Setting the scene. . .
The Washburn Ichabods hit the road travelling to Kirksville, Mo., to face the Truman Bulldogs. The Ichabods are coming off a 41-40 loss to then-ranked No. 5 Northwest Missouri on homecoming Saturday in Topeka. The Bulldogs (4-4, 2-4 MIAA) erased a 10-point lead over the final five minutes to rally to beat Emporia State 37-34 at Emporia.
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 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 58-41 (.588) in his ninth season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 45-32 (.579) against the MIAA. He has led the Ichabods to two NCAA Playoff appearances in the last five seasons and to the 2005 MIAA Championship as well as recording six straight winning seasons for the first time in the program's history. Schurig is 6-2 against Truman going 3-1 both at home and in Kirksville. Schurig's first collegiate coaching win came against the Bulldogs on Oct. 12, 2002 by a score of 26-21.
Truman head coach Gregg Nesbitt is 4-4 in his first year at Truman, which is also his alma mater. Nesbitt, a native of Hannibal, Mo., received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Truman while playing for the Bulldog Football team from 1976-1979. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1980 before adding his master's degree in 1987. As an alumnus of Truman, Nesbitt returned to his hometown and was the head coach for Hannibal High School from 1984-89 leading the Pirates to the state playoffs in his final three seasons. Nesbitt also served as the school's Athletic Director. In 1990, Nesbitt returned to Kirksville and the Truman family to join Eric Holm's staff as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. During his time back as a Bulldog assistant, the program excelled with two nine-win seasons and two trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs (1990 & 1992).
Last time out for the Ichabods . . .
(Oct. 23, 2010) 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 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.
About Truman . . .
The Bulldogs are 4-4 this season and 2-4 in the MIAA after topping Emporia State last time out 37-34 after rallying for the come-from-behind win over the Hornets. Truman's quarterback Phillip Davis is ninth in the MIAA in passing yards per game with 126.0 and seventh in total offense in the league at 199.9 yards per game. Davis also leads the team in rushing with 73.9 yards per game. Harnish Ayora has a team-high six rushing touchdowns and 43.4 yards per game. Dallas Grier leads the team with 55.7 yards per game receiving on 23 catches and one touchdown. Placekicker Derek Koon leads the team in scoring with 40 points hitting 8 of 12 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points. His long field goal for the season was a 41-yard connection against Missouri Southern. He is 6 of 7 from inside of 29 yards. Michael Elliott leads the team with 64 tackles (39 solo stops) with 1.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions for 64 yards with six pass break ups. Adam Reynolds has nine tackles for loss for 36 yards.
Last time out for the Truman . . .
(Oct. 23, 2010) - (TSU Sports Information) EMPORIA, Kan. – Two touchdown passes by Phil Davis in the final five minutes erased a 10-point Emporia State lead and gave the Truman Bulldogs a thrilling 37-34 road victory on Saturday.
Will Mosquera caught pass from Davis as the senior quarterback rolled out of the pocket with two minutes left on third and goal from the Emporia one-yard line. The catch and subsequent stop by the Truman defense gave the Bulldogs their first MIAA road victory dating back to the 2008 season.
Terrence Byrd and Michael Elliott helped set up the winning score by stripping and recovering Adrian Abner's fumble at the Emporia 20-yard line after the Bulldogs had cut it to three points with 4:39 left.
The Hornets took their 10-point lead with 8:51 left in the game as Abner scampered in from 12-yards out on a big third and goal. The Hornet defense then picked off Davis on the Bulldogs next play and set up shop at Truman's 35.
The 'Dogs stopped the Hornets on fourth and four as a strong wind forced Emporia to go for it on the 29.
Facing a third and 10, Davis found Donald Harvey over the middle who ran 50 yards to the Emporia 26 to kick start the momentum. Davis then ran 19 yards on the next two plays before finding Caleb Roberts in the back of the endzone to cut the lead to three with 4:47 left.
Turnovers and mistakes were the story line of the ball game up until the fourth quarter. The Hornets struck first on a one-yard run by Kevin Smart that was set up by a Bulldog player touching a punt to give ESU possession on Truman's 42.
Harnish Ayora tied the game on a five-yard run with 17 seconds left in the first quarter as the Bulldogs took advantage of a Tyler Eckenrode fumble that was forced by Ryan Summers and recovered by Robert Gayden.
ESU took a 14-7 lead when Taylor Beitler blocked a Truman punt and returned it 10 yard to pay dirt with 12:04 left in the second quarter.
Davis was shaken up on a play late in the half but backup Conrad Shottel found Dallas Grier for 21 yards on third and seven and hooked up with the freshman again over the middle for 15 yards down to the Hornet three.
Mosquera powered in from three yards out to tie the game at 14 heading into the break.
Truman took advantage of another Hornet turnover to go up 17-14 on Derek Koon's 23-yard field goal early in the third but watched as Derwin Hall rushed 65 yards on the next play to put ESU back up 20-17.
Wayne Burgess picked off Davis at the Bulldog 43 on the next drive and Hall rushed in from 13 to make it a 10-point ESU advantage.
The Bulldogs found life as Davis marched Truman down the field and recovered his own fumble before finding Grier for 12 to the Emporia 20. Harvey then broke loose from 20 yards out to cut the lead back to three.
Davis finished with 165 yards through the air and another 96 on the ground to lead the 'Dogs. Grier had 112 yards receiving on eight catches as the Bulldogs tossed for a season-high 201 yards.
Emporia threw for just 47 yards and none in the second half. Hall finished with 90 yards on the ground as the Hornets gained 252 on 45 attempts.
Truman finished with three interceptions and lost one of three fumbles while Emporia lost all three of their fumbles. Six of the seven combined turnovers led directly to points.
Series Notes . . .
Saturday's meeting is the 28th in the series. Truman leads the all-time series 18-9. The Ichabods' win over the Bulldogs in 2002 gave head coach
Craig Schurig his first collegiate win as a head coach. The Ichabods have won the last three in the series. Overall the Ichabods have won six of the last eight meetings and seven of the last 11. Since 1961, the Bulldogs are 8-6 against the Ichabods in Topeka. The Ichabods' 62-0 win over the Bulldogs on Sept. 18, 2004 in Kirksville was the fourth largest margin of victory in any game in school history. Since 1961 in games played in Kirksville, the Ichabods are 3-7.
Series Record: TSU leads 18-9
First Meeting: TSU 26, WU 13 (1958)
Last Meeting: WU 37-7 (10/31/09) in Topeka
Last WU win: 37-7 (10/31/09) in Topeka
Last TSU win: 21-7 (10/21/06) in Kirksville
Largest WU win: 62-0 (9/18/2004) in Kirksville
Largest TSU win: 39-0 (9/22/1962) in Kirksville
Last meeting with the Bulldogs . . .
(Oct. 31, 2009) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods picked up 510 total yards in offense while holding the Truman State Bulldogs to 136 yards of offense in a 37-7 win on senior day in Yager Stadium.
The Ichabods needed only 88 seconds to take the lead for good as they marched 46 yards in five plays as senior
Brad Haug scored the first of his two rushing touchdowns of the day. Haug was wearing Ben Muir's No. 40 as Muir's mother Marion along with two younger brother Fabion and Dillon were honored. Muir passed away last March and his memory was honored with 13 other Ichabod seniors in pregame festivities.
The Ichabods added to the lead with
Steve Ivanisevic connecting on a 34-yard field goal capping a 9-play, 51-yard drive putting Washburn up 10-0 with 1:50 to play in the opening quarter. Ivanisevic kicked a 41-yard field goal on the Ichabods' next drive with 11:52 to play in the first half tying the single-season Washburn field goal record wrapping up a 34-yard drive in nine plays.
Vershon Moore stretched the lead to 20-0 on a 1-yard run with 8:11 to play in the second quarter and
Justin Cooper added a 1-yard plunge of his own on Washburn's next possession set up by a 71-run Moore scamper. Cooper's scoring run put the Ichabods up 27-0 with 5:09 to play in the first half.
On the opening drive of the second half for the Bulldogs,
Zach Watkins became Washburn's all-time leader in tackles recording his 460th of his career and the 100th of the season for the senior. Watkins has had at least 100 tackles in each of his four years for the Ichabods. He snapped Grant Gould's career mark of 459 set between 2002-05 seasons.
Ivanisevic kicked a 33-yard field goal on Washburn's first drive of the second half. The field goal was his 19th of the season breaking Nick Kresic's single-season record of 18 set in 1986. Coupled with his three field goals and four extra points, Ivanisevic's point total for the season moved to 101, only the third time in school history an Ichabod player has been responsible for at least 100 points in a season joining Troy Slusser with 128 and Trent Hearn with 120.
Haug scored from 1-yard out for his second score of the afternoon putting Washburn up 37-0.
Truman got on the board with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter when Anton Beranrd scored from the 2-yard line.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Overall, Moore led the Ichabod rushing attack which tallied 363 yards with 227 of his own on 17 carries. His yardage was the second-highest single-game total in school history trailing Kevin McCormick's record of 241 set in 1971 against Missouri Valley. Moore averaged 13.4 yards per carry.
Dane Simoneau was 12 of 23 passing for 115 yards and
Jake Iverson had three cathces for 26 yards and
Cameron Knox had a team-high 37 yards receiving.
Watkins finished with 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. Senior
Eric Lawrence had eight tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and
Casey Curran had an interception return of 22 yards with four tackles.
Washburn piled up 24 first downs while holding the Bulldogs to nine with two coming via penalties. The Ichabods held Truman to 82 yards rushing on 42 carries and held the Bulldogs to 54 yards passing on eight completions.
Washburn averaged 6.9 yards per play while holding Truman to a 2.3 yards per play average.
Washburn Football History . . .
Washburn is 501-549-44 in the 120th year of Ichabod football.
A win for Washburn would . . .
lift the Ichabods to 502-549-44 in their football history … move the Ichabods to 5-4 on the season and 4-3 in MIAA play … improve the Ichabods to 10-18 all-time against the Bulldogs … be the fourth straight win in the series for the Ichabods.
A loss for Washburn would . . .
drop the Ichabods to 501-550-44 in their football history … drop the Ichabods to 4-5 on the season and 3-4 in MIAA play … drop the Ichabods to 9-19 all-time against the Bulldogs … snap the Ichabods' three-game winning streak over the Bulldogs … be Truman's first win over the Ichabods since a 21-7 win in Kirksville on Oct. 21, 2006.
Northwest Missouri revisited . . .
the loss dropped the Ichabods to 501-549-44 in their football history … dropped the Ichabods to 4-4 on the season and 3-3 in MIAA play … dropped the Ichabods to 6-25 all-time against the Bearcats … was the sixth straight loss to the Bearcats and the ninth straight in Topeka.
The Ichabods in the National Polls . . .
The Ichabods received two vote in the AFCA Coaches top 25 poll this week.
Bods and Ends . . .
Average Joe? - Senior wide receiver
Joe Hastings tied a school record with 13 receptions against the Orediggers in the season opener tallying 201 receiving yards in the process … against Nebraska-Omaha he tied another school record with four receiving touchdowns … he enters the Truman game with 987 yards receiving and he is looking to become the first Ichabod receiver to go over the 1,000-yard plateau since Sam Sissom gained 1,109 yards in 2004 on 65 receptions … he leads the MIAA lead receiving yards per game with 123.4 yards per game averaging 17.3 yards per catch … he is second in the MIAA in receptions per game with 7.1 and… this season he has gained 987 yards through the air on 57 receptions with 12 touchdown receptions … prior to this season his Washburn career numbers were 32 catches for 487 yards and one touchdown … he is also second in the MIAA in scoring averaging 9.0 ppg … Hastings' 987 yards is sixth on the Ichabod single-season receiving chart.
Quick Kicks - Washburn's
Steve Ivanisevic has connected on 30 of his 34 career field goal attempts and 82 of 85 extra point attempts … his 30 field goals made are third all-time at Washburn and the 82 extra points are fourth all time at Washburn … his 88.2 percent field goal percentage is first all-time at Washburn and tops in MIAA history as well among kickers who have at least 20 made field goals … against UNO he tied his own school record for the third time converting four field goal attempts in the same game … other games with four field goals were NWMSU on 10/24/09 and MSSU on 9/12/09.
Red Zone is Blue Zone for Ichabods - This season again the Ichabods are making the most of the opportunities inside the opponent's 20 yards line scoring 30 times on 36 trips into the redzone with 22 touchdowns and eight field goals. In 2009, the Ichabods scored in 54 of 59 trips inside their opponents redzone and have scored touchdowns on 39 of those trips with 22 coming on the ground. Opponents have scored 24 times in 27 trips inside the redzone scoring 20 touchdowns with four field goals this season.
Sim-City - Junior signal caller
Dane Simoneau has started the last 24 games … has passed for 6,012 yards averaging 227 yards per game in his career passing … he has thrown for 52 touchdowns completing 58.7 percent of his passing attempts … he has thrown for at least 300 yards in a game eight times at Washburn … against Northwest Missouri, Simoneau became the third Ichabod signal-caller to go over 6,000 passing yards in a career … he trails Tyler Schuerman (2000-04) who passed for 6,525 yards and Ichabods' all-time leader Jordan Brill (2004-07) who passed for 7,041 yards. He also tossed his 50th career touchdown pass against the Bearcats entering the Truman game with a total of 52 TD passes which ranks third all-time at Washburn. Schuerman tossed 53 and Brill three for 57 touchdowns at Washburn.
Tell me Moore - Sophomore running back
Vershon Moore leads the team and the MIAA in rushing yards averaging 114.4 yards per game as the only conference running back averaging at least 100 yards per game and he is third in the MIAA in all-purpose yards with 131.4 yards per game … he has recorded 1,876 career rushing yards and 17 touchdowns averaging 6.1 yards per carry and 98.7 yards per game in 19 career appearances … he has moved into eighth all-time on the Ichabod rushing charts. Moore enters the Truman game with 915 yards this season looking to become the sixth Ichabod to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season and the first since 2007 when Ra'Shawn Mosley ran for 1,199.
Hanging with Mr. Cooper - Junior running back
Justin Cooper has rushed for 399 yards this season and four touchdowns while going over the 1,000-yard mark for his career … he is 11th on the all-time rushing chart with 1,350 yards … his 70-yard touchdown run against Pittsburg State last week was his longest scoring run since a 78-yard dash against Colorado Mines in the 2009 season opener.
Rare air - Senior punter
Austin Hills is averaging 39.2 yards per punt this season on 29 attempts, a total which would rank fifth in the MIAA this season if he had the NCAA minimum of 3.6 attempts per game … his net punting average of 30.1 yards per punt is eighth in the MIAA … his 5,192 punting yards is eighth all-time at Washburn and his 39.3 yards per punt average is fourh trailing Kevin Cummings (1979-80) who had a 39.99 yards per punt average.
Ichabods and the non-conference - Since joining the NCAA ranks, the Ichabods are 20-17 in non-MIAA games. Under head coach
Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 12-6 in non-conference games since the 2002 season during the regular season following the loss to Abilene Christian. In non-conference regular season away games under Schurig, the Ichabods are 6-2 and in home games during the regular season against non-MIAA foes, the Ichabods are 6-4.
Three dot ( . . . ) thoughts
The Ichabods are 20-19 all-time in MIAA road games under
Craig Schurig … the Ichabods are -3 in the turnover battle this season gaining 12 fumble recoveries with four interceptions while giving the ball away 19 times with 11 interceptions and eight fumbles lost … the 19 turnovers is the fourth-highest total in the MIAA this season ahead of Missouri Southern and Central Missouri who both have 22 and Truman who has 20 turnovers … the Ichabods had 17 turnovers through all of the 2009 season … in first half of games this season the Ichabods are 28 of 54 (.543) on third down conversions … in the second half the Ichabods are 21 of 53 (.413) … in the third quarter the Ichabods are 8 of 21 on third down conversions … Washburn is being outscored 80 to 44 in the fourth quarter this season … the Ichabods have had 69 plays of more than 30 yards with 41 of them coming through the air …
Joe Hastings has 19 plays of more than 30 yards,
Pierre Desir has 10 with nine coming on kickoff returns … the 74-yard touchdown run by
Vershon Moore against NWMSU was the Ichabods' longest scoring play and longest play overall this season …
Payton Iverson has six special teams tackles to lead the team with all of them coming on kickoff coverage …
Marty Pfannenstiel leads the Ichabods with 59 tackles and of the 59 tackles 37 have come against the rush … Kirksville native
Jared Brawner is third on the team with 31 tackles on rushing plays and 19 tackles on passing plays … the Ichabods' average starting field position this season has been on the 33 yard line … Ichabod opponent's average starting field position has been the 34 yard line …
Justin Cooper recorded career highs with 30 rushing attempts and two touchdowns for 12 points against Truman on Oct. 18, 2008 …
Jake Iverson had three catches for 26 yards against Truman last season in Topeka …
Vershon Moore's 227 yards rushing on 17 carries against the Bulldogs on Oct. 31 in last year's meeting is his career high.
Ichabods on homecoming both home and away. . .
After Saturday's game loss against NWMSU, the Ichabods have won 23 of their last 31 homecoming match ups played on the road and in Yager Stadium. At home, the Ichabods had won their last seven homecoming games played in Topeka winning streak snapped.
Schurig moving up the coaching ranks . . .
Ninth-year head coach
Craig Schurig has compiled a 58-41 all-time record at Washburn tying Larry Elliott who recorded 58 wins in two stints as the Ichabods' head coach from 1974-78 and 1984-89. Dick Godlove, who coaches from 1946 to 1958, is the Ichabods' all-time victories leader with 67.
Ichabods on Oct. 30 . . .
Since the 1961 season, the date of when games were available in media guides, the Ichabods are on 2-6 Oct. 30. Washburn has not played on Oct. 30 since the 2004 season when they topped Missouri Western 30-23 in Topeka.
Game Changer
With the Ichabods hosting Emporia State on Nov. 6 as part of the MIAA TV Network, the game time will be pushed back from 1 p.m. to a 2:20 p.m. kickoff time. It will be a busy day in Yager Stadium as 20 seniors will be honored before the game as well as it being Washburn's family day.
Up next . . .
Washburn will then return home to face Emporia State in the 107th edition of the Turnpike Tussle before wrapping up the regular season at Missouri Southern at 2 p.m. in Joplin.
