (43.2 ppg), scoring defense (15.4 ppg), total defense (264.6 ypg), rush defense (89.1 ygp), pass defense (175.5 ypg), pass defense efficiency (108.5), kickoff returns (26.5 ypr), interceptions (16), sacks (26), turnover margin (+15; 1.88 per game).
Individually LaRon Council leads both the Bearcats and the MIAA in rushing yards per game with a 97.9 yards per game average. He also has 11 rushing touchdowns. Blake Bolles is third in the MIAA in passing yards per game with 257.2 and second in total offense with 267.8 yards per game. Receiver Jake Soy is second in the league in receiving yards per game with 88.0 per game while leading the MIAA is scoring with 15 touchdowns averaging 11.2 points per game.
Miles Burnsides leads the Bearcat defense with 5.5 tackles per game with 44 total tackles. Sean Paddock is third in the MIAA in sacks with 0.92 per game and fourth in the league in tackles for loss per game with 1.17. Paddock has also missed the last two games for the Bearcats.

Last time out for the Bearcats . . .
(Oct. 17, 2009) EMPORIA, Kan.—Northwest Missouri State quarterback Blake Bolles threw four touchdown passes for the third game in a row as the fifth-ranked Bearcats rolled past Emporia State 45-12 Saturday at Welch Stadium.
Bolles completed 21-of-36 passes for 278 yards in three quarters of play. His 25 touchdown passes this season are two shy of Northwest's regular season record of 27 set by Greg Teale in 1995.
Bearcat wide out Jake Soy caught six passes for a career-best 148 yards. His 3-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was his 15th on the year, moving him one behind Northwest's and the MIAA's single-season record of 16.
Emporia State (1-7, 0-6 MIAA) became the second team to hold a lead against Northwest this season after marching 73 yards on the opening possession of the game. Andre Sloan El hit Danny McEvoy with a 16-yard pass to cap the drive. The two-point conversion attempt was no good and the Hornets led 6-0.
The Bearcat defense dominated from that point forward. Northwest (7-1, 6-0) allowed five first downs and 86 yards spanning the Hornets' next 11 drives and into the fourth quarter. By then, Northwest had scored the game's next 45 points and racked up 460 of their 514 yards of offense.
Bolles passed for 213 yards and three scores in the first half. Kyle Kilgore, Tyler Shaw and Brian Shannon were on the receiving end of those scores. The Bearcats took a 24-6 lead into the break.
LaRon Council carried 20 times for 126 yards including a 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It's the third time Council has reached the century mark in the last five games for the Bearcats.
Cornerback Justin Welch was one of the Bearcats' top tacklers Saturday and helped forced two of the Hornets' three turnovers. He picked off Sloan El in the middle of the second quarter, which led to a 9-yard touchdown pass from Bolles to Shaw and a 17-6 lead.
Later in the quarter on a blitz, he hit Sloan El as he released a pass and Chad Kilgore was there to make the interception. Sloan El finished 12-of-26 for 175 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Northwest has won 15 consecutive games against Emporia State dating back to 1995 and leads the all-time series 24-2. The Bearcats have won seven straight after dropping their season opener at Abilene Christian.

Series Notes . . .
Saturday's meeting is the 30th in the series between the Ichabods and the Bearcats. The Bearcats lead the all-time series 23-6. Overall, the Bearcats have won 16 of the last 18. In Topeka, the Bearcats have won eight straight with the Ichabods' last win coming on Oct. 8, 1994, by a score of 48-14. Since 1984, the Ichabods are 3-10 against the Bearcats in Topeka. Since 1984, the Ichabods are 2-10 against the Bearcats in Maryville. The Ichabods are the last MIAA team to top the Bearcats winning 31-28 on Oct. 8, 2005 in Maryville. The last five games have all been decided by 10 or less points with three of those five being decided by three or fewer points.
Series Record: NWMSU leads 23-6
First Meeting: NW 7, WU 6 (1940)
Last Meeting: NW 24-21 (10/25/08) in Topeka
Last WU win: 31-28 (10/8/05) in Maryville
Last NW win: 24-21 (10/25/08) in Topeka
Largest WU win: 48-14 (10/8/1994) in Topeka
Largest NW win: 47-0 (9/8/1984) in Maryville

Last Meeting with the Bearcats . . .
(Oct. 25, 2008) 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.
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.

