Opening Notes
•     The Washburn Ichabod football team will look to snap its two-game slide when they travel to Edmond, Okla., to face Central Oklahoma on Saturday in Wantland Stadium in a 1 p.m. kickoff.
•    Washburn enters the game 2-5 coming off a 40-14 loss to Missouri Western on Homecoming last time out while the Bronchos fell 31-19 at Central Missouri.
•    The Ichabods won 28-19 in the last meeting against the Bronchos in Topeka last season.
•    Washburn lost 35-20 in the one and only meeting in Edmond to Central Oklahoma on Sept. 22, 2012.

 'Bods and Ends
•    Calvin Kenney leads the Ichabods with 81 tackles and is nearly double the next Washburn defensive player …he has recorded double-figure tackles in the last six games … the 81 tackles this season is 71 more than his season total of 64 recorded his sophomore season.
•    The nine kickoff returns by the Ichabods were the most since recording 8 against Northwest Missouri on Nov. 2, 2013.
•    True freshmen Bob Marco, who starts right guard, along with defensive end Kastin Spencer, linebacker Austin Tillman and defensive tackle Cody Zeller have all seen action this season.
•     Sixty-five of Washburn's opponents' 243 points have come off turnovers. Washburn has scored three points of its 110 off opponents miscues.
•    The Ichabods are 12 of 27 in the redzone this season scoring 10 touchdowns with two field goals totaling 76 points scoring 44 percent of the time inside their opponent's 20 yard line. The Ichabods have turned the ball over five times on downs and have had two interceptions and three fumbles with four missed field goals.
•    Opponents have scored 25 of 30 times inside the redzone against Washburn for an 83 percent scoring rate recording 150 points with 19 touchdowns and six field goals with two missed field goals and turning the ball over on downs three times.
•    The Ichabods are -15 in turnover margin this season which is 11th in the MIAA rankings and they forced their first fumble of the season against Missouri Western … four opponent turnovers have been on interceptions.
•    The 43 rushing yards on 27 attempts by the Ichabods were the fewest by an Ichabod team since recording 46 against Central Oklahoma on Sept. 22, 2012 in 29 attempts.
•    Washburn has not been shutout twice in a season since 1991 in shutout losses to Pittsburg State and Central Missouri. The last time the Ichabods have been shutout in three games during a season was in 1984.

 Coaching Staffs
Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•    was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 
•    is 89-56 (.602) in his 13th season as the Ichabod head coach. 
•    is 71-46 (.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 ten-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 89 wins.
•    is 2-1 against Central Oklahoma.

Central Oklahoma head coach Nick Bobeck . . . 
•     is in his third year as head coach at Central Oklahoma and has gone 9-18 with the Bronchos 
•     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.
•     a four-year standout at fullback for the Bronchos from 1999-02.
•     is 1-1 against Washburn.

 Ichabod Offensive Notes
•     Senior running back Vershon Moore needs 574 rushing yards to become the all-time leader at Washburn …  has also rushed for 30 touchdowns and has two of the top three single-game totals in school history … he has rushed for 2,842 yards in his career … he has nine 100-yard rushing games.
•     Junior running back Sean McPherson has rushed for 1,111 yards in his career going over the 1,000-yard mark against Nebraska-Kearney.
•     Senior DaJuan Beard became the 12th Ichabod to catch at least 100 passes and he now has 153 catches which is fourth all-time at Washburn … his 2,219 yards is fifth all-time at well at Washburn … he needs 17 catches to move into second on the all-time receiving chart to pass Michael Dritlein (1992-95) after passing Mike Odupitan (2002-05) for third against Missouri Western.
•     Senior Dylan Ready has played in 39 games on the offensive line and has started at left tackle, left guard and right tackle on the offensive line.
•    Junior Connor Crimmins has appeared in 29 games adding 37 catches for 576 yards  …he had a career high 98 yards receiving against Missouri Western … Crimmins, who also plays baseball for the Ichabods, is switching from No. 14 to No. 19 to honor former Ichabod baseball coach Steve Anson.
•     Junior Cameron Brown is moving back into the starting line up this season at center after starting 12 games at right guard in 2012. 
•     Junior Sam Eickhoff has started 14 career games at fullback appearing in 24 games.
•     Junior wide receiver Jordan Hart is back after playing in parts of five games last season … he has 49 catches for 876 yards and eight touchdowns in his career and has averaged 17.9 yards per reception.
•     Sophomore running back Donnie Lockhart III received a medical redshirt after recording 26 carries for 120 yards and three touchdowns last season … this season he has played in four games.
•     Sophomore Michael Miller was an honorable mention all-MIAA pick after starting 11 games at left guard … this season he is moving to right tackle making seven  starts.
•    Senior Matt Buhler had a career-high four catches for a career-high 58 yards against Lindenwood … this season he has 11 catches for 118 yards.
•     Senior Brad Gourley had a career-long 87-yard reception for a touchdown against Nebraska-Kearney. He has 31 receptions for 399 yards and three scores playing in 27 career games.
•     Senior quarterback Mitch Buhler has made 23 starts at Washburn passing for 4,486 career yards and 45 touchdowns … his 45 TD passes are fourth all-time at Washburn and his 343 career completions are sixth.

