First Look Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. Location: Joplin, Mo. - Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000) Television: None Internet: through America One Network online Radio: AM 580 WIBW and online at wusports.com The Series: Series is tied 20-20-1 Series Notes: Washburn has won the last eight meetings in the series. The Lions have not beat the Ichabods since a 52-28 win in Joplin on Sept. 28, 2002.

Washburn Ichabods (2-0, 1-0 MIAA) Football Page Roster Statistics Schedule Game Notes Athletic Website

Missouri Southern (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) Football Page Roster Statistics Schedule Game Notes Athletic Website

Radio: WIBW AM 580 Live Audio   Live Stats: Here Live Video: Here

Kickoff
The Washburn Ichabods return to MIAA play for their first Saturday game of the season as they will travel to Joplin, Mo., to face Missouri Southern in the Lion's home opener. Washburn (2-0, 1-0 MIAA) is coming off a 66-26 win over Lincoln. The Lions have been idle since a 42-24 loss at then-No. 15 Central Missouri on Sept. 1.

Game story lines
• The Ichabods are looking for their ninth straight win over the Lions in the series. Washburn's last loss in the series was a 52-28 loss on Sept. 28, 2002 in Joplin in head coach Craig Schurig's first season with the Ichabods.
• Saturday's game will be the Ichabods' second straight trip to Joplin after beating the Lions 23-7 last season on Nov. 13, 2010.
• The Ichabods are looking to move to 3-0 on the season for the third time under head coach Craig Schurig and move to 2-0 in MIAA third time under Schurig for the first time since the 2006 season.

Game center: Washburn vs Missouri SOuthern
Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.
Location: Joplin, Mo. - Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000)
Television: None
Internet: through America One Network online
Radio: AM 580 WIBW and online at wusports.com
The Series: Series is tied 20-20-1
Series Notes: Washburn has won the last eight meetings in the series. The Lions have not beat the Ichabods since a 52-28 win in Joplin on Sept. 28, 2002.

Coaches
Washburn head football coach Craig Schurig was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. Schurig is 64-41 (.602) in his tenth season as the Ichabod head coach and he is 49-32 (.600) 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 seven straight winning seasons for the first time in the program's history. Schurig's 64 wins is the second-most in school history behind Dick Godlove (1946-58) who recorded 67 wins.
Missouri Southern head coach Bart Tatum is in his sixth season as head coach at Missouri Southern after spending 12 seasons as an assistant coach at Northwest Missouri State. In his six seasons at Southern, Tatum has led the Lions to an 22-33 record and two sixth place finishes in the MIAA.

Notebook
Remembering Jermon
This week wearing No. 20 against Lincoln in remembrance of Jermon Watson is Ronnell Garner, who normally wears No. 13. Last week against Lincoln, Toré Hurst recorded two catches for 30 yards against the Blue Tigers.

Quick Starts Key for Ichabods
Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 47-10 when leading after the first quarter and they have gone 42-11 when they score the first points of the ball game.

September Action
The Ichabods are 22-16 under head coach Craig Schurig. Since the 2005 season, the Ichabods are 17-9. During the 2010 season, the Ichabods dropped three straight during the month of September by a combined 25 points.

Number 9 . . . Number 9 . . . Number 9
Senior signal caller Dane Simoneau has started the last 31 games … has passed for 7,734 yards averaging 241 yards per game in his career passing … he jumped from 10th to seventh on the MIAA's all-time passing chart after his 452 yard performance in the season opener … he has thrown for a school-record 70 touchdowns completing 58.5 percent of his career passing attempts … he has thrown for at least 300 yards in a game 12 times … he has recorded 7,628 career total offensive yards which is second on the all-time chart behind Tyler Schuerman's 8,315 yards. He needs six passing attempts to break Washburn's all-time record of 866 set by Mike Atkins from 1977 to 1980.

