Kickoff
The No. 9 Washburn Ichabods will travel to Edmond, Okla., to face Central Oklahoma for the first time in the program's history. Washburn (3-0, 3-0 MIAA) is coming off a 24-20 win over Northeastern State on Sept. 15, while the Bronchos (0-3, 0-3 MIAA) was topped 42-14 at Emporia State in their last game.
Game story lines
• Washburn is facing a new foe in the MIAA for the second-straight game and will take on all four new members of the conference this season.
• Washburn has never faced the Bronchos in Edmond and have only played UCO once and that was a 48-3 win in Topeka on Oct. 15.
• Washburn is looking for its second consecutive 4-0 start under head coach
Craig Schurig.
• The Ichabods will be playing its first afternoon game of the season.
• Washburn is 4-0 on the MIAA's TV Game of the Week. Last season Washburn topped Lincoln 66-26 and Truman 42-14 and in 2010 Washburn beat Pittsburg State 35-34 in two overtimes and Emporia State 42-0 in Topeka. Overall Washburn has outscored its opponents 185-74.
• The Ichabods are 1-0 under
Craig Schurig in games played in Oklahoma. In Schurig's second year at Washburn, the Ichabods beat Langston 28-0 in a game played in Gutherie, Okla.
• Against teams from Oklahoma, Schurig is 4-0 with two wins over Langston and single wins over Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State.
• The Ichabods were punted on five of their first six possessions of the second half with an interception mixed in against Northeastern State.
Coaches
Washburn head football coach Craig Schurig . . .
• Named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
• Is 75-44 (.602) in his 11th season as the Ichabod head coach.
• Is 58-34 (.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 75 wins.
• Is 1-0 against Central Oklahoma.
Central Oklahoma head coach Nick Bobeck . . .
• Is in his first year leading his alma mater.
• Coached at Navarro College in Texas going 42-5 winning the 2010 national championship.
• Four-year letterman and two-year starter at UCO earning first team all-league honors as a senior.
• Also was an offensive line coach at Texas A&M.
• Is 0-3 as the Bronchos head coach.
• Has never coached against Washburn.
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 26-16 in September action under head coach
Craig Schurig.
• The Ichabods are 11 of 13 in the redzone this season scoring eight touchdowns while kicking three field goals.
• Defensively the Ichabods are allowing opponents to score only of six of 10 trips into the redzone allowing five touchdowns.
• Washburn improved to 7-21 when trailing after the first quarter as Northeastern State held a 10-7 lead.
• Washburn had been above a 50 percent 3rd down conversion rate in each game prior to the Northeastern State game.
• Against the RiverHawks, Washburn was 7 of 19 overall. Against Nebraska-Kearney, Washburn was 8 for 16 and against Fort Hays State Washburn was 8 of 14.
• In the second half against Northeastern State, Washburn was only 2 of 10 on 3rd down conversions. In the first half Washburn was 7 of 9 against Northeastern State.
• The blocked punt return for a touchdown was the first by an Ichabod since Michael Krajicek had a 5-yard return off his own block against Emporia State on Nov. 7, 2009.
Individual Notebook
Taylor Made
• Senior linebacker
Jahmil Taylor is the most-experienced Ichabod returning.
• He has started 35 games including the last 26 straight while appearing in 41 overall.
• He has 276 career tackles which is eighth all-time at Washburn.
• Was a second team all-MIAA pick in 2011.
• He is the fourth-highest active player in NCAA Division II with the 276 career total tackles.
• He is also fourth in solo stackles (146) and 11th in assisted tackles (130).
Atagivision
• Junior inside linebacker
Bryce Atagi finished third last season with 101 tackles.
• He has started the last 17 consecutive games.
• A second team all-MIAA pick and third team all-region selection in 2011.
• He had 11 in the season opener against UNK and recorded 10 against Northeastern State
• He forced his second career fumble against the Tigers recovering his third overall on the same play.
• He leads the team with 26 tackles with 11 solo stops and also has a team-high 3.5 tackles for loss.
Hey Steve
• Senior offensive tackle
Steve Dieckhaus has started the last 31 games at Washburn.
• Has started two games at right guard, 13 at right tackle and 13 at left guard and three 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.
• This season he is tied for third with 17 tackles with 10 solo stops.
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 18 games.
• Last season he had 38 catches or 591 yards.
• He tied for second on the team with eight touchdown receptions in 2011.
• He is tied for the team lead in 2012 with 10 receptions and recorded his first touchdown reception of the season against Northeastern State.
Washburn Walker
• Senior defensive end
Corey Walker has played in 29 games starting the last 15 games.
• He has played on both offensive and defensive lines.
• Had had eight tackles for loss last season.
• He is tied for the team lead with 3.5 tacklesfor loss and two sacks.
What Can Brown Do for You
• Wide receiver
Tyrell Brown is averaging 8.6 yards a carry this season and has 10 carries for 86 yards including a 53-yard run against Fort Hays State.
True Freshmen In Uniform
•
Jordan Hart and
Cody Heiman each saw action as true freshman in the opening game against UNK and FHSU. Hart had two catches for 29 yards against Northeastern State. Heiman missed the NSU game with an injury.
About Central Oklahoma
• The Bronchos are 0-3 this season after falling to Emporia State 42-14 last time out.
• UCO was 2-9 last season and hired Nick Bobeck as its new coach.
• UCO lost 25-20 to Missouri Southern and 34-19 at No. 1-ranked Pittsburg State before its loss to ESU last week.
• Josh Birmingham leads the team with 92 yards per game on the ground with three touchdowns.
• Adrian Nelson is 54 of 105 for 570 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions.
• Christian Hood leads the team with 11 receptions.
• Brad Harmon leads UCO with 22 tackles.
Series history with Central Oklahoma
Series Record: WU leads 1-0
Streaks: WU won the last one
First Meeting: WU, 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka
Last Meeting: WU, 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka
Last WU win: 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka
Last UCO win: n/a
Largest WU win: 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka
Largest UCO win: n/a
Last meeting with Central Oklahoma (10/15/2011)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods handed Central Oklahoma its worst loss since the 1972 season while remaining perfect on the season at 7-0 win a 48-3 win over the Bronchos on Family Day in Yager Stadium.
Washburn scored the first points of the game after taking the opening kickoff and marching 71 yards on 12 plays as
Dane Simoneau connected with
Ryan Mertz on a 15-yard touchdown pass staking the Ichabods to a lead they would not give up the rest of the game. The teams traded possessions and after a missed field goal by Central Oklahoma,
Jeremy Linn capped 59-yard drive with a 21-yard field goal putting the Ichabods up 10-0 with 1:15 left in the opening quarter. The Ichabods defense held the Bronchos to 35 total yards in the first quarter while gaining 153 of their own.
Washburn stretched its lead to 17-0 after Simoneau found
DaJuan Beard for a 17-yard touchdown score with 9:59 left in the first half. The Bronchos scored their only points of the game on the ensuing drive as Chris Robbs nailed a 40-yard field goal cutting Washburn's lead to 17-3 with 6:53 left in the opening half.
After the teams traded punts, including a career-long 67-yarder by
Aaron Hummert, Simoneau hooked up with Beard for an 8-yard touchdown score just before the half sending the Ichabods to the locker rooms with a 24-3 lead. In the first half of the game, Simoneau was 14 of 23 for 228 yards and three touchdowns while the Ichabod defense held UCO to 128 total yards.
Washburn held the Bronchos on their first drive of the second half and Washburn's Linn hit a 23-yard field goal to put the Ichabods up 27-3. After a fumble by Central Oklahoma, Washburn needed only three plays as Simoneau hit
Ronnell Garner for a 23-yard pass threading the needle between three Central Oklahoma defensive backs for another touchdown pass. Neither team scored until the Ichabods second play of the fourth quarter when Simoneau threw his fifth touchdown pass of the afternoon - this one to Beard for 9-yards out putting Washburn up 41-3.
After another UCO fumble which was caused by
Michael Hollins and recovered by
Casey Curran at the Washburn 30,
Mitch Buhler relieved Simoneau at quarterback and moved the team 76 yards on seven plays hitting Garner on a 21-yard strike to cap the drive and the scoring for both teams with Washburn ahead 48-3.
Simoneau finished 19 of 31 for 338 yards with the five scores and no interceptions. Three different Ichabods pulled down touchdown passes and two had more than 100 yards receiving. Garner led the team with six catches for 127 yards and two scores while Beard had five catches for 117 yards and three touchdowns.
Sean McPherson had 120 yards on the ground to lead the Ichabods on 16 carries.
Curran led the Ichabod defense with 13 tackles including five solo stops and Hollins and
Jahmil Taylor each had nine tackles. Hummert finished with five punts averaging 49.4 yards per punt for Washburn.