 Ichabod Defensive Notes
•     Senior safety Calvin Kenney has played in 41 games making 36 starts tallying 239 tackles with 142 solo stops with four interceptions … he had a career-high 17 tackles against Central Missouri and he has had double-digit tackles in six-straight games … he is 11th on the Ichabod all-time solo tackle chart and 14th on the total tackle chart.
•     Sophomore defensive end Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq moves into a starting defensive end position after recording 23 tackles last season appearing in 11 games last season … this season he has recorded 32 tackles with a career-high 10 tackles coming against Nebraska-Kearney.
•     Senior defensive tackle Bryan Dale has appeared in 41 games … he has recorded 47 career tackles.
•     Senior defensive end Alex Dowty has appeared in 29 games with 46 tackles including 14 tackles for loss.
•     Senior defensive tackle Tyler Ewy has made 20 career starts including 11 in 2013 … overall he has appeared in 35 games with 75 tackles and 9.5 career tackles for loss … he had a career-high eight tackles against Missouri Western on Oct. 4.
•     Sophomore defensive back Zach Franklin had made nine starts appearing in 18 games at Washburn … the nine tackles against Lindenwood was a career-high and his 98 all-purpose yards against Missouri Southern was a career high … he has 21 tackles this season with 17 solo stops.
•     Sophomore linebacker Cody Heiman is back to the defensive side of the ball after rushing for 426 yards and 91 carries with six touchdowns in 2013 … his nine tackles against Lindenwood was a career-high … overall he has played in 20 games making eight starts gaining 60 tackles with 37 solo stops.
•     Senior defensive back Dwayne Joseph has made 13 starts recording 65 career tackles with 46 solo stops and one interception in his career.
•     Junior linebacker Mark Kolmer is another Ichabod moving from offense to defense as he's played in 29 career games with ten starts adding 55 tackles … he made six starts at fullback in 2013 … his nine tackles against Fort Hays State was a career high and he recorded his first career interception against Nebraska-Kearney returning it seven yards setting up the game-winning field goal.
•     Junior safety Jaime Myers has made 14 starts playing in 29 games with 91 tackles and three interceptions … he has 1,660 career all-purpose yards averaging 57.2 per game … he had a career-high 11 tackles against Central Missouri.
•     Junior safety Shay Wooten moves into a starting safety role and has recorded 101 career tackles appearing in 29 games … he had a career-high 12 tackles against Missouri Western last season.
•    Redshirt freshman Peter Pfannenstiel has started the last five games at safety and has recorded 26 tackles with 15 solo stops and a pass break up.

 Ichabod Special Team Notes
•     Sophomore Justin Linn returns after being honored as a first team all-MIAA kicker in 2013 … he was a preseason all-American selection for this season by D2Football.com … Linn is 2 of 6 this season with a season-long of 34 … his 67 PATs rank ninth all-time at Washburn and his 16 career field goals ranks eighth.
•     Senior Aaron Hummert has 168 punts for 6,771 yards averaging 40.3 yards per punt playing in 42 career games … his 40.3 career punting average second in school history and his 6,771 yards is seventh all-time … had a career-long run of 17 yards on a fourth down against Pittsburg State for a first down.

 Know the Foe
•     The Bronchos are 5-2 this season after falling at Central Missouri 31-19 last time out.
•    The Bronchos are averaging 174 yards a game on the ground while allowing 235.6 rushing.
•    Opponents are averaging 152 yards a game in the air against UCO while the Bronchos are averaging 206.0 yards per game in the air. 
•    Overall the Bronchos are allowing 388 yards a game in total offense while recording 380 per game.
•    UCO has outscored its opponents 54-21 in the second quarter of games this season, but have been outscored 34 to 24 in the first quarter.
•     Jake Gandara is averaging 117 yards per game on the ground to lead UCO adding seven touchdowns.
•    Chas Stallared is 117 of 176 completing 67 percent of his passes with five touchdowns averaging 207 yards per game.
•    Christian Hood has 27 catches to lead UCO. Connor Pulley leads the Bronchos with four touchdown receptions.
•    Chass Glaspie leads the team with 70 tackles including 4.5 for loss and an interception.