MIAA Career Passing Chart    Yards    Att-Comp    Pct    TD's
1.    Eric Czerniewski, UCM 2006-10    12,847    1678-1043    62.2    107
2.    Drew Newhart, MWSU 2007-10    10,691    1348-817    60.1    95
3.    Kasey Waterman, MWSU 1998-2001    10,025    1304-730    56.0    98
4.    Eric Howe, TSU 1998-2001    9,097    1203-687    57.1    70
5.    Adam Hinspeter, MSSU 2005-08    9,016    1368-842    61.5    61
6.    Blake Bolles, NWMSU, 2007-10    8,668    995-662    66.5    79
7.    Dane Simoneau, WU 2008-pr.    7,734    861-504    58.5    70
8.    Chris Greisen, NWMSU 1995-98    7,457    853-500    58.6    68
9.    Josh Lamberson, NWMSU 2002-05    7,365    873-575    65.8    65
10.    Paul Kaiser, UCM 1993-95, 1997    7,233    982-513    52.2    58

Washburn Career Total Offense Chart    Yards    Rushing    Passing   
1.    Tyler Schuerman, 2000-04    8,315    1,790    6,525
2.    Dane Simoneau, 2008-pr    7,628    -106    7,734
3.    Jordan Brill, 2003-07    6,766    -275    7,041
4.    Joe Schartz, 1993-96    6,622    1,095    5,527
5.    Dustin Hickel, 2001-04    5,242    1,098    4,144

Hanging with Mr. Cooper
Senior running back Justin Cooper has rushed for 1,712 career yards and 18 career touchdowns … he is 11th on the all-time rushing chart moving past Art Fletcher who rushed for 1,698 yards from 1946-49.

Washburn Career Rushing Chart    Yards    Attempts    YPC    TD's   
1.     Ra'Shawn Mosley, 2004-07    3,416    602    5.7    34
2.    Trent Hearn, 2003-06    3,154    679    4.6    48
3.    Dino DeLisa, 1983-85    2,794    665    4.2    29
4.    Les Williams, 1986-90    2,209    522    4.2    19
5.    Brandon Rainer, 1998-2001    2,171    457    4.8    31
6.    Brandon Walker, 2005-08    2,015    437    4.6    21
7.    Vershon Moore, 2009-10    1,968    337    5.8    19
8.    Leroy Harmon, 1945-49    1,927    -    -    -   
9.    Willie Sapp, 1995-97    1,816    322    5.6    14
10.    Tyler Schuerman, 2000-04    1,790    422    4.0    25
11.    Justin Cooper, 2008-10    1,554    380    4.1    15

Fear the Beard
Ichabod sophomore DeJuan Beard finished the 2010 season second in the MIAA punt returns with an 11.8 yard per return average … he also finished second on the team in 2010 with 374 receiving yards and 26 receptions adding four touchdowns. Against Sioux Falls he had five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.

Garnering Attention
Ichabod sophomore wide receiver Ronnell Garner tied for the team lead with 30 receiving yards playing a limited evening including a 20 yard touchdown reception. He leads the team with seven catches and 120 yards.

Ichabods in Non-conference Action
Since joining the NCAA ranks, the Ichabods are 22-17 in non-MIAA games. Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 14-6 in non-conference games since the 2002 season during the regular season following the loss to Abilene Christian in their 2010 home opener. In non-conference regular season away games under Schurig, the Ichabods are 8-2 and in home games during the regular season against non-MIAA foes, the Ichabods are 6-4.

Red Zone Success
In the 2009 and 2010 seasons the Ichabods have been outstanding in the red zone converting on a combined 101 of 113 trips into the red zone scoring 74 touchdowns with 27 field goals. This season the Ichabods have jumped out to another great start scoring on 7 of 9 trips into the red zone.

In the Middle
In the middle of the defensive line is senior defensive tackle Ian Williams who has started the last 27 games. He has appeared in 33 games recording 67 tackles with five for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Folk hero
Senior offensive lineman Brian Folkerts has started the last 28 games appearing in 33 for the Ichabods at left tackle and at right tackle. As a junior he started all 12 games on the left side of the line after starting 14 on the right side as a sophomore and redshirt freshman.

Man of Steel
Senior linebacker Marty Pfannenstiel has played in 38 career games at Washburn and has started the last 23 games. He has 162 total career tackles after tying for the team lead with 91 tackles as a junior in 2010.  He recorded his team-high third interception against Lincoln after picking off two passes against Sioux Falls. Overall he has recorded an interception in three straight games dating back to the 2010 Kanza Bowl.

Taylor Made
Junior linebacker Jahmil Taylor started the final eight games of the 2010 season and has made 20 career starts recording 149 tackles with 12.0 tackles for loss. He tied with Marty Pfannenstiel for the team-lead last season with 91 tackles with 40 solo stops.

Showing the Way
Senior fullback Greg Schoenberg has started 13 games at Washburn rushing for 121 yards with 14 catches for 206 yards. He has cleared the way for one of Washburn's six single-season 1,000-yard rushers at Washburn while recording 26 tackles on special teams appearing in 36 career games. He recorded his second rushing touchdown of his career against Lincoln last time out.