Joshua Birmingham had 49 carries to lead UCO while Ethan Sharp was 22 of 36 passing for 161 yards. Christian Hood had seven catches for 64 yards.
Defensively, Washburn held the Bronchos to 303 yards on 80 plays for a 3.8 yard per play average. Washburn racked up 565 total yards averaging 7.3 yards per play. The Ichabod defense held UCO to 2 of 16 on third down conversion plays.
Last time out for Central Oklahoma (9/15/12)
EMPORIA, Kan. -- Missed opportunities, turnovers and a potent opponent formed a combination that was simply too much for Central Oklahoma to overcome Saturday afternoon.
The Bronchos failed to turn eight possessions inside Emporia State territory into points – four of those because of turnovers – and gave up 538 yards to the unbeaten Hornets in dropping a 42-14 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association decision at Welch Field.
UCO hurt itself with mistakes early in falling behind 21-0 and continued to do so while trying to stay in the game in the second half. The Bronchos finished with three interceptions and two lost fumbles in addition to missing an extra point, having a field goal blocked and failing on two fourth down tries on ESU's side of the field.
Central fell to 0-3, both overall and in the MIAA. The Hornets improved to 3-0 and 3-0.
ESU passed for 310 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 228 in outgaining the Bronchos 538-340.
Adrian Nelson was 22-of-44 passing for 231 yards for UCO, but he also had three interceptions. Daniel Morrell caught six passes for 103 yards and Joshua Birmingham added 71 yards rushing in 19 attempts.
A 31-yard kickoff return helped spark a 54-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession of the game to give ESU a quick 7-0 lead, though the Bronchos were in position to tie the game minutes later after taking over at the ESU 43-yard-line after a short punt.
That drive ended two plays later on a Nelson interception at the 34 and it took the Hornets just five plays to push their lead to 14-0. UCO again looked to answer in moving to a first-and-goal at the ESU nine before Nelson was picked off again, this time in the end zone.
ESU promptly went 80 yards in nine plays to up its lead to 21-0 before Birmingham ignited the Bronchos with a 64-yard kickoff return that carried to the Emporia 29.
Nelson capped the short touchdown march with an eight-yard strike to Morrell with 10:41 left in the second quarter, but Chris Robbs missed the extra point – ending his streak of 32 straight – to leave UCO in a 21-6 hole.
The Bronchos looked to cut into that lead on a drive later in the period before Morrell fumbled the ball away at the end of a 19-yard reception at the ESU19 and the Hornets came back with an 81-yard TD drive to make it 28-6 by halftime.
UCO had another golden scoring opportunity early in the second half when ESU fumbled a punt that Anthony Anderson recovered at the Hornet 15, but the Bronchos gained just three yards and Robbs' 29-yard field goal try was blocked.
Emporia answered that with another quick-strike TD to make it 35-6 before the Bronchos finally put together another drive.
Nelson's 38-yard pass to Morrell was the big play and Birmingham scored on a 12-yard scamper. Nelson hit Tucker Holland for the two-point conversion to get UCO within 35-14 with 8:19 left in the third period.
There would be no miracle comeback, however, as the Bronchos failed to convert on three straight possessions inside Emporia territory – coming up short on a fourth-and-six at the 10, throwing an interception at the 49 and losing a fumble at the 28.
Last time out for Washburn (9/15/12)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 9 Washburn Ichabods held off a comeback by Northeastern State to come away with a 24-20 win over the RiverHawks.
Devon Connors' interception of a Johnny Deaton pass with 1:34 remaining wrapped up the win for the Ichabods at the Washburn 48 yardline. The RiverHawks took over possession with a chance to win the game after the Ichabods missed a 42-yard field goalwith 1:42 to play. Washburn would run out the clock and wrap up the win improving to 3-0 on the season and 3-0 in MIAA play.
The RiverHawks took the opening kickoff and marched 53 yards in 11 plays as Drew Patton kicked Northeastern's first field goal of the season - a 46-yard make with 10:03 to play.
The Ichabods responded with a 60-yard drive covering eight plays when
Mitch Buhler hit
Tore' Hurst with a 9-yard touchdown strike in the back of the end zone with 7:37 to play in the first quarter as the ichabods took a 7-3 lead.
Northeastern returned serve and regained the lead as Deaton connected with Jermaine Sherman for a 46-yard pass with 5:03 to play in the first quarter as Patton added the extra point staking NSU to a 10-7 lead.
After the teams traded drives with no success, the RiverHawks were set to punt and Connors blocked it and reutrned it 26 yards for the score putting the Ichabods in front for good at 14-10 with 14:54 to play in the first half.
A 26-yard field goal by
Jeremy Linn put the Ichabods up 17-10 with 5:53 to play in the first half. Washburn scored its final points of the half on a 1-yard run by
Kameron Stewart right before the half with 32 seconds to play in the half stretching the Ichabod lead to 24-10. The score was set up by
Adebayo Oladapo recording his second career interception at the NSU 17.
In the third quarter, the Washburn offense struggled recording two first downs and 46 yards on 14 plays while the RiverHawks had 123 total offensive yards as neither team scored in the third quarter.
NSU's Joel Rockmore pulled the RiverHawks to within seven at 24-17 with 10:43 with a 3-yard touchdown run. A three and out by the Ichabods returned the ball back to NSU and they scored with a 27-yard field goal by Patton with 7:09 remaining.
Following a punt by the Ichabods, the Washburn defense came up big as
Tyler Ewy forced a fumble by NSU's Rockmore and it was recovered by
Jaime Myers at the NSU 48.
Washburn missed a field goal on the ensuing possession setting up the Connors interception.
The RiverHawks outgained the Ichabods 423 to 286, but had two interceptions and a fumble.
Buhler finished 16 of 32 for 169 yards and a touchdown.
Matt Kobbeman had five catches for 91 yards (all in the first half) and
Hayden Groves had 19 carries for 52 yards.
Ryan Macken had a career-high 10 tackles with five solo and assisted stops.
Bryce Atagi had 10 tackles as well.
Rockmore had 176 yards on 15 carries to lead NSU to lead the RiverHawks as they had 251 rushing yards. Deaton finished 17 of 39 for 172 yards and a touchdown with two inteceptions. Sherman finished with six catches for 84 yards and the one touchdown.
Defensively Langston Jones had 13 tackles to lead NSU.
Washburn football history
Washburn is 513-550-44 (.482) in the 122nd year of Ichabod football.
A win for Washburn over Central Oklahoma would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 514-550-44 in its football history.
• make the Ichabods 2-0 all-time against the Bronchos.
• make the Ichabods 1-0 all-time against the Bronchos in Edmond.
• move the Ichabods to 4-0 for the second straight season under head coach
Craig Schurig.
• move the Ichabods to 5-0 under Schurig against teams from Oklahoma.
• improve the Ichabods fifth-straight win on the MIAA's TV game of the week.
A loss for Washburn to Central Oklahoma would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 513-551-44 in its football history.
• even the all-time series with UCO at 1-1.
• be the Ichabods' first loss of the season.
• would drop the Ichabods to 4-1 under
Craig Schurig against teams from Oklahoma.
Northeastern State leftovers . . . the win . . .
• lifted the Ichabods to 513-550-44 in its football history.
• made the Ichabods 2-1 all-time against the RiverHawks.
• made the Ichabods 2-0 all-time against the RiverHawks in Topeka.
• was the Ichabods' third-straight win in Yager Stadium and their ninth win in the last 11 games.
Bod Bullets
• Central Oklahoma has no Kansans on its roster.
• Washburn has eight Oklahomans on its roster.
• The 286 total offensive yards was a season-low for the Ichabods.
• 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 against Fort Hays State tied an Ichabod record for most TD passes in a half set by
Dane Simoneau against Pitt State on Oct. 17, 2009.
• Washburn is 7-7 all-time on Sept. 22nd.
• The Ichabods are 2-1 as the No. 9-ranked team in the country in the AFCA Top 25 coaches poll.
• The 32 pass attempts and 16 pass completions were a career-high for
Mitch Buhler.
• The 65 yard punt against Northeastern State by
Aaron Hummert was two yards shy of his career long of 67 against Central Oklahoma from 2011.
• The 10 tackles by
Ryan Macken was a career-high against Northeastern State.
Ichabods in the national polls
WACO, Texas -- The Washburn Ichabods remained at No. 9 in the latest AFCA top 25 Division II coaches poll which was released on Sept. 17. The Ichabods remained in the top 10 after topping Northeastern State 24-20 on Sept. 15 in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods have been ranked in the top 25 in the last 16 polls and have received votes in 42 of the last 43 coaches polls. This week is the 13th time the Ichabods have been ranked in the top ten under head coach
Craig Schurig.
Up next
Washburn returns home to take on Southwest Baptist at 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 in Yager Stadium for the first meeting between the two schools since 2007.