Washburn Football History . . .
Washburn is 495-544-44 in the 119th year of Ichabod football.

A win for Washburn would . . .
lift the Ichabods to 496-544-44 in their football history … move the Ichabods to 7-2 on the season and 5-2 in the MIAA … snap a four-game losing streak to the Bearcats … snap the Bearcats' 34-game MIAA winning streak.
A loss for Washburn would . . .
drop the Ichabods to 495-545-44 in their football history … drop the Ichabods to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in MIAA play … be the fifth straight loss to the Bearcats in the series history.

The Ichabods in the National Polls . . .
Oct. 19 -- The Washburn Ichabods jumped from No. 20 to No. 16 in the AFCA Top 25 coaches poll after topping Pittsburg State. The Ichabods are ranked No. 19 in the D2football.com media poll this week up from No. 22.

The Ichabods in the NCAA regional rankings . . .
As of Oct. 19 -- The top six teams reach the NCAA playoffs with the top two teams in the region receiving first round byes. The Ichabods remained fifth in this week's poll, after beating Pittsburg State 55-3 last time out. Washburn still has No. 2 Northwest Missouri on their schedule on Oct. 24th in Maryville.
1. Central Washington 8-0 6-0
2. Northwest Missouri State 7-1 7-1
3. Missouri Western State 7-1 7-1
4. Abilene Christian 7-1 7-1
5. Washburn 6-2 6-2
6. Midwestern State 6-2 6-2
7. Texas A&M Kingsville 7-1 7-1
8. Central Missouri 6-2 6-2
9. Angelo State 6-2 6-1
10. Tarleton State 7-1 7-1

Bods and Ends . . .
Watkins climbing tackle charts - Ichabod senior linebacker Zach Watkins has a career tackle total of 436, which is second on the all-time Washburn chart. Watkins trails Grant Gould (2002-05) who had 459 career tackles on the top of the charts. Watkins' 229 career assisted tackles is second all-time at Washburn trailing Gould's 254. Watkins' became the school's all-time solo tackles leader with his three against Pittsburg State giving him 207 for his career passing Gould's total of 205 solo stops.

No need for paper or plastic - This season, the Ichabods have allowed only six sacks this season for 39 yards. The Ichabod offensive line allowed only 17 sacks last season including only three in the last three games against Northwest Missouri, Pittsburg State (which is when all three occurred) and Nebraska-Omaha.

Record Breaker - Eric Lawrence has recorded 43.0 tackles for loss for his career breaking the previous record of 37 held by Tony Scollieri (1994-97). His 20 career sacks are tied for second with Dan Remboldt who recorded 20 from 1982-84 The school record is 29.5 by Jim Butler (1985-87).

Quick Kicks - Washburn's Steve Ivanisevic has connected on 12 of his 14 field goal attempts this season in his first eight games in an Ichabod uniform topping the most attempted by a Craig Schurig-led team at Washburn. Prior to this season, the most field goals made under Schurig had been six in 2007 when the Ichabods were 6 of 10 that season. The school's single-season record for made field goals is 18 set by Nick Kresic in 1986. Kresic also holds the single-season attempt record with 24 set that same year.

Red Zone is Blue Zone for Ichabods - This season the Ichabods have scored in 39 of 43 trips inside their opponents redzone and have scored on their last 37 of 40 trips into their opponents 20 yard line.

Second quarter has been owned by the Ichabods - This season, the Ichabods have outscored their opponents 157 to 38 in the second quarter including out bursts of 28-0 against Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State; 37 to 7 against New Mexico Highlands and 20-0 against Central Missouri. Washburn outscored Colorado Mines 13 to 0 in the second quarter of the opening game of the season.

Odd years lead to successful seasons - In both the 2005 and 2007 seasons, the Ichabods reached the NCAA playoffs and they are looking to continue that trend in 2009.

Ichabods on Homecoming both home and away - Saturday's game will be the Ichabods' third of three homecoming games this season. The Ichabods have won 21 of their last 28 homecoming match ups played on the road and in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods had their eight-game homecoming road streak snapped last week at UNO. At home, the Ichabods have won their last seven homecoming games played in Topeka. The last time the Ichabods fell in a homecoming game in Topeka was on Oct. 26, 2002 in double overtime loss to Missouri Western 34-28.

Power Performances - With his 82 yards and four catches with one touchdown against Pittsburg State, Drameagon Powers has moved into 10th on the all-time receiving chart at Washburn with 1,449 yards passing Jake Lebahhn (2003-07) who had 1,384 yards. Powers' 15 career touchdown receptions is fifth on the all-time chart at Washburn and his 88 career receptions is 11th at Washburn. He needs seven to move into the top 10.

Pass attack - In his last three games, Dane Simoneau has passed for the fourth- and fifth- and sixth-highest single-game passing totals in school history with 398 against Fort Hays State on Oct. 3 and 392 at Nebraska-Omaha and 362 against Pittsburg State on Oct. 17. He has moved into seventh on the school's all-time career touchdown passing list with 28 and he is eight on the career completions chart with 198 and ninth in attempts with 351. He currently leads the MIAA in total offense with 282.4 yards per game. Simoneau also needs 510 yards passing in the final three games to break the Ichabod sophomore passing recordof 2,775 held by Jordan Brill set in 2005. His 23 touchdown passes this season is fourth on the single-season chart trailing both Barry Griffiths (1988) and Jordan Brill (2005) who passed for 24. The single-season leader is Tyler Schuerman who passed for 28 in 2004.

Ichabods in the national individual statistics . . .
Category    Name    National Rank    Statistic
Rushing    Vershon Moore    88    67.12
Passing Efficiency     Dane Simoneau    4    176.54
Total Offense    Dane Simoneau    16    282.38
Receiving Yards Per Game    Drameagon Powers    79    67.62
Interceptions    Pierre Desir    T-7    .75
Punt Returns    Casey Curran    41    8.94
Field Goals    Steve Ivanisevic    T-8    1.50
Scoring    Steve Ivanisevic    T-18    9.38
All-Purpose Runners    Vershon Moore    T-98    106.38
Sacks    Eric Lawrence    T-40    .69
     Ben Bianchino    T-58    .62
Tackles    Zach Watkins    T-36    9.25        
Casey Curran    T-70    8.50       
 Michael Krajicek    T-83    8.12
Tackles For Loss    Eric Lawrence    T-69    1.25
       
Ichabods in the national team statistics . . .
Category    National Rank    Statistic    National Leader
Rushing Offense    38     172.63    Lenoir-Rhyne
Passing Offense    8     311.50    Eastern N.M.
Total Offense    6     484.13    West Liberty St.
Scoring Offense    2     42.13    Northwest Mo. St.
Rushing Defense    68     131.38    Bowie St.   
Pass Efficiency Defense    72     122.33    Albany St. (GA)
Total Defense    88     361.38    Albany St. (GA)
Scoring Defense    49     21.50    Bloomsburg
Net Punting    15     34.92    Northeastern St.
Punt Returns    77     9.19    Fort Hays St.
Kickoff Returns    51     21.37    Wayne St. (MI)
Turnover Margin    13     1.13    Minn. St. Mankato
Pass Defense    110     230.00    Miles   
Passing Efficiency    3     177.78    Charleston (WV)
Sacks    T-65     2.00    Angelo St.   
Tackles For Loss    100     5.75    Albany St. (GA)
Sacks Allowed    T-7     .75    Ouachita Baptist

Schurig moving up the coaching ranks . . .
Eighth-year head coach Craig Schurig has compiled a 52-36 all-time record at Washburn. He passed Ernest Bearg for fourth on the all-time win chart. Next on the coaching win chart is Larry Elliott who recorded 58 wins in two stints as the Ichabods' head coach from 1974-78 and 1984-89.

Ichabods on Oct 24 . . .
Since the 1961 season, the date of when games were available in media guides, the Ichabods are 4-2 on Oct. 24.
1964 - W 17-7 Pittsburg State on WU's homecoming
1970 - W 23-15 vs Missouri Valley
1981 - W 10-6 vs Wayne State
1987 - L 14-32 vs Missouri Southern
1992 - L 21-26 at Missouri-Rolla
1998 - W 49-37 at Missouri Southern

Up next . . .
Following the match up with the Bearcats, the Ichabods will then return home for senior day festivities when they will entertain Truman State at 1 p.m. on Oct. 31. Washburn will wrap up the regular season at arch-rival Emporia State at 1 p.m. in the 106th edition of the Turnpike Tussle in Welch Stadium.