Box Score | Season Stats

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods came up just short in their homecoming upset bid over No. 5 Northwest Missouri falling 41-40 after a Washburn 2-point conversion with 56 seconds to go in the game failed. It was the fourth straight game in the series the final margin was less than three points and the second time in the last four it was one point. The Ichabods (4-4, 3-3 MIAA) will be back in action next weekend at Truman.

The Bearcats (6-1, 6-0 MIAA) took the lead at 41-34 with 11:23 to go in the game on a 31-yard pass reception from Blake Bolles to Josh Baker. With neither team able to pull away in the final quarter, the Ichabods pulled within one at 41-40 when Dane Simoneau hit Joe Hastings on a 29-yard pass on a fourth and seven. After a timeout, the Ichabods came out going for the win and Simoneau's pass to Hastings fell incomplete. The Ichabods' attempt at the onside kick fell short and the Bearcats took a knee twice to wrap up their 43rd MIAA victory.

In a game which the teams combining for 925 yards and 81 points, the Ichabods struck first jumping out to a 14-0 lead going into a stiff breeze in the opening quarter. Simoneau hit Hastings on a 3-yard pass play in the back of the end zone with 7:36 to go in the period and Vershon Moore scored on a 25-yard pass play from Simoneau with 5:49 to go in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Bearcats came back to tie the score with a 1-yard plunge by Kelvin Austin with 11:17 to play in the half. The Bearcats then blocked an Austin Hills punt and Justin Eiken returned it 31 yards for a touchdown knotting the score at 14.

The Ichabods did not take long to regain the lead as Moore broke several tackles rushing 74 yards staking the Ichabods to a 21-14. Washburn's Marty Pfannenstiel then forced a fumble on a run by Jordan Simons which was recovered by Jake Cervantes setting up a 37-yard field goal by Steve Ivanisevic with 3:27 to go in the half. Northwest then capped an 11-play drive covering 91 yards as Bolles hit Jake Soy for a 8-yard reception off a tipped ball cutting Washburn's lead to 24-21.

The Bearcats then took the second half kickoff and marched 80 yards in four plays wrapped up when Bolles hit Kyle Killgore for 57 yards. The extra point attempt by Todd Adolf was blocked by Washburn's Kevin Holmes. The Bearcats pushed the lead to 34-24 after a Jordan Simons 2-yard run with 4:55 to go i nthe third quarter.

Washburn responded with a 1-yard scoring play by Justin Cooper up the middle with 28 second to go in the third quarter pulling the Ichabods within three at 34-31. Pierre Desir picked off Bolles for his third interception of the season setting up Ivansevic on a 34-yard field tying the score at 34 with 13:46 to play.

Northwest took the ensuing drive and Bolles hit Josh Baker for 31-yards pushing the Bearcats up again 41-34 setting up the finish in Yager Stadium.

Moore led the Ichabods with 99 yards rushing and one touchdown leading a Washburn ground game which recorded 142 yards on 27 carries. Cooper finished with 43 yards on 15 carries and one score. Simoneau was 22 of 42 for 332 yards with three touchdown passes. Hastings recorded 95 yards through the air and two touchdowns on seven catches. DeJuan Beard had a career-high 125 yards on five catches.

Austin led the Ichabods with 66 yards and one score and Bolles finished 27 of 39 yards and three touchdowns. Baker had nine catches for 107 yards.

Defensively Pfannenstiel led the Ichabods with a career-high 17 tackles with 14 solo stops. He also had three pass break ups, two sacks for 17 yards and two sacks along with the forced fumble. Chad Kilgore, Bill Baudler and Willie Horn each had five tackles to lead Northwest.

The Ichabods finished with 474 yards on 69 plays and the Bearcats had 451 yards on 82 plays. Northwest Missouri had 24 first downs with 18 coming through the air and the Ichabods recorded 19.