First and 10

• The No. 13-ranked Washburn Ichabods will step out of MIAA play as they will face Fort Valley State from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Thursday night with a 6 p.m. kick from Yager Stadium.

• It is the first meeting between the Ichabods and the Wildcats.

• Washburn is coming off a 58-7 win over Lincoln last time out.

• Fort Valley State lost to Kentucky State 17-11 last time out.

• The Wildcat defense scored all 11 of their points in the loss to Kentucky State on two safeties and a pick-six for a touchdown.

Numbers to know

• 8 - The number of games away from Fort Valley, Ga., the Wildcats will play this season.

• 0 - The number of teams the Ichabods have played from Georgia.

• 0 - The number of teams the Ichabods have played from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

• 14 - The number of interceptions the Ichabods have this season which is tied for the lead in the NCAA Division II rankings.

• 23 - The Washburn single-season record for interceptions.

• 6 - The number of games in a row the Ichabods have won over the Blue Tigers. 

• 21 - The number of Ichabod scoring drives this season which have been under five plays.

• 43 - The number of Ichabod scoring drives this season.

• 183 - Total number of yards the Ichabods allowed in the first three quarters with Lincoln.

• 178 - Total number of yards the Ichabods allowed in the fourth quarter with Lincoln.

• 318:31 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 360:00 the Ichabods have been in the lead in games this season -- 88 percent.

• 29:08 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 360:00 the Ichabods have been tied in games this season -- 8 percent.

• 12:21 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 360:00 the Ichabods have trailed in games this season -- 4 percent.

• 13.3 - The number of points the Ichabods are allowing this season which leads the MIAA.

• 48.3 - The number of points the Ichabods are scoring this season which is second in the MIAA.

• 320.3 - The number of yards the Ichabods are giving up this season, which is second in the MIAA.

• 98.3 - The number of rushing yards the Ichabods are giving up per game, which leads the MIAA.

• 21 - The number of take-aways the Ichabods have recorded this season which is tied the  nation's lead with Mary (S.D.).

• 58-7 - The points the Ichabods have been scored compared to their opponents in the first quarter.

• 148-27 - The points the Ichabods have been scored compared to their opponents in the first half.

• 77-5 - Washburn's record under head coach Craig Schurig when leading after three quarters.

• 15-0 - Washburn's record under head coach Craig Schurig when the Ichabods score at least 50 points.

Coaches

Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .

• was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 

• is 85-48 (.602) in his 12th season as the Ichabod head coach. 

• is 68-38 (.630) 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 nine-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 during the 2011 season.

• is Washburn's all-time winningest coach with 85 wins.

• is 0-0 against Fort Valley State.

Wildcats head coach Donald Pittman. . . 

• is in his fifth season with the Wildcats. 

• has gone 33-23 at Fort Valley State.

• in 2012, his Wildcats won the SIAC Eastern Division title, played for the 2012 SIAC football championship and appeared in the NCAA first round playoffs.

• prior to Coach Pittman's arrival at FVSU, he spent seven years as offensive coordinator for Albany State University.

• during his tenure at ASU, Pittman's offensive helped lead Albany State to four Southern  Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) football titles and five appearances in the National  Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II playoffs. Under Coach Pittman's leadership,  the Golden Rams offense was consistently ranked among the best in the SIAC in every  offensive category.

• prior to his stint at ASU, he spent two years as offensive coordinator at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX. Before that, he spent 18 years with Texas A&M University (Kingsville). 

• during the first 15 years he served as running backs coach and offensive coordinator the last three seasons.

• is a 1974 graduate of Adams State University and earned his Master Degree in Counseling from Texas A&M University.

• is 0-0 against Washburn.

On offense

• Senior tight end Tore' Hurst has started the last 32 games playing in 41 games and he leads the team this season with 22 catches and 395 receiving yards … he ranks fifth all-time at Washburn with 20 touchdown receptions while he is 10th in receiving yards with 1,688 and eighth in receptions with 113 on the Ichabod career chart … his 20 touchdown receptions is the most in school history by a tight end and fifth overall.

• Junior quarterback Mitch Buhler has made 16 starts at Washburn passing for 3,504 career yards and 31 touchdowns … his 31 TD passes are seventh all-time at Washburn and his 236 career completions are ninth … he is ranked fourth in the nation  in passing yards per completion after 17.39 yards per Washburn catch.

• Sophomore running back Sean McPherson has rushed for 905 yards in his career and leads the Ichabods with 169 yards rushing this season and two scores on the ground … he is out for this week's game with a knee injury.

• Junior DaJuan Beard has 10 catches for 112 yards and one score … against Northeastern State he went over the 1,500-yard plateau  for career receiving yards and he needs two catches for 100 in his career … he is the 12th Ichabod to go over the 1,500-yard career receiving mark … he will be questionable this week with a thumb injury.

• Sophomore Jordan Hart leads the Ichabods with three touchdown receptions and 319 receiving yards … he has seven touchdown receptions in his career … he is questionable this week for the Ichabods.

• Senior center Kyle Duncan has started the last 30 games for the Ichabods on the offensive line while playing in 37 overall.

• Senior Matt Kobbeman became the 12th Ichabod to go over 100 receptions in his career … his 111  receptions is 10th all-time at Washburn … his 1,480 career receiving yards is 14th all-time for the Ichabods.

• Junior Vershon Moore went over the 2,000-yard mark for his career as he now has 2,219 rushing yards in 24 games … the yardage total is fifth all-time at Washburn … his 119.2 all-purpose yards per game is the top in school history.

• Junior Dylan Ready has played in 27 games on the offensive line and has started at left tackle, left guard and right tackle on the offensive line.

• Junior wide receiver Tyrell Brown had a career-high game against Central Oklahoma … he had four catches for 117 yards and his first career touchdown at Washburn … for his career he has 11 catches for 250 yards and 25 rushes for 148 yards … he is questionable this week after suffering an injury at Southwest Baptist.

On defense

• Senior inside linebacker Bryce Atagi has started 32 career games playing in 42 overall … he is seventh all-time at Washburn with 313 total tackles … his 163 assisted tackles is fourth all-time and his 30 career tackles for loss is fourth all-time at Washburn … his two interception returns for touchdown is tied for second all-time at Washburn … he is 12th in the MIAA in tackles this season and tied for the lead league with three interceptions.

• Senior linebacker Willie Williams has started the last 29 games appearing in 41 overall and has recorded 192 tackles with 88 solo stops … he is tied for the lead in the MIAA with three interceptions this season.

• Senior defensive end Adebayo Oladapo has started the last 17 games appearing in 34 overall recording 66 tackles with 13 for loss and six sacks while picking off three passes.

• Senior linebacker Ryan Macken has played in 30 games making nine starts tallying 118 tackles with 60 solo stops and 11.5 tackles for loss.

• Junior safety Calvin Kenney has played in 30 games making 25 starts tallying 122 tackles with 74 solo stops with three interceptions.

• Junior defensive tackle Alex Dowty is second on the Ichabods with 5.0 tackles for loss for 25 yards and 2.0 sacks for 12 yards.

• Senior Jake Cervantes has started 17 games on the defensive line and has recorded 75 tackles with 9.0 tackles for loss with four sacks for 25 yards … he also has one interception against Central Missouri as a sophomore.

• Senior Cameron Jackson has started 17 games on the defensive line and has 15 tackles for loss and 54 career tackles adding seven sacks … he leads the Ichabods this season with six tackles for loss for 21 yards and 2.5 sacks for 12 yards.

• Senior cornerback Devon Connors has 87 career tackles with 64 solo stops and five career interceptions …also has averaged 27.9 yards per kickoff return … has a interception return for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown.

On special teams

• Senior wide receiver/kickoff return specialist Mark Fancher's 1,422 kickoff return yards is second all-time at Washburn and his 65 kickoff returns is third all-time … in 2012 he broke a 22-year old Washburn record with his 38 kickoff returns and 786 kickoff return yards …he has appeared in 36 games and he needs 115 yards for  2,000 all-purpose yards.

• Redshirt freshman Justin Linn was named the MIAA special teams player of the week after the Nebraska-Kearney game after connecting on three field goals in three attempts including a 51-yard connection … the kick was one shy of the Washburn record … he is 9 of 13 on field goals this season hitting 4 of 4 beyond 40 yards … his six field goals are tied for seventh on the single season chart … his 1.5 field goals per game ranks eighth in the nation.

• Junior Aaron Hummert has 115 punts for 4,756 yards averaging 41.4 yards per punt playing in 30 career games … his 41.36 career punting average is the best in school history … he has punted 18 times in 2013 … his career 41.36 yards per punt is third among active punters in the NCAA … he completed his first career pass at Washburn against Southwest Baptist for 32 yards and a first down on a fake punt to Willie Williams.

• Sophomore punt returner Jaime Myers returned his first career return for a touchdown against Northeastern State … for his career he has 37  returns for 300 yards and one touchdown averaging 12.0 yards per return this season and 8.1 per return for his career.

Bods and ends . . .

Jeremy Boyd's two tackles against Lincoln and tied his single-game high … Mitch Buhler rushed for his third career rushing touchdown and for his second in the last two games … Brit Dewey's two tackles tied his single-game high … Sam Eickhoff tied his single-game highs with two rushes for 10 yards … Carl Hendricks had tied a career-high with five tackles against Lincoln while recording his first career sack … Tyler Lutz connected on his second career point after against Lincoln … the three rushing touchdowns by Vershon Moore tied his single-game high … Jordan Nelson had his first kickoff return of the season for 30 yards against Lincoln …  Alec Steuber tied a career-high with three tackles against Lincoln … Shay Wooten recorded his first fumble against Lincoln for a touchdown on a botched punt attempt.

Know the foe

• Fort Valley State is 2-4 and 2-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association after falling at Kentucky State last time out 17-11.

• The Wildcats fell 36-21 to then-No. 1-ranked Valdosta State in their season opener.

• The Wildcats average 18.7 points per game while allowing 23.3 per game.

• Fort Valley State is averaging 130 yards per game on the ground and allowing only 93.5 per game.

• The Wildcats average 169.2 yards per game through the air while allowing their opponents to pass for 186.5 yards per game.

• Overall the Wildcats average 299.2 yards per game and allowing 280.0 yards per game.

• Malcolm Eady is averaging 48.2 yards per game which leads the team.

• Eugene Smith is 67 of 148 with nine interceptions and three touchdowns passing for 957 yards and 159.5 yards per game.

• Donte' Warren leads the team with 18 catches and De'Angelo Smith has 16 catches for 314 yards averaging 19.6 yards per catch.

• LeRon Furr leads the Wildcats with 52 tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss for 46 yards.

?Series history with Fort Valley State

Series Record: First meeting on Thursday

Streaks: n/a

First Meeting: n/a

Last Meeting: n/a

Last WU win: n/a

Last FVSU win: n/a

Largest WU win: n/a

Largest FVSU win: n/a 

?Series Notes with Fort Valley State

• Thursday will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Last time out for Fort Valley State vs Kentucky State (10/12/13)

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky State topped Fort Valley State 17-11 in Alumni Stadium in front of 19,257 fans on Saturday.

KSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead scoring on its first drive and its first play from scrimmage. FVSU had a safety to cut the lead to 7-2 just under eight minutes left in the first quarter.

KSU picked off a Wildcat pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. FVSU recorded its second safety of the game and trimmed the lead to 14-11 with a 35-yard touchdown return by Thomas Wolfe with 7:20 left to play in the third quarter. KSU added a field goal with 14:37 left in the game to push their lead back to 17-11.

Nikill McDaniels had 43 yards on the ground and Eugene Smith was 9 of 25 for 106 yards and three interceptions. LeRon Furr had eight tackles to lead the Wildcats.

Last time out for Washburn vs Lincoln (10/12/13)

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 15-ranked Washburn Ichabods scored the first 51 points of the game and rolled to a 58-7 win over Lincoln improving to 6-0 on the season.

Lincoln had the first possession of the game, but on a third down Bryce Atagi picked off a Percy Turner pass setting Washburn up and the Lincoln 29 and four plays later Vershon Moore scored from 6-yards out putting Washburn up 7-0.

The Ichabods forced a punt by the Blue Tigers (1-5, 0-5 MIAA) and the Ichabods needed just three plays to go 48 yards capped by Moore's second touchdown run of the day. This one was a 13-yard run putting Washburn up 14-0.

Washburn scored before the end of the first quarter when they took advantage of a Lincoln fumble in the endzone on a punt attempt when the snap hit one of the protectors for the Blue Tigers and Shay Wooten fell on the ball with 45 seconds left in the first quarter stretching the Ichabods lead to 21-0.

After a punt by the Blue Tigers, Mitch Buhler hooked up with Tore' Hurst on a 19-yard touchdown pass play with 9:19 left in the half adding to the Ichabod lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Blue Tigers failed to cover the high kickoff by Justin Linn and the Ichabods' Alec Steuber recovered the ball at the Lincoln 32. Linn finished the drive with a 25-yard field goal with 6:31 left in the half putting the Ichabods up 31-0.

The Ichabods' Cody Heiman jumped into the scoring column after a Blue Tiger punt when he scored from 2-yard out right before the end of the half.

Washburn stretched the lead to 45-0 coming out after the break when Moore scored on a 25-yard run capping a four-play, 73-yard drive.

Willie Williams picked off Turner ending a Blue Tiger drive and Buhler scored on a quarterback sneak from 2-yards out giving the Ichabods a 51-0 lead.

The Blue Tigers scored on a 4-yard run by Morris Henderson ending the Ichabod shutout chances.

Joel Piper came in at quarterback and hit Mark Fancher on a 20-yard touchdown pass wrapping up the scoring with Washburn leading 58-7.

Moore led the Ichabods with 88 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while Buhler completed his first eight passes of the game finishing 15 for 19 with one score and 271 yards passing. Matt Kobbeman had six catches for 94 yards and Hurst had four catches for 91 yards and a score.

Atagi led the Ichabod defense with eight tackles with five solo stops including the interception and 1.5 tackles for loss. Washburn had three sacks on the day and seven tackles for loss overall.

Washburn finished with 26 first downs and 495 yards overall while the Blue Tigers had 18 first downs and 361 total yards.

The Ichabods had 303 passing yards overall and 192 yards rushing.

Washburn's win over Lincoln . . .

• lifted the Ichabods to 523-554-44 in their football history.

• was the sixth in a row for the Ichabods over the Blue Tigers.

• gave the Ichabods a 6-0 all-time series lead in the series.

• improved the Ichabods to 6-0 in the MIAA for the first time since the 2011 season and for only the third time in school history …Washburn started the 2005 season, the year they won the MIAA Championship, 7-0 before losing the regular season finale to Missouri Western.

Washburn football history

Washburn is 523-554-44 (.480) in the 123rd year of Ichabod football. 

A win for Washburn over Fort Valley State would . . .

• lift the Ichabods to 524-554-44 in their football history.

• be the first by the Ichabods over a team from the SIAC and the first over a team from Georgia.

• give the Ichabods a 7-0 record.

• move the Ichabods to 7-0 for the first time since the 2011 season.

• make the Ichabods 1-0 all-time against the Wildcats.

A loss for Washburn to the WIldcats would . . .

• drop the Ichabods to 523-555-44 in their football history.

• drop the Ichabods to 0-1 against the Wildcats.

• snap the Ichabods' six-game winning streak to start the season.

Ichabods in the national polls

WACO, Texas -- The Washburn Ichabod football team moved up two spots to No. 13 in the latest American Football Coaches Association top 25 poll which was released Monday.  

Among other MIAA schools, Northwest Missouri is ranked No. 2 while Missouri Western is ranked fourth, Pittsburg State is ranked seventh and Emporia State is ranked 20th. Northwest Missouri and Pittsburg State will face off this weekend while Missouri Western will travel to face Missouri Southern and Emporia State will travel to face Lindenwood.

Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 47 times.

Up next

The Ichabods will take on Lindenwood returning to MIAA play on Oct. 26 as part of Washburn's Homecoming Weekend with a 1 p.m. kickoff in Yager Stadium.