No Fear
Redshirt freshman Sean McPherson (pronounced Mc-Fear-son) had a 15-carry, 85-yard performance in his first game in a Washburn uniform averaging 5.7 yards per carry to lead the team on the ground against Sioux Falls in the season opener. Against Lincoln, McPherson averaged a whopping 18.3 yards per carry with 110 yards on six attempts and three touchdown runs. In two career games, McPherson has averaged 9.3 yards per carry collecting 195 yards on 21 attempts.

Young Bods in play this season
The Ichabods had five true freshmen appear in the game against Sioux Falls in the season opener. Left guard Dylan Ready and punter Aaron Hummert made starts while safety Calvin Kenney, wide receiver Connor Crimmins and quarterback Mitch Buhler all saw action. Buhler is the first true freshman to see action at quarterback for the Ichabods since Aaron Battle in the 1994 season. Against Lincoln, freshman defensive tackle Tyler Ewy saw his first action and recorded three tackles with one for loss.

In the trenches
For the five Ichabod offensive line starters, Washburn averages 6-foot-3 and 301.2 pounds while the four Lion defensive linemen - in a 4-2-5 scheme - average 6-foot-2 and 271.8 pounds. When the Lions have the ball, their five offensive linemen average 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds while the Ichabods four defensive linemen average 6-foot-2 and 273 pounds.

Contemplating Conversions
For the Ichabods this season, it has been a tale of two halves as far as third down conversions go. In the first half this season, Washburn has converted 86 percent of its 12 of 14 third down plays. While in the second half of games this season, Washburn is only 1 of 13 on third down conversions moving the chains. Opponents are only 3 of 13 in first half conversions while they are completing 10 of 19 third down conversions in the second half.

About Missouri Southern
The Lions are coming off a 4-7 season in 2010 in which they went 2-7 in MIAA play for an eighth place finish in the conference standings. The Lions return 19 starters from last season and 47 letterwinners overall. In their lone game this season, a 42-24 loss at Central Missouri, quarterback Collin Howard led the Lions on the ground with 73 rushing yards while completing 22 of 32 passes for 215 yards and three touchdown passes while adding two interceptions. His favorite target has been Landon Zerkel who has seven catches for 87 yards. Alex Wong leads the team with nine tackles.
 
Last time out for Missouri Southern
Sept. 1, 2011 - Warrensburg, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football team scored the game's first touchdown, but the 15th ranked Central Missouri Mules scored 28 unanswered points en route to a 42-24 season-opening win over the Lions at Walton Stadium in Warrensburg.
Southern (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) trailed the Mules by only 35 yards of total offense, but four costly turnovers helped lead to the difference in the game. It was the first time the Lions were playing their conference opener to start the season since 1990.
Central (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) converted 7-11 third down chances including three with more than ten yards to go that resulted in touchdowns. Tommy Corwin led the offensive attack as the fifth-year senior exploded in his first start, tying a UCM single-game record with six touchdowns and 397 yards passing on 22-34. Jamar Howard had five catches for 134 yards and was one of three different Central receivers with two touchdowns catching.
The Lions held Central to three consecutive three-and-out possessions to start the game, but Southern had two straight interceptions in their first two trips. The Lions recovered, however, as Collin Howard led the team down the field in 11 plays, gaining 66 yards, while taking 4:30 off the clock. He concluded the play with a roll out pass to Landon Zerkel in the end zone for the game's first score.
The Mules answered right back and Corwin connected on a 57-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Dyer to tie the game at seven apiece with just under two minutes left in the first quarter. After Southern punted in its next possession, Corwin hooked up with Howard on the first play of the drive for a 65-yard score. Corwin then made it three-straight possessions with a passing touchdown as he hooked up with David Cannon for a 37-yard pass and catch to run the score to 21-7 with 9:05 left in the first. Corwin and Dyer hooked up again on an 18-yard touchdown score with six minutes to go in the second quarter.
Southern got back on the board with a 32-yard field goal from Dallas Herndon, making the score 28-10 with just over two minutes to go in the half. On the first play of the Mules' ensuing possession, Maurlon Bembry picked up a fumble forced by Alex Wong and gave the Lions the ball at the Central 45 yard line. Southern made the turnover hurt and the Lions drove 45 yards in 1:35 and a pass and catch from Howard to Threatt with 20 seconds left made the score 28-17, Mules at the half.
The Lions took the ball at the start of the second half and held possession for just a little more than seven minutes, but a 38-yard attempt at a field goal from Herndon was wide right.
Big plays killed the Lions when in the first quarter, a third and 18 for the Mules was followed up with a 57-yard touchdown pass and in the third quarter, a third and 21 for Central resulted in a 34-yard pass and an eventual 37-yard touchdown score from Corwin to Howard to make the score 35-17 with 4:54 left in the third.
The Lions answered back with their second seven-minute drive of the second half when Howard hooked up with Anthony Westfield for his first collegiate touchdown on a fourth down play to cut the Central lead to 35-24 with under 12 minutes to go in the game. Southern held the Mules to their first three-and-out since the first quarter and were driving in enemy territory, but a fumble led to a Mules score with 6:44 left in the game when Corwin threw his sixth touchdown pass of the game, this time a ten yard strike to Cannon. 
After a rocky start to the game (1-4 passing and two interceptions), Howard rebounded to go 9-9 to end the first half, and 21-28 to end the game finishing 22-32 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Zerkel, Threatt and Westfield all had touchdown catches for the Lions. Howard rushed for 73 yards on 16 carries, while Steven Sumpter picked up 63 yards on 20 attempts. The Lions, alltogether, had 202 yards rushing as a team. Dallas Herndon was 1-2 from field goals, making from 32 yards, but missing a 38 yard attempt.
Defensively, Wong led the Lions with nine tackles, while Demon Haire had eight and CJ Broades picked up five. Wong had a forced fumble, while Bembry picked up a fumble recovery.

Series history with Missouri Southern
Saturday's meeting is the 42nd meeting in the series. The all-time series is tied 20-20-1. The Ichabods have won the last eight games and 12 of the last 13 overall. In games played in Joplin, the Ichabods have won six of the last seven. In Topeka, the Ichabods have won the last six games. In the last 15 games in the series, the average margin of victory has been 10.2 points with eight games being decided by seven or fewer points.

Last time Meeting with Missouri Southern • Nov. 13, 2010
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods wrapped up the regular season with a 23-7 win over Missouri Southern sealing a 7-4 record.
The Ichabods took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards in five plays capped by a 47-yard touchdown strike from Dane Simoneau to Tore Hurst for the only points of the first quarter. The Lions scored on a Collin Howard pass to Kellen Cox with 9:26 to play in the second quarter tying the score at 7-7.
The Ichabods took the lead for good on a Simoneau to DeJuan Beard six-yard touchdown pass with 7:47 to go in the first half.
Steve Ivanisevic kicked three field goals in the second half for the lone points for either team. The first was from 31-yard outs with 8:09 to play in the third quarter and the other two were at the 13:34 mark of the fourth quarter on a 20-yard connection and with 2:05 left to play in the game, Ivanisevic connected on a 45-yard field goal into the wind.
Simoneau finished the game 25 of 40 for 385 yards and two touchdowns raising his single-season to 3,109 yards breaking his own record set as a sophomore. He has 6,852 career yards passing trailing all-time leader Jordan Brill by 189 yards.
Joe Hastings had 11 catches, tying his career high for 185 yards giving him 77 catches on the season, needing seven more catches to tie the single season of 84 set by Ron Hamilton in 1980.
Jahmil Taylor led the Ichabod defense with 14 tackles including two tackles for loss and one sack. Sam Pour had a career high seven tackles.
Washburn had 385 yards of total offense while holding the Lions to 175 of offense on the day. Washburn held the Lions to 84 yards of offense in the second half.

Last time out for Washburn: #15 Ichabods 66, Lincoln 26 • Sept. 8, 2011
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 15-ranked Washburn Ichabods scored on their first play from scrimmage and never looked back as they set multiple first half scoring records in a 66-26 win over Lincoln in their season opener.
Justin Cooper scored on Washburn's first play rushing over the left side for a 66-yard run scamper putting WU on the board 16 seconds in the game. After taking over, on the fourth down play, the Blue Tigers had a bad snap on the punt holding Josh Blanton short of the first down marker giving the Ichabods possession at the Lincoln 27. Three plays later Cooper ran for his second touchdown from 3-yards out putting the Ichabods up 14-0 with 12:25 to go in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff by the Ichabods, the Blue Tigers' Nick Daniels fumbled and Washburn took over at the Lincoln 34 setting up a 1-play, 34-yard drive with Sean McPherson adding to the Washburn lead putting the Ichabods up 21-0 with 12:11 to play in the opening quarter.
The Blue Tigers took over and four plays into their drive, Deon Brock fumbled a pass reception and Willie Williams caused the fumble and Devon Connors recovered at the Blue Tiger 19 yard line. McPherson picked up his second touchdown run of the night on a 24-yard carry stretching the Ichabod lead to 28-0, only 4:33 into the game.
After holding the Blue Tigers to a three-and-out, Washburn's Dane Simoneau hit Ronnell Garner on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:41 remaining in the first quarter. The Blue Tigers next drive resulted in a pickoff by Washburn's Adebayo Oladapo on the first play of the drive. Washburn took over at the Lincoln 18 and McPherson rushed for his second scoring run from 23 yards out putting Washburn up 42-0 with 6:26 to play in the opening quarter.
Washburn wrapped up the scoring in the first half on a 3-yard dive by Greg Schoenberg capping a 9-play drive putting Washburn up 49-0. The 49 points set an Ichabod record for the most points scored in a single quarter topping the 37 Washburn scored against New Mexico Highlands when they scored 37.
Lincoln scored their first points of the game on a Deon Brock 7-yard run with 13:07 to play in the first half. The two-point conversion failed.
The Ichabods added to their lead when Cooper rushed for his third score of the day - this time on a 41-yard run with freshman quarterback Mitch Buhler calling the plays as Simoneau came out of the game at the 13:02 mark of the second quarter. After
the teams traded drives, Washburn's Justin Salum put the Ichabods up 63-6 with 6:03 to play in the first half. The Ichabods held the Blue Tigers without a first down and Jeremy Linn connected on a 38-yard field goal with 2:13 to play in the half putting Washburn up 66-6 wrapping up the scoring for the Ichabods in the game. Washburn set a school record for most points in a single half topping the 61 they scored against New Mexico Highlands in 2009.
In the second half, the Blue Tigers outscored the Ichabods 20 to 0 as the Blue Tigers' Brock scored three touchdowns in the second half.
Cooper had 12 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns averaging 13.2 yards per run. McPherson averaged 18.3 yards per carry on six carries with 110 and the three scores. Salum had 14 carries for 88 yards and one touchdown.
Simoneau finished the game 6 of 8 for 80 yards and one touchdown playing into the Ichabods first drive of the second quarter. Buhler finished 6 of 12 for 47 yards. Garner and Tore Hurst each had two catches for 30 yards.
Brock led the Blue Tigers with 190 yards rushing on 30 carries and four touchdowns. Robert Redmond was 17 of 37 for 120 yards with two interceptions. Chris Willis had eight catches for 60 yards.
Defensively, Michael Hollins had 11 tackles with two tackles for loss and Marty Pfannenstiel had eight tackles with one for loss and his third interception of the season to lead the Ichabods.
Devin Mack had eight tackles along with Herman Hopson to lead Lincoln.
Washburn finished 465 yards of total offense with 286 coming in the first quarter.

Washburn Football History
Washburn is 507-553-44 (.478) in the 121st year of Ichabod football.

A win for Washburn over Missouri Southern would ...
lift the Ichabods to 508-553-44 in their football history … move the Ichabods to 3-0 on the season for the third time under head coach Craig Schurig … move the Ichabods to 2-0 in MIAA third time under Schurig and the first time since the 2006 season … move the Ichabods to 21-20-1 all-time against the Lions taking the first lead ever in the series history …  be the Ichabods' ninth straight win over the Lions … be the fifth straight win over the Lions in games played in Joplin.

A Loss for Washburn would ...
drop the Ichabods to 507-554-44 in their football history … drop the Ichabods to 2-1 on the season … snap Washburn's eight-game winning streak over the Lions … give the Lions a 21-20-1 all-time series lead … snap a four-game Ichabod winning streak over the Lions in games played in Joplin.

The win over Lincoln revisited ... the win
lifted the Ichabods to 507-553-44 in their football history … moved the Ichabods to 11-12 in MIAA openers all-time … moved the Ichabods to 6-4 all-time in MIAA openers under Craig Schurig … improved the Ichabods to 4-0 all-time against Lincoln.

The Ichabods in the national polls
The Ichabods climbed two spots from 15th to 13th in the AFCA Preseason Coaches Poll which was released on Monday. Washburn has been ranked in the top 25 or has received votes for the top 25 poll in each of the last 18 weeks.

Up next
Washburn will then have a short week as they prepare to face Missouri Western in the CBS College Sports National game of the week on Sept. 22 from Yager Stadium beginning with a 7:08 kickoff.