Kickoff
The No. 20 Washburn Ichabods return to Yager Stadium to face Southwest Baptist in football action at 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 for the first time since Nov. 11, 2007. The Ichabods and Bearcats have not played a conference game as SBU left the league in football only and rejoined for the start of the 2012 season after continuing to play an MIAA schedule in other sports. Washburn won the last meeting in Bolivar 37-14. The Ichabods are coming off a 35-20 loss at Central Oklahoma while the Bearcats picked up their first win of the season at Missouri Southern 16-13.
Game story lines
• Washburn is 14-5 all-time against Southwest Baptist.
• In games played in Topeka Washburn is 7-2 against the Bearcats.
• SBU has not won in Topeka since a 48-20 victory on Nov. 10, 2001 - their largest win in the series.
• The Ichabods will be playing its first afternoon game home of the season.
• The Ichabods are 21-17 following a loss under head coach
Craig Schurig and 7-2 following a loss since the 2009 season.
Coaches
Washburn head football coach Craig Schurig . . .
• Named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
• Is 75-45 (.602) in his 11th season as the Ichabod head coach.
• Is 58-35 (.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 5-1 against Southwest Baptist.
Southwest Baptist head coach Keith Allen . . .
• Was 0-11 his first year as interim coach at SBU.
• Led SBU to winning seasons from 2009-2011. • Served as defensive and recruiting coordinator before being named SBU head coach in 2007.
• Past coaching experience has included stops at San Jose State, Quincy, TCU and Oklahoma.
• Is 25-34 as the Bearcats' head coach.
• Is 0-1 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 26-17 in September action under head coach
Craig Schurig.
• The Ichabods are 12 of 15 in the redzone this season scoring nine touchdowns while kicking three field goals.
• Defensively the Ichabods are allowing opponents to score only of 10 of 14 trips into the redzone allowing seven touchdowns. UCO was 4 of 4 in the redzone last time out.
• Washburn dropped to 60-10 when leading at the half following the loss to Central Oklahoma.
• Washburn had been above a 50 percent 3rd down conversion rate in each game prior to the Northeastern State game and the UCO game going 7 of 18 (39 percent).
• 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.
• For the second straight week the Ichabods had a special teams return touchdown called back after a penalty.
Mark Fancher had a return called back because of holding this past week against Central Oklahoma.
Individual Notebook
Taylor Made
• Senior linebacker
Jahmil Taylor is the most-experienced Ichabod returning.
• His streak of games started ended last week at Central Oklahoma with an ankle injury at 26 straight appearances. He has started 35 games 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 tackles (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 32 tackles with 14 solo stops and also has a team-high 4.5 tackles for loss.
• He needs 17 tackles to reach 200 for his career.
Hey Steve
• Senior offensive tackle
Steve Dieckhaus has started the last 32 games at Washburn - currently the longest streak on the team.
• Has started two games at right guard, 13 at right tackle and 13 at left guard and four 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 second on the team with 27 with 18 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 as a redshirt freshman.
• He passed for a career-high 368 yards in the loss at Central Oklahoma attempting a season-high 48 passing attempts completing a season-high 23.
It Hursts So Good
• Junior tight end
Tore' Hurst has started the last 19 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 13 receptions and recorded his first touchdown reception of the season against Northeastern State.
• He has 983 career receiving yards with 15 touchdowns and 66 career catches.
Washburn Walker
• Senior defensive end
Corey Walker has played in 30 games starting the last 16 games.
• He has played on both offensive and defensive lines.
• Had had eight tackles for loss last season.
• He is second on the team lead with 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
What Can Brown Do for You
• Wide receiver
Tyrell Brown is averaging 7.4 yards a carry this season and has 12 carries for 90 yards including a 53-yard run against Fort Hays State.
Something for a Fan to cheer about
• Junior wide receiver
Mark Fancher leads the Ichabods in all purpose yards with 425.
• He is third on the team in receiving with six catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
The Hay song
• Junior running back
Hayden Groves is tied for the team lead with three touchdowns and has a team-high 22 yards per catch out of the backfield.
• He also leads the team with 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
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 and UCO games with an injury.
About Southwest Baptist
• The Bearcats are 1-3 this season after winning at Missouri Southern 16-13 last time out on the road.
• The Bearcats are averaging 246 yards per game on offense and allowing 345 a game on defense.
• Robert McWright leads the team with 166 rushing yards.
• Dan Connors is 77 of 141 passing with seven interceptions and four touchdown passes averaging 168 yards a game.
• Derw Lauderdale has 30 catches to lead SBU for 271 yards and two touchdown receptions.
• Austin Otwell is SBU's leading tackler with 39 stops including 8.5 tackles for loss for 38 yards.
Series history with Southwest Baptist
Series Record: WU leads 14-5-0
Streak: WU has won five
First Meeting: SBU 34-19 (11/4/1989) in Bolivar
Last Meeting: WU 37-14 (11/10/2007) in Bolivar
Last WU win: 37-14 (11/10/2007) in Bolivar
Last SBU win: 26-20 (11/16/2002) in Bolivar
Largest WU win: 58-21 (10/14/2000) in Topeka
Largest SBU win: 48-20 (11/10/2001) in Bolivar
Last meeting with Southwest Baptist (11/10/2007)
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabods improved to 8-3 and 7-2 in the MIAA with a 37-14 win over Southwest Baptist.
In a turnover-plagued first half, the teams had a combined seven turnovers as the first three drives by the teams resulted in turnovers.
Washburn jumped on the board first on a 27-yard field goal by Andrew Knight with 7:50 to go in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead. The points would be the only points of the quarter.
On their first drive of the second quarter, SBU drove to the Washburn 9-yard line, but Greg Sprowls pass was intercepted by Cary Williams in the end zone to end the threat.
After Washburn took possession, the Ichabods drove all the way to the Bearcat 6-yard line, but SBU picked off an Ichabod pass to halt the drive.
On SBU's ensuing drive, the Bearcats ran two plays before turning back as Bruce Ringwood picked off a pass setting up a Ra'Shawn Mosley touchdown run from 2-yards out pushing the lead to 10-0 with 5:36 to go in the half.
After a three-and-out by the Bearcats, Washburn scored on a Brandon Walker 1-yard run as Washburn took a 17-0 lead into the break.
Jarod Tetuan increased the lead to 24-0 after a pick-six returning an SBU pass 47-yards for a score.
SBU's Nick Smart had a 4-yard TD reception to cut the lead to 24-7, but on WU's next drive, defensive tackle Eric Butler scored from 1-yard out for his third touchdown of the season.
Jeff Finnell had a 2-yard run to make the score 30-14 and Terrance Lowe wrapped up the scoring with a 9-yard run to give Washburn a 37-14 win. Terrance Lowe rushed for a career-high 177 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. Ra'Shawn Mosley had 21 carries for 145 yards and one touchdown raising his season 1110 - the third-highest single-season total in school history. It was the second time Mosley had gone over 1,000 yards in a single-season in his Washburn career. The Ichabods had 518 yards in total offense on 74 plays. Southwest Baptist had 306 yards in 86 plays. Jarod Tetuan had two interceptions for 92 yards and returned one 47 yards for a touchdown.
Zach Watkins led the Ichabods with eight tackles. Bruce Ringwood had seven tackles including three for loss, two sacks an interception.
Last time out for Southwest Baptist (9/22/12)
Joplin, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University football team picked up their first win of the 2012 season with a 16-13 victory over Missouri Southern on Saturday evening. The Bearcats used a stingy defense and timely offense to take down MSSU.
Both SBU and MSSU provided solid defenses in the first half, but the Bearcats were able to get on the scoreboard with 4 seconds left in the first half when John Colliver hit a 33 yard field goal to put SBU up 3-0 going into the half. With 12:34 left in the third quarter the Bearcats extended their lead to 10-0 when Dan Connors hit Zachary Sohn from 10 yards out. Missouri Southern would then score the next two touchdowns, one a rushing touchdown and another a punt return for a touchdown, before the Bearcats will battle back with what would prove to be the game winning play. With 6:32 left in the game, Robert McWright broke off a 38 yard touchdown run to put SBU up 16-13, sealing the victory for SBU.
Jameson Manuma, Shaquille Shedd, and Austin Otwell were all over the football field on defense, with Manuma and Shedd recording a game high 13 tackles, while Otwell gave SBU 12 tackles. The Bearcats recorded three sacks in game, 2.5 to Mauma and 0.5 Otwell and had 8 tackles for a loss. On the offensive side of the ball Dan Connors was 19-29 for 193 yards and one touchdown, while Robert McWright had 6 rushes for 69 yards and a score. Derwyn Lauderdale once again led SBU in receptions with 7 for 80 yards while Nathan Mourik had 4 receptions for 70 yards.
Last time out for Washburn (9/22/12)
EDMOND, Okla. -- EDMOND, Okla. -- The No. 9 Washburn Ichabods gave up 29 second half points falling for the first time in 2012 in a 35-20 loss at Central Oklahoma.
After neither team scored in the first quarter, Central Oklahoma's Chris Robbs hit a pair of field goals - the first from 25-yards out with 6:48 to play in the opening half and the second - a 28-yard field goal with 1:27 to play.
However the Ichabods (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) took the ensuing kickoff and marched 74 yards in six plays in 69 seconds as
Matt Kobbeman pulled down a 32-yard touchdown pass from
Mitch Buhler as the Ichabods took a 7-6 lead into the break at the half.
The Ichabods forced UCO (1-3, 1-3 MIAA) into a punt on their opening drive of the second half and Donnie Lockhart capped a 63-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge to put the Ichabods up 14-6 with 10:51 to play.
Then UCO scored the next 19 points of the game to lead to the upset over the Ichabods. Marquis Walters pulled down a 92-yard touchdown pass from Adrian Nelson to pull UCO with two at 14-12 after the two-point conversion failed. The Bronchos then had a pick-six by Colton Byford returning it 25-yard for the score and UCO added the two-point conversion to go up 20-14 with 3:17 left in the third quarter.
UCO scored again on a 1-yard run by Christian Bobo with 8:33 to play in the game and then added another two-point conversion to go up 28-14. UCO wrapped up their scoring on an 8-yard run by Joshua Birmingham with 2:58 to play.
The Ichabods did score on a 75-yard catch and run by
Hayden Groves on a pass from Buhler, but the extra point was blocked and UCO ran out the clock picking up their first win of the season.
Groves led the Ichabods with 130 total yards pulling down 117 receiving yards on four catches and the one score. Lockhart had 10 carries for 38 yards as the Ichabods were held to 46 yards rushing on 29 carries averaging 1.6 yards per attempt.
Buhler finished 23 for 48 for 368 yards and two scores.
Willie Williams had 10 tackles to lead the Ichabod defense with eight solo stops and
Ryan Macken, making his first career start, had six tackles including two for loss for six yards.
UCO and Washburn each had 19 first downs in the game and Washburn outgained the Bronchos 414 to 387.
Washburn football history
Washburn is 513-551-44 (.482) in the 122nd year of Ichabod football.
A win for Washburn over Southwest Baptist would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 514-551-44 in its football history.
• make the Ichabods 15-5 all-time against Southwest Baptist.
• improve the Ichabods 8-2 in games played in Topeka.
• be the sixth-straight win against the Bearcats.
• be the Ichabods first win over Southwest Baptist since a Nov. 10, 2007 victory in the last meeting between the two schools.
A loss for Washburn to Southwest Baptist would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 513-552-44 in its football history.
• snap a five-game winning streak over SBU.
• drop the Ichabods to 14-6 all-time against the Bearcats.
• be the first time since weeks two, three and four of the 2010 season the Ichabods had lost back-to-back games.
Central Oklahoma leftovers . . . the loss . . .
• dropped the Ichabods to 513-551-44 in its football history.
• evened the all-time series with UCO at 1-1.
• was the Ichabods' first loss of the season.
• dropped the Ichabods to 4-1 under
Craig Schurig against teams from Oklahoma.
• Droped the Ichabods to 1-1 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 now 4-1 with two wins over Langston and single wins over Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State.
Bod Bullets
• Southwest Baptist has two Kansans on its roster.
• The 46 yards rushing against Central Oklahoma was the fewest yards by a Washburn team since for 22 against Pitt State in the second round of the NCAA playoffs last season. The last time the Ichabods ran for as few yards in the regular season was 48 in the 2011 season finale against Central Missouri.
• Washburn is 6-11-1 all-time on Sept. 29th.
• The Ichabods are now 2-2 as the No. 9-ranked team in the country in the AFCA Top 25 coaches poll.
• The 48 pass attempts and 23 pass completions were a career-high for
Mitch Buhler against Central Oklahoma.
Ichabods in the national polls
The Washburn Ichabods fell from No. 9 to No. 20 in the latest AFCA top 25 coaches poll which was released today. Washburn fell the 11 spots after the 35-20 loss at Central Oklahoma on Sept. 22. The Ichabods have been ranked in the top 25 in the last 17 polls and have received votes in 43 of the last 44 coaches polls.
Up next
Washburn will travel to Jefferson City, Mo., to face Lincoln on Oct. 6. It will be Washburn's first trip to face the Blue Tigers on their home field since Sept. 9, 2000 when the Ichabods won 63-21 in the two teams only meeting in Reed Stadium.