 Series Notes with Central Oklahoma
Series Record: WU leads 2-1-0
Streaks: WU won the last meeting
First Meeting: WU 48-3 (10/15/2011) in Topeka
Last Meeting: WU 28-19 (09/28/2013) in Topeka
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

 Last Meeting with Central Oklahoma
(9/28/2013) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 18 Washburn Ichabods trailed for the first time this season but rallied to take a 28-19 win over Central Oklahoma to remain perfect at 4-0. 
Central Oklahoma scored the first points of the game with eight minutes to play in the first quarter on a Adrian Nelson to Marquez Clark for 34 yards as the Bronchos scored the only points of the quarter.
The Ichabods tied the score when Vershon Moore capped a 9-play, 55-yard drive with a 1-yard dive with 10:39 left in the first half. It would be the only points of the first half for the Ichabods as the score was tied at 7-7.
Washburn scored the first points of the second half after each team traded punts on their first two drives of the half. Mitch Buheler hit Tyrell Brown for an 80-yard touchdown strike on a third and one to put the Ichabods up 14-7. Central Oklahoma used three plays and 89 yards to cut the Washburn lead to 14-13 with 1:31 left in the third quarter after Seth Hiddink's point after attempt was missed.
After a 49-yard kickoff return by Devon Connors setting Washburn up and the UCO 40, Buhler connected with Moore for a 40-yard screen pass putting Washburn up 21-13 with 1:11 to play.
After the Ichabods forced a punt on UCO's next drive Washburn was intercepted returning the ball back to the Bronchos. The Ichabod defense forced another UCO punt, but Washburn muffed the return and UCO recovered at the Ichabod 1-yard line. Two plays later UCO scored on a 1-yard run by Josh Birmingham. UCO went for two, but the pass was broken up by Dwayne Joseph.
Moore wrapped up another drive with a 5-yard score on the ground with 8:30 left in the fourth quarter finishing the scoring for each team.
Washburn finished with season lows of 15 first downs and 47 rushing yards on 36 carries in the game. The Bronchos recorded 21 first downs and 131 yards on the ground.
Buhler finished with 349 yards passing going 17 of 29 with one interception and two touchdown passes. Brown had career-highs of four catches for 117 yards. Moore had four catches for 92 yards and one score and Jordan Hart and four catches for 86 yards.
Defensively, the Ichabods were led by Bryce Atagi who had 12 tackles with eight solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack. Ryan Macken had 11 tackles with five solo stops. Calvin Kenney and D.J. Wakes each had 10 tackles. Washburn finished with seven tackles for loss for 28 yards and three sacks for 17 yards.
Birmingham had 18 carries for 69 yards and one score and Adrian Nelson was 22 of 37 for 308 yards with one score and two interceptions. Clark finished with seven catches for 125 yards and the one score.

 Last time out for Central Oklahoma 
(10/18/2014) WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 18) – An early 14-0 deficit and three interceptions were too much for Central Oklahoma to overcome Saturday as the Bronchos dropped a 31-19 to Central Missouri.
The Mules scored on their first two possessions of the game to jump on top quickly and UCO never recovered.  It was 14-3 at halftime and UCM built a 31-6 lead before the Bronchos scored their only two touchdowns of the game in the final seven minutes.
UCO fell to 5-2 on the year and in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play, while the Mules improved to the same record.  The Bronchos return home next Saturday to host Washburn at 1 p.m.
All three UCO turnovers were costly, with the first coming at the Central Missouri six-yard-line in the final minute of the first half to end a streak of 155 passes without an interception.
The Mules also picked off a pass in their own end zone early in the fourth quarter while leading 21-6 and quarterback Chas Stallard was intercepted again on UCO's next possession at the UCM 28.
The Bronchos finished with 473 total yards to 444 for the Mules.  UCM running back LaVance Taylor racked up 228 yards and two TDs on just 21 carries.
Stallard ended up 31-of-43 passing for 312 yards, with Marquez Clark catching eight aerials for 97 yards.  Jake Gandara had 120 yards rushing in 15 attempts.
Linebackers Logan Orso and Malcolm Howard had nine tackles apiece to lead the defense. 
Central Missouri scored the first two times it had to ball to take a 14-0 lead just 10 minutes into the contest and the Bronchos were forced to battle for behