First and 10

• The Washburn Ichabods will open their home slate in Yager Stadium on Sept. 14 as they will host Fort Hays State at 6 p.m.

• Washburn is coming off a 58-13 win over Nebraska-Kearney in its season opener.

• Fort Hays State fell 43-13 at home for Emporia State in its 2013 debut.

• Fort Hays State has lost its last seven games played in Topeka.

• The Tigers' last win in Yager Stadium came on Oct. 26, 1985 in a 30-0 win over the Ichabods.

Numbers to know

• 6 - The number of season openers in a row the Ichabods have won after defeating Nebraska-Kearney on Sept. 5 … the last time the Ichabods lost a season opener was on Aug. 27, 2007 against No. 5-ranked Chadron State in Topeka 34-24.

• 123 - The number of seasons of Ichabod football.

• 4 - The number of consecutive games the Ichabods have won over the Tigers.

• 45-20 - The exact score of each of the last two games played against the Tigers.

• 156-81 - The Ichabod scoring advantage during the four-game winning streak over the Tigers.

• 9 - The number of years Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown spent on the Ichabod sidelines as the defensive coordinator.

Coaches

Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .

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

• is 80-48 (.602) in his 12th season as the Ichabod head coach. 

• is 62-38 (.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 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 80 wins.

• is 7-2 against the Tigers.

Tigers' head coach Chris Brown . . . 

• is 9-14 in his third season as the Tigers head coach.

• spent nine seasons as the Ichabods defensive coordinator.

• was an All-American free safety at Pittsburg State.

• is 0-2 against Washburn.

For starters

• 74-43-6 - Washburn's record in season openers after the win over Nebraska-Kearney.

• 4-5 - Washburn's record on Sept. 14.

• 58 - The points scored against the Lopers in the season opener was the most points scored by any MIAA team in week one.

• 45 - The winning margin over the Lopers in the 58-13 win, which was the largest margin of victory by the Ichabods over UNK in the 22-game series.

• 50 - The average yards per reception by Jordan Hart against Nebraska-Kearney which is the highest by any Ichabod who had at least three receptions in a game.

• 16 - The number of points scored by Justin Linn against Nebraska-Kearney - the second-most points scored by a kicker in school history in a single game.

• 6 - The number of true freshman who have jersey numbers this season entering the opening week in long snapper Nathan Stanley, offensive linemen Ryan Rockow and Tyler Thompson, tight end Raymond Solis and defensive tackles Kobi Gillikey and Stanley Gilbert.

On offense

• Senior tight end Tore' Hurst has started the last 27 games playing in 36 games … he ranks sixth all-time at Washburn with 17 touchdown receptions while he is 14th in both receiving yards with 1,315 and receptions with 93 on the Ichabod career chart.

• Junior quarterback Mitch Buhler has made 11 starts at Washburn passing for 2,177 yards and 20 touchdowns.

• Sophomore running back Sean McPherson returns after missing the 2012 season with a knee injury … and rushed for a team-high 69 yards and one score against Nebraska-Kearney.

• Junior DaJuan Beard had five catches for 41 yards against the Lopers last time out.

• Sophomore Jordan Hart is fourth in the MIAA in receiving yards per game after week one with 150 yards.

• Senior center Kyle Duncan has started the last 25 games for the Ichabods on the offensive line while playing in 32 overall.

• Senior Matt Kobbeman has 96 career receptions which is 12th all-time at Washburn and his 1,262 career receiving yards is 15th all-time for the Ichabods.

On defense

• Senior inside linebacker Bryce Atagi has started 27 career games playing in 37 overall … he is ninth all-time at Washburn with 274 total tackles … his 149 assisted tackles is sixth all-time and his 26 career tackles for loss is 10th all-time at Washburn.

• Senior linebacker Willie Williams has started the last 24 games appearing in 37 overall and has recorded 167 tackles with 76 solo stops.

• Senior linebacker Willie Williams has started the last 23 games appearing in 36 overall and has recorded 171 tackles with 78 solo stops and he had a career-high two interceptions in the last game against Nebraska-Kearney.

• Senior defensive end Adebayo Oladapo has started the last 12 games appearing in 29 overall recording 58 tackles with 10 for loss and five sacks while picking off three passes.

• Senior linebacker Ryan Macken has played in 25  games making five starts tallying 85 tackles with 45 solo stops and 7.5 tackles for loss.?

On special teams

• Senior wide receiver/kickoff return specialist Mark Fancher's 1,412 kickoff return yards is second all-time at Washburn and his 64 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.

• Redshirt freshman Justin Linn was named the MIAA special teams player of the week after the opening round of games after connecting on three field goals in three attempts including a 51-yard connection … the kick was one shy of the Washburn record.

• Junior Aaron Hummert has 100 punts for 4,106 yards averaging 41.06 yards per punt playing in 25 career games … his 41.06 career punting average is the best in highest in school history …he was honorable mention all-MIAA as a sophomore. His career 41.06 yards per punt is third among active punters in the NCAA.

Bods and ends . . .

The 40-yard punt return by DaJuan Beard  against Nebrasaka-Kearney was the longest of his career … Brit Dewy had one catch for a career-long 43 yard reception against UNK … Jordan Hart's two touchdown receptions were a new career-high was were the 150 receiving yards … Carl Hendricks had a career-high four tackles against the Lopers with four solo stops … returning to his first full action since the 2012 season after suffering a leg injury, Cameron Jackson had six tackles against the Lopers … Mark Kolmer had one carry for seven yards after moving from linebacker to fullback for the 2013 season … Raymond Solis had one catch for 20 yards against the Lopers … Kameron Stewart's two catches for 30 yards against the Lopers were both career highs … D.J. Wakes had an interception return for 41 yards and a fumble recovery in his Washburn debut against the Lopers … Willie Williams' two interceptions against the Lopers was a career-high.

Know the foe

• The Tigers lost their season opener to Emporia State last time out 43-13 after trailing 17-0 at the half.

• The Tigers return just one of their seven all-MIAA selections from 2012.

• The Tigers return 10 starters and 30 letterwinner from last season's 5-6 team. Last season the Tigers finished 4-6 in the MIAA tying for ninth overall.

?Series history with Fort Hays State

Series Record: WU leads 41-23-3

Streak: WU has won the last four

First Meeting: WU 7-6 (11/27/1919) in Hays

Last Meeting: WU 45-20 (09/08/2102) in Hays

Last WU win: 45-20 (09/08/2102) in Hays

Last FHSU win: 17-7 (9/13/2008) in Hays

Largest WU win: 46-0 (11/9/1963) in Topeka

Largest FSHU win: 35-0 (10/14/1967) in Topeka 

Series Notes with Fort Hays State

• Washburn has won the last four and seven of the last eight meetings.

• Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown was an assistant at Washburn as the defensive coordinator for nine years.

• The coaching staff has three other coaches who either played (Zach Watkins) or coached (Justin Schreiber and Cooper Harris) at Washburn.

• Fort Hays State has not won in Topeka since a 30-0 win on Oct. 26, 1985 - a streak of seven games.

• The Tigers' last win in the series came on Sept. 13, 2008 in Hays in a 17-7 win.

Last meeting between Washburn and Fort Hays State (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 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.  

Last time out for Fort Hays State vs Emporia State (9/5/13)

HAYS, Kan. -- Emporia State used several big plays on offense to come away with a 43-13 victory over Fort Hays State on Thursday evening (Sept. 5) in Hays. The Hornets led 17-0 at halftime and sealed the win by scoring the final 16 points of the game. 

Austin Willis was the story of the night for the Hornets, catching nine passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns. His long of 64 yards was on his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter to put ESU up 27-6. He was the main target for quarterback Brent Wilson, who went 20-of-28 passing for 293 yards. All three of his touchdown passes were to Willis and Wilson scored two touchdowns on the ground, finishing with 74 yards rushing.

The Hornets shut down the Tiger running game, allowing just 44 yards on the ground. Andre Smith and Treveon Albert each had 23 yards rushing for the Tigers. Albert, in his first game as a quarterback at FHSU, threw for 163 yards. He completed 15 of 28 passes and connected with Keaton Callins for two touchdowns on the night. Calllins finished with 52 yards receiving on five catches.

FHSU tried to gain momentum after halftime when Andreas Ashwood blocked a punt that gave the Tigers the ball at the ESU 8-yardline. The Tigers converted with a touchdown, but the extra point was blocked, pulling FHSU within 11. That was as close as they got after halftime.

Justin McPhail had a big night of tackling on defense for the Tigers with a career high 14. He had just nine tackles in his true freshman season of 2012. Basil Bandy and Shane Smith each added 10 tackles. Daniel Lindsey had an interception return for 43 yards, picking the ball off in the endzone in the fourth quarter.

Emporia State had a big second half moving the ball, finishing with 591 yards of total offense after having just 220 total yards at halftime. Fort Hays State finished with just 207 total yards of offense.

Last time out for Washburn vs Nebraska-Kearney (9/5/13)

KEARNEY, Neb. -- The Washburn Ichabods opened the 2013 season with a 58-13 win over Nebraska-Kearney at Cope Stadium in Kearney. Washburn wasted little time getting on the board to start the season as Sean McPherson scored on a 7-yard run capping its season-opening drive of eight plays and 64 yards putting Washburn up 7-0. After the teams traded turnovers, Washburn's Justin Linn hit the first of his three field goals on the night with a 23-yard score set up by a fumble recovery by D.J. Wakes putting washburn up 10-0 with 5:28 to play in the first quarter.

The Lopers would take their next possession and drive to the Ichabod 16 yard line but was stopped at the WU 16 on a fourth and one with Wakes ended the drive.

After a Washburn punt, UNK would take advantage of a fourth down conversion on a fake punt and go on to score but the extra point hit the right goal post. Washburn used a quick strike when Mitch Buhler hit Jordan Hart for a 68-yard touchdown score stretching the Ichabod lead to 17-6. 

Neither team would score until the combination of Buhler to Hart struck again with a 55-yard completion on a 1-play drive putting the Ichabods up 24-6 going into the half.

In the third quarter, the Lopers took the opening kickoff and was held to a three and out and on the UNK punt Isaac Wright broke through the line and blocked the punt and then scooped it up and scored from 15-yards out adding to the Ichabod 31-6 lead.

The Lopers fumbled on their next drive and the Ichabods took advantage as Buhler used a shuffle pass to Kameron Stewart and he rumbled in from 28-yards out moving the lead to 38-6.

After another UNK turnover, who had seven in the game, Linn connected on a 51-yard field goal, which was one shy of the school record pushing Washburn's lead up to 35 at 41-6 with 8:47 left to play in the third quarter.

Wakes recorded an interception to go with his fumble recovery setting up a 40-yard field goal by Linn with 3:58 to play in the third quarter as the Ichabods would lead 44-6 at the end of the third quarter. After another UNK fumble, Washburn's Noel Phillips wrapped up a three-play drive with a 5-yard score with 10:50 to play in the game.

UNK punted on its ensuing possession, but would pick off a Washburn pass for their first score since the first score since the second quarter cutting the lead to 51-13.

Washburn wrapped up the scoring in the game with a 10-play, 75-yard drive when Donnie Lockhart III scored on a 1-yard plunge with 4:09 left in the game.

Buhler finished the game 16 of 29 for 273 yards and three touchdowns as Hart finished with three catches for 150 yards and the two scores. DaJuan Beard had five catches for 41 yards and two punt returns for 42 yards. McPherson had 11 rushes for 69 yards and the one score.

Bryce Atagi led the Ichabod defense with nine tackles and Cameron Jackson had six. Willie Williams had four tackles and two interceptions.

Overall each team had 22 first downs and the Ichabods finished with 168 rushing. Washburn finished with 352 yards passing and 520 total offensive yards. The Ichabod defense limited the Lopers to 350 yards offense with 187 on the ground and 163 in the air.

Nebraska-Kearney game odds and ends . . . the win . . .

• lifted the Ichabods to 518-554-44 in their football history.

• was the Ichabods' fifth-straight over the Lopers.

• was the Ichabods' first win in Kearney since a 29-12 win over the Lopers on Oct. 8, 1988.

• was the Ichabods' sixth-straight season-opening-game win.

• made the Ichabods 8-14 all-time against the Lopers.

• improved the Ichabods to 13-12 in MIAA openers.

• moved the Ichabods to 74-43-6 in their first game of the season.

• improved Washburn to 9-3 in season openers under head coach Craig Schurig.

Washburn football history

Washburn is 518-554-44 (.480) in the 123rd year of Ichabod football. 

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

• lift the Ichabods to 519-554-44 in their football history.

• be the Ichabods' fourth-straight over the Tigers.

• be the eighth-straight win over the Tigers in Topeka.

• make the Ichabods 42-23-3 all-time against the Tigers.

• improve the Ichabods to 2-0 in the MIAA for the third-straight season.

A loss for Washburn to Fort Hays State would . . .

• drop the Ichabods to 518-555-44 in their football history.

• drop the Ichabods to 41-24-3 all-time against the Tigers.

• be the first win by the Tigers in Topeka since a 30-0 win over the Ichabods on Oct. 26, 1985.

• snap a four-game winning streak by the Ichabods over the Tigers.

Ichabods in the national polls

WACO, Texas -- The Washburn Ichabod football team received votes in the 2013 American Football Coaches Association Presason poll which was released on last week.  The Ichabods were just outside the top 25 rankings for the week of Sept. 8 coming in 29th overall.

Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been in the AFCA poll 42 times and have received votes in each of the last eight preseason polls.

Up next

The Ichabods will return to the road to face Northeastern State at 6 p.m. in Tahlequah, Okla. It will be Washburn's first game in Tahlequah since a 35-30 loss on Sept. 24, 1988. The Ichabods will return to Yager Stadium on Sept. 28 to face Central Oklahoma in the MIAA TV game of the Week kicking off at 2:37 p.m. The game will also be Family Day on the Washburn campus.