First and 10

• The No. 18-ranked Washburn Ichabods will look to improve to 4-0 overall and in MIAA play when they play host to Central Oklahoma in the MIAA TV Game of the Week.

• Washburn topped Northeastern State last time out in 48-3.

• The Ichabods and Bronchos were one of the MIAA TV Games of the Week last season as well and UCO won 35-20 in Edmond.

• Washburn was 3-0 last season when the Bronchos handed the Ichabods their first loss of the season.

Numbers to know

• 3 - The number of points Northeastern State scored and the fewest points the Ichabods had given up in a game since allowing only three in a 48-3 win over Central Oklahoma on Oct. 15, 2011. 

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

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

• 5-1 - Washburn head coach Craig Schurig's record against teams from Oklahoma. (2-0 vs Northeastern State, 1-1 vs Central Oklahoma, 2-0 vs Langston).

• 2-1 - Washburn's record in games played in the state of Oklahoma under Schurig - (1-0 at Langston, 0-1 at Central Oklahoma, 1-0 at Northeastern State).

• 159 and 2.2 - The number of total offensive yards Northeastern State had and average yards per play the Ichabod defense allowed against the RiverHawks.

• 50 yard line - Washburn's average starting field position against the RiverHawks.

• 21 yard line - Northeastern State's average starting field position against the Ichabods last time out.

• 164:10 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 180:00 the Ichabods have been in the lead in games this season -- 91 percent.

• 15:50 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 180:00 the Ichabods have been tied in games this season -- 9 percent.

• 0:00 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 180:00 the Ichabods have trailed in games this season -- 0 percent.

Coaches

Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .

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

• is 82-48 (.602) in his 12th season as the Ichabod head coach. 

• is 65-38 (.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 82 wins.

• is 1-1 against the Central Oklahoma.

Bronchos head coach Nick Bobeck . . . 

• In his second year as head coach at Central Oklahoma.

• returned to his alma mater in January 2012 after a phenomenal four-year stint at Navarro (Texas) College where he was 42-5 overall and led the Bulldogs to the 2010 junior college national championship.

• he is 2-11 with the Bronchos, going 2-8 last year in his first season at the helm in 2012.

• a four-year standout at fullback for the Bronchos from 1999-02.

For starters

• 10 - The number of interceptions the Ichabods have this season which leads the MIAA.

• 2 - Number of punt returns the Ichabods have had this season for touchdowns - one by Jaime Myers last time out and one by Isaac Wright off a blocked punt against Nebraska-Kearney.

• +7 - The Ichabods in the turnover margin this season, which is tied for the MIAA team lead.

• 110.0 - The number of yards per game the Ichabods are allowing their opponents to rush for a game, which leads the MIAA.

• 138.0 - The number of yards per game Central Oklahoma's Josh Birmingham is averaging on the ground per game, which leads the MIAA.

On offense

• Senior tight end Tore' Hurst has started the last 29 games playing in 38 games and he leads the team this season with 11 catches … he ranks fifth all-time at Washburn with 19 touchdown receptions while he is 13th in receiving yards with 1,459 and 11th in receptions with 102 on the Ichabod career chart … his 19 touchdown receptions is the most in school history by a tight end.

• Junior quarterback Mitch Buhler has made 13 starts at Washburn passing for 2,617 yards and 26 touchdowns.

• 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.

• 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.

• Sophomore Jordan Hart leads the Ichabods with three touchdown receptions and 233 receiving yards … he has seven touchdown receptions in his career.

• Senior center Kyle Duncan has started the last 27 games for the Ichabods on the offensive line while playing in 34 overall.

• Senior Matt Kobbeman became the 12th Ichabod to go over 100 receptions in his career … his 101 receptions is 11th all-time at Washburn … his 1,320 career receiving yards is 15th all-time for the Ichabods.

• Junior Vershon Moore went over the 2,000-yard mark for his career as he now has 2,074 rushing yards in 22 games … the yardage total is seventh all-time at Washburn … he passed current graduate assistant coach Brandon Walker for eighth who had 2,015 career rushing yards.

On defense

• Senior inside linebacker Bryce Atagi has started 29 career games playing in 39 overall … he is eighth all-time at Washburn with 289 total tackles … his 155 assisted tackles is fourth all-time and his 27  career tackles for loss is eighth all-time at Washburn … with 11 more tackles he would become the eighth Ichabod to reach at least 300 tackles for a career … his two interception returns for touchdown is tied for second all-time at Washburn.

• Senior linebacker Willie Williams has started the last 26 games appearing in 39 overall and has recorded 178 tackles with 83 solo stops.

• Senior defensive end Adebayo Oladapo has started the last 14 games appearing in 31 overall recording 63 tackles with 12 for loss and six sacks while picking off three passes.

• Senior linebacker Ryan Macken has played in 27 games making seven starts tallying 94 tackles with 48 solo stops and 8.5 tackles for loss.

• Junior safety Calvin Kenney has played in 27 games making 22 starts tallying 104 tackles with 63 solo stops with three interceptions. … he had a career-high two pass break ups against the Tigers.

• Junior defensive tackle Alex Dowty leads the Ichabods with four tackles for loss for 20 yards and two sacks for 12 yards.

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 … he saw his first action of the season against Northeastern State.

• 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 … he is 7 of 9 on field goals this season hitting 4 of 4 beyond 40 yards.

• Junior Aaron Hummert has 105 punts for 4,327 yards averaging 41.2 yards per punt playing in 27 career games … his 41.21 career punting average is the best in school history … he has only punted eight times in 2013 … his career 41.21 yards per punt is third among active punters in the NCAA … he attempted his first career pass at Washburn against Northeastern State.

• Sophomore punt returner Jaime Myers returned his first career return for a touchdown against Northeastern State. It was a 69-yard return … for his career he has 33 returns for 274 yards and the one score.

Bods and ends . . .

The 23-yard end around rush by DaJuan Beard was a career-long rush … Bryan Dale blocked a punt against Northeastern State and returned it five yards for his first punt block of his career  … the six tackles by Alex Dowty was a career-high as were his two sacks and four tackles for loss … Zach Franklin had a career-high three tackles against the River Hawks … Brad Gourley recorded his first touchdown as an Ichabod … Terek Hawks had four carries for 18 yards averaging 4.5 yards per carry against the RiverHawks … the six pass receptions against NSU tied a career-high for Tore' Hurst … the two touchdown rushes by Donnie Lockhart was a career-high as were the 12 rushing attempts and 92 total offensive and all-purpose yards … the 47 yards rushing by Noel Phillips was a Washburn career long … Isaac Wright has recorded an interception in two of the three games this season.

Know the foe

• Central Oklahoma is 0-3 on the season and in MIAA play after getting beat by Emporia State last time out 54-38 at home.

• The Bronchos are allowing 57 points per game this season while scoring 33.

• Josh Birmingham is averaging an MIAA-leading 138 yards per game on the ground and 6.8 yards per carry scoring nine touchdowns this season.

• Quarterback Adrian Nelson is 61 of 108 for 884 yards with four interceptions and three touchdown passes averaging 294 yards per game through the air.

• Marquez Clark leads the team with 25 catches for 472 yards averaging 18.9 yards per catch with three touchdowns and 157.3 yards per game.

• Adrian Shoecraft leads the team with 28 tackles with two pass deflections and two pass break ups.

Series history with Central Oklahoma

Series Record: Series tied 1-1-0

Streaks: UCO won the last meeting

First Meeting: WU 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka

Last Meeting: UCO 35-20 (09/22/2012) in Edmond

Last WU win: 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka

Last UCO win: 35-20 (09/22/2012) in Edmond

Largest WU win: 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka

Largest UCO win: 35-20 (09/22/2012) in Edmond 

Series Notes with Central Oklahoma

• The game will be the MIAA TV Game of the Week for the second-straight season.

• Each team has won on their home field in each of the last two seasons in the only two meetings in the series.

Last meeting between Washburn and Central Oklahoma (9/22/12)

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 

Last time out for central Oklahoma vs Emporia State (9/21/13)

EDMOND (Sept. 21) – It was a record-setting night at Wantland Stadium as Central Oklahoma and Emporia State combined for a bushel of video-like offensive numbers, but in the end the Hornets had the only thing that mattered – a win.

ESU established four Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and five Wantland Stadium single-game marks in downing the Bronchos 54-38, with UCO standouts Joshua Birmingham and Marquez Clark each setting a school record.

The two teams combined for 59 first downs and 1,265 yards, including 884 passing.

The Hornets rolled up a Wantland Stadium-best 699 total yards, with quarterback Brent Wilson smashing stadium and MIAA records for passing yards (522), total yards (571) and passing touchdowns (seven).  Receiver Ray Ray Davis had a stadium-record 16 receptions for 181 yards and five TDs, breaking that league and stadium mark.

UCO was no slouch offensively, finishing with 566 yards – the ninth-best game in school history.

Quarterback Adrian Nelson was 26-of-42 passing for 362 yards while adding 56 yards rushing to finish with 418 total yards.  Clark hauled in a school-record 13 aerials for 236 yards and a touchdown en route to finishing with 338 all-purpose yards, which ranks second on UCO's single-game list.

Birmingham rushed 15 times for 93 yards and three TDs in becoming the school's all-time scoring leader with 318 points.

But in the end, it was another tough loss for the Bronchos.  UCO fell to 0-3 on the season and in the MIAA while the Hornets improved to 3-0 overall and in the MIAA.

ESU went 92 yards in 13 plays on its first possession of the game to take a quick lead, though Kenny Allen blocked the extra point.  The Bronchos answered with a five-play, 70-yard drive that Nelson capped with a 48-yard TD pass to Clark and Seth Hiddink added the PAT to give UCO its first lead of the season.

That lasted 13 seconds, which is all it took Wilson to toss a 67-yard scoring pass, and a lost fumble at the ESU 21 led to another quick score that put UCO in a 20-7 hole with 5:11 left in the opening quarter.

The Bronchos made it 20-14 early in the second period after Clark's 21-yard punt return set up a short TD drive that Birmingham capped with a three-yard burst and Hiddink had UCO within 27-17 at intermission when he nailed a 50-yard field goal – the second-longest in school history – three seconds before the break.

The Hornets scored on all four of their third quarter possessions and UCO couldn't keep up, though Birmingham had TD runs of one and seven yards as the Bronchos went to the final stanza down 51-31.

An ESU field goal made that 54-31 before the Bronchos got their final score on Nelson's six-yard keeper.

Last time out for Washburn vs Northeastern State (9/21/13)

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 rushing 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. 

Northeastern State game odds and ends . . . the win . . .

• lifted the Ichabods to 520-554-44 in their football history.

• was the Ichabods' second-straight over the RiverHawks.

• was the first win for the Ichabods in Tahlequah (1-1 overall)

• made the Ichabods 3-1 all-time against the RiverHawks.

• improved the Ichabods to 3-0 in the MIAA for the third-straight season.

Washburn football history

Washburn is 520-554-44 (.480) in the 123rd year of Ichabod football. 

A win for Washburn over Central Oklahoma would . . .

• lift the Ichabods to 521-554-44 in their football history.

• make the Ichabods' 2-0 against the Bronchos overall in games played in Topeka.

• make the Ichabods 2-1 all-time against the Bronchos.

• improve the Ichabods to 4-0 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.

A loss for Washburn to Central Oklahoma would . . .

• drop the Ichabods to 520-555-44 in their football history.

• drop the Ichabods to 1-2 all-time against the Bronchos.

• be the second-straight loss to Central Oklahoma.

• be UCO's first win in Topeka.

Ichabods in the national polls

WACO, Texas -- The Washburn Ichabod football team climbed four spots from No. 22 to No. 18 in the latest American Football Coaches Association top 25 poll which was released Monday. 

Among other MIAA schools, Northwest Missouri is ranked No. 3 while Missouri Western is ranked sixth and Pittsburg State is ranked 12th. Emporia State is ranked 24th. Missouri Southern received votes in the ranking.

Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 44 times.

Up next

The Ichabods will hit the road on Oct. 5 travelling to Bolivar, Mo., to face Southwest Baptist at 2 p.m. in Plaster Stadium. The Ichabods have not had a game in Bolivar since Nov. 10, 2007 in a 37-14 win. Following the game with the Bearcats, Washburn will open a three-game homestand facing Lincoln on Oct. 12 before stepping out of MIAA play to face Fort Valley State on Oct. 17 in a Thursday night contest and then take on Lindenwood on Oct. 26 as part of Washburn's Homecoming Weekend.