Box Score | Season Stats | Photos

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 9 Washburn Ichabods fell 34-26 to No. 6 Abilene Christian in front of nearly 6,900 fans on Saturday night in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods will be back in action on Sept. 18 at home against Missouri Western at 6 p.m.

The Ichabods jumped out to the early lead with 5:33 to go in the opening quarter on a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Vershon Moore and the extra point attempt was missed after a bad snap. The Wildcats returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards to the Ichabod seven, the Ichabod defense held as ACU kicked a 21-yard field goal cutting the Washburn lead in half at 6-3 with 3:31 to go in the opening stanza.

ACU would go up 10-6 after a 9-play, 67-yard drive capped by a 27-yard scamper by Daryl Richardson with 4:58 to go in the first half. ACU would add to the lead on a 51-yard touchdown strike from Mitchell Gale to Edmund Gates stretching the lead to 17-6. After a personal foul called on Gates pushing the kickoff back to the Wildcat 15, the Ichabods took advantage driving 65 yards in six plays on a Dane Simoneau to Joe Hastings touchdown hook up from six yards out as the Ichabods pulled to within five at 17-12 with 11 seconds to play in the half.

After tradiing posessions to start the second half, Abilene Christian went up 24-12 on a 4-yard pass from Gale to Emery Dudensign with 3:57 to go in the third quarter. But the Ichabods answered with a 44-yard touchdown catch by Hastings from Simoneau with 2:03 to go in the third quarter to cut the Wildcat lead to 24-19.

The Wildcats stretched the lead to 27-19 on a 33-yard field goal by Morgan Lineberry with 14:17 to play in the game and would pull out to a 15-point lead at 34-19 with 4:23 to go in the game. Washburn again answered with a toucdown drive of 80 yards capped by a Moore 1-yard run on a fourth and one from the ACU one yard line pulling the Ichabods within eight at 34-26.

The Ichabods forced a three-and-out on the Wildcats, but the punt was bobbled turning possession back to the Wildcats with seven seconds left and would then end the game with a single knee sealing the 34-26 win.

The Ichabods led the Wildcats in first downs (22 to 18), rushing (126 to 96) and passing (442 to 342). Moore led the Ichabods on the ground with 66 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Simoneau finished 19 of 25 for 316 yards and two scores - both going to Hastings who finished the game with seven catches for 156 yards.Defensively, the Ichabods were led by Michael Hollins with 10 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Marty Pfannenstiel had nine tackles.

Gale finished 24 for 30 for 247 and three scores with Richardson finished with 74 yards on 21 carries. Kevin Washington had 10 tackles with three tackles for loss and one sack.