TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The Washburn Ichabods scored a season-low 48 points but it did not matter as they improved to 3-0 on the season with a 48-3 win over Northeastern State on Saturday night at Wadley Stadium. Washburn will return home next Saturday to face Central Oklahoma at 2:37 p.m. as the MIAA TV Game of the Week.

Washburn held a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter after a 40-yd field goal by Justin Linn but then would score 24 points in the second frame taking a 37-0 lead into the break. Donnie Lockhart III scored on 4-yard and 27-yard touchdown runs and Bryce Atagi returned an interception 35 yards for a score and Linn added his second field goal of the game on a 21-yard attempt.

The Washburn defense held the RiverHawks to four first downs and 57 yards on 32 plays in the first half.

In the second half, NSU scored its first points of the game on a 30-yard field goal by Dylan Beers. Washburn added points on special teams when Jaime Myers returned a 69-yard punt to the end zone stretching the Ichabod lead to 34-3 with 4:09 to play in the third quarter.

Washburn then opened the fourth quarter with a 26-yard Mitch Buhler to Tore' Hurst touchdown pass after a interception by Isaac Wright with 12:05 to play in the game and then on Washburn's next possession, Joel Piper hit Brad Gourley in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard score.

Washburn limited the RiverHawks to 159 yards in the game on 72 plays while the Ichabods had 70 plays for 370 yards. The Ichabods had 199 yards ruhsing and 171 through the air.

Lockhart finished with 12 carries for 92 yards and two scores and Buhler was 10 of 30 for 168 yards and a score. Hurst led the Ichabod receivers with 103 yards on six catches and the touchdown reception.

On defense, Washburn was led by Atagi who had eight tackles with six solo stops and the 35-yard interception return for a score. Alex Dowty had six tackles with four for loss for 20 yards and two sacks for 12 yards.