Kickoff
The No. 9 Washburn Ichabods return home after topping Fort Hays State 45-20 last time out on Sept. 8 as they will play host to Northeastern State, who lost at Missouri Southern 27-21. Washburn (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) will be facing the RiverHawks for the first time since the 1988 season.
Game story lines
• Washburn is facing a new foe in the MIAA at home for the second straight game and will take on all four new members of the conference this season.
• Washburn has not played the RiverHawks (when they were known as the Redmen) since a 35-30 loss in Talequah on Sept. 24, 1988.
• The RiverHawks are playing their first game in Topeka since a 23-21 setback on Sept. 26, 1987 to the Ichabods.
Coaches
Washburn head football coach Craig Schurig . . .
• Named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
• Is 74-44 (.602) in his 11th season as the Ichabod head coach.
• Is 57-34 (.600) against the MIAA.
• Has led the Ichabods to three NCAA Playoff appearances and two bowl appearance championships.
• Led the Ichabods to the 2005 MIAA regular season outright championship.
• Has recorded seven straight winning seasons for the first time in the program's history.
• Led the Ichabods to the program's first 10-win season and their first NCAA or NAIA playoff game victory in school history with a win over Abilene Christian on Nov. 19.
• Is Washburn's all-time winningest coach with 74 wins.
• Has never coached against Northeastern State.
Northeastern State head coach Kenny Evans . . .
• Is in his fifth year leading his alma mater and his fifth season as a collegiate head coach.
• He returned to NSU after serving as an assistant coach for 28 years at six universities.
• Evans has guided the RiverHawks to a 16-31 (.356) overall record.
• Evans spent time as an assistant coach at Missouri Southern.
• This will be his first meeting against Washburn.
• Led the RiverHawks to a 7-5 record in 2011 and to a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.
Ichabod Notebook
• Under head coach
Craig Schurig, the Ichabods are 54-11 when leading at the end of the first quarter.
• Washburn is 52-12 when they score the first points of the ball game.
• The Ichabods are 25-16 in September action under head coach
Craig Schurig.
• The Ichabods are 8 of 10 in the redzone this season scoring six touchdowns while kicking two field goals.
• Defensively the Ichabods are allowing opponents to score only of 4 of 7 trips into the redzone allowing four touchdowns.
Individual Notebook
Taylor Made
• Senior linebacker
Jahmil Taylor is the most-experienced Ichabod returning.
• He has started 34 games including the last 25 straight while appearing in 40 overall.
• He has 273 career tackles which is eighth all-time at Washburn.
• Was a second team all-MIAA pick in 2011.
Atagivision
• Junior inside linebacker
Bryce Atagi finished third last season with 101 tackles.
• He has started the last 16 consecutive games.
• A second team all-MIAA pick and third team all-region selection in 2011.
• He has 11 in the season opener against UNK.
• He forced his second career fumble against the Tigers recovering his third overall on the same play.
Hey Steve
• Senior offensive tackle
Steve Dieckhaus has started the last 30 games at Washburn.
• Has started two games at right guard, 13 at right tackle and 13 at left guard and two starts this season at left tackle.
• An honorable mention all-MIAA pick in 2011.
Willie Will or Willie Won't
• Junior linebacker
Willie Williams is third-leading returning tackler with 83 in 2011.
• He led the team with six tackles against Fort Hays State putting him over the 100-mark in his career at Washburn.
Buhler . . . Buhler
• Sophomore quarterback
Mitch Buhler is the only signal caller returning from the 2011 season.
• He appeared in five games passing for 167 yards and one touchdown.
• He passed for a career-high 252 yards in the first half against Fort Hays State with four touchdowns.
It Hursts So Good
• Junior tight end
Tore' Hurst has started the last 17 games.
• Last season he had 38 catches or 591 yards.
• He tied for second on the team with eight touchdown receptions in 2011.
• He leads the team in 2012 with seven receptions.
Washburn Walker
• Senior defensive end
Corey Walker has played in 28 games starting the last 14 games.
• He has played on both offensive and defensive lines.
• Had had eight tackles for loss last season.
What Can Brown Do for You
• Wide receiver
Tyrell Brown is averaging 10.1 yards a carry this season and had seven carries for 72 yards including a 53-yard run against Fort Hays State last time out.
True Freshmen In Uniform
•
Jordan Hart and
Cody Heiman each saw action as true freshman in the opening game against UNK and FHSU.
About Northeastern State
• The RiverHawks are 0-2 this season after losing at Missouri Southern on Sept. 8 27-21.
• Northeastern State was 7-5 last season as an independent and won their last six games en route to a 7-5 season and a berth in the 2011 Mineral Water Bowl.
• The RiverHawks return 14 starts with six on the offensive side from a season ago.
• Terrance Dixon leads the team with 161 rushing yards averaging 80.5 per game and three touchdowns.
• Johnny Deaton has completed 38 of 76 passes for 531 yards with four interceptions and three touchdowns.
• Jermaine Sherman has 12 catches for 210 yards and two touchdown receptions.
• Langston Jones leads the RiverHawks' defense with 24 tackles and a forced fumble.
Series history with Northeastern State
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
Streak: NSU won the last meeting
First Meeting: WU 23-21 in Topeka on Sept. 26, 1987
Last Meeting: NSU 35-30 in Tallequah, Okla. on Sept. 24, 1988
Last WU win: 23-21 in Topeka on Sept. 26, 1987
Last NSU win: 35-30 in Tallequah, Okla. on Sept. 24, 1988
Largest WU win: 23-21 in Topeka on Sept. 26, 1987
Largest NSU win: NSU 35-30 in Tallequah, Okla. on Sept. 24, 1988
Last meeting with Northeastern State (9/24/1988)
Tallequah, Okla. -- The Washburn Ichabods scored nine fourth quarter points, but it wasn't enough as Northeastern State held on for a 35-30 win over the Ichabods as the teams combined for 893 yards in total offense.
Troy Slusser recorded 276 all-purpose yards with 133 receiving yards and three touchdowns and four punt returns for 143 yards and one touchdown. The 276 yards all-purpose yards are still the second-best total in a single game on the Ichabod chart.
Barry Griffiths was 15 of 30 for 226 and two touchdowns and Les Williams rushed for 70 yards.
Reggie Barns rushed for 245 yards for the RiverHawks (then known as the Redmen).
Vince Pascek had 11 tackles for the Ichabods.
Last time out for Northeastern State (9/8/12)
JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Northeastern State football team fell 27-21 to Missouri Southern State University Saturday night at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
The RiverHawks (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) were competing in their first road game as members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, while the Lions (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) were hosting their first home game of the season.
Senior wide receiver Jermaine Sherman led NSU with seven catches for 133 yards and a 69-yard touchdown late in the game. Fellow senior wideout Jahmai Coleman recorded eight catches for 86 yards, and sophomore running back Terrance Dixon scored his third and fourth TD's of the season.
Sophomore quarterback Johnny Deaton was 23-of-38 for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Junior linebacker Langston Jones led the defense with 14 tackles.
Missouri Southern State jumped out to a 21-7 halftime lead after scoring on each of its first three possessions using the triple option offense.
MSSU quarterback Kellen Cox capped a 17-play, 86-yard opening drive for the Lions with a one-yard TD rush with 5:25 to play in the first quarter.
Dixon answered for the RiverHawks with a three-yard scamper on NSU's first drive to clinch a 13-play, 73-yard drive at the 14:20 mark of the second quarter, but Ne'Ront Threatt scored twice before intermission to give the home team a 14-point lead.
All three of MSSU's first-half TD's were scored on drives longer than 70 yards.
The RiverHawks cut the lead to 21-14 early in the third quarter following an eight-yard touchdown pass from Deaton to Dixon. Dixon's score was setup by a muffed punt that was recovered by NSU senior tight end Ryan Dvorak.
Northeastern State had chances to tie the game, but a Sherman touchdown reception was waved off after the official ruled the ball hit the ground. The road team would proceed to turn the ball over on downs.
MSSU would drive down and score following a 19-yard run by Bryant Venson with 3:17 to play in the fourth quarter. The RiverHawks answered on a 69-yard TD pass from Deaton to Sherman just three plays later, but NSU was unable to recover a well-executed onside kick.
Missouri Southern State ran out the clock to take the 27-21 victory.
The Lions led in total offense 360-339. They also held the rushing advantage (325-52), but NSU had better production through the air (287-35). Both teams turned the ball over once.
Last time out for Washburn (9/8/12)
HAYS, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods scored the first 42 points of the game and never looked back cruising to a 45-20 win over Fort Hays State improving to 2-0 overall.
Washburn scored on its opening possession and drove 83 yards in eight plays as
Mitch Buhler tossed the first of his four touchdown passes on the night hitting
Matt Kobbeman on a 17-yard pass putting the Ichabods up 7-0.
After forcing the Tigers to punt on their first drive of the game, Washburn used just one play as Buhler hit a streaking
Jordan Hart down the sidelines on a 40-yard strike stretching the lead to 14-0 just 5:05 into the game.
On the Tigers' second play of the drive, Tarean Austin fumbled after being tackled by
Bryce Atagi and Atagi recovered putting the Ichabods at the FHSU 28. Washburn then ran off six plays on six carries by
Hayden Groves as he scored from 1-yard out stretching the Washburn lead to 21-0 with seven minutes to play in the first quarter.
A
Calvin Kenney interception put the Ichabod offense back on the field at the Tiger 37 and Buhler tossed his third touchdown pass of the quarter connecting with
Mark Fancher for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 1:02 to play in the first. Washburn had the ball for 11:02 of the first quarter converting 3 of 4 third down conversions.
Washburn added to its lead with 7:38 to play in the opening stanza when Buhler hit Fancher again for a 52-yard touchdown pass capping a nine-play, 80-yard drive.
The Tigers punted on their next drive and
Kameron Stewart scored on a 32-yard scamper stretching the Ichabod lead to 42-0 on a 99-yard drive drive in 10 plays. The Ichabods had the ball of 10:03 in the second quarter accounting 20:42 of possession in the first half.
The Tigers scored for the first time in the game on a 94-yard, 14-play drive, but the point after failed as Washburn led 42-6 with 6:02 to play in the third quarter.
Jeremy Linn connected on a 30-yard field goal with 2:55 to play in the third quarter stretching the Ichabod lead to 45-6.
The Tigers added a pick-six interception touchdown return as Raheeme Dumas picked off
Joel Piper and returned it 28 yards for the score. The Tigers added a score with 3:16 to play finishing the scoring with Washburn taking the 45-20 win.
Buhler finished 15 of 20 for 252 yards and four touchdowns playing the first half. Stewart had 11 carries for 87 yards and Groves had 16 carries for 80 yards.
Tore' Hurst had five catches for 77 yards to lead the receivers. Hart and Kobbeman each had three catches and a touchdown score.
Willie Williams led the Ichabods with six tackles and Kenney and
Shay Wooten had five tackles and a tackle for loss.
Overall, the Ichabods had 26 first downs compared to 16 for the Tigers and racked up 565 yards of offense while the Ichabods held the Tigers to 246 yards. Washburn had 307 yards rushing in the game. The Ichabods held the Tigers to 72 total offensive yards in the first half while the Ichabods had 418 yards in the first 30 minutes.
Washburn football history
Washburn is 512-550-44 (.482) in the 122nd year of Ichabod football.
A win for Washburn over Northeastern State would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 513-550-44 in its football history.
• make the Ichabods 2-1 all-time against the RiverHawks.
• make the Ichabods 2-0 all-time against the RiverHawks in Topeka.
• be the Ichabods' third-straight win in Yager Stadium and their ninth win in the last 11 games.
A loss for Washburn to Northeastern State would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 512-551-44 in its football history.
• be the second-straight loss to the RiverHawks.
• drop the Ichabods to 1-2 against the RiverHawks
• drop the Ichabods to 1-1 against the RiverHawks in Topeka.
Fort Hays State leftovers . . . the win . . .
• lifted the Ichabods to 512-550-44 in its football history.
• was the Ichabods' fourth-straight win over the Tigers.
• made the Ichabods 41-23-3 all-time against the Tigers.
• made the Ichabods 17-13-2 all-time in Hays.
Bod Bullets
• Northeastern State has six Kansans on its roster … The RiverHawks' Ross and Ryan Dvorak from Louisburg were high school teammates of the Ichabods
Tyler Ewy.
• The 307 rushing yards against Fort Hays State was the 25th time an Ichabod team had recorded at least 300 rushing yards in a game.
• The 565 total offensive yards against the Tigers was the 13th-best single-game total in school history.
• The four first half touchdown passes by
Mitch Buhler tied an Ichabod record for most TD passes in a half set by
Dane Simoneau against Pitt State on Oct. 17, 2009.
• Washburn is 3-5-1 all-time on Sept. 15th and 1-2 in home games on that date.
•
Schuyler Jackson had three special team tackles against Fort Hays State setting a career high.
• The Ichabods are 1-1 as the No. 9-ranked team in the country in the AFCA Top 25 coaches poll.
Ichabods in the national polls
WACO, Texas -- The Washburn Ichabods moved up six spots from No. 15 to No. 9 in the latest AFCA top 25 Division II coaches poll which was released on Monday. The Ichabods jumped six spots after topping Fort Hays State 45-20 behind 42 first half points in the win. The Ichabods have been ranked in the top 25 in the last 15 polls and have received votes in 41 of the last 42 coaches polls. It is the 12th week the Ichabods have been ranked in the top ten under head coach
Craig Schurig.
Up next
The Ichabods will hit the road for the MIAA's TV game of the week when they will face Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. with a 2:37 p.m. kickoff time. The game will be broadcast on Kansas 22 through out much of Kansas.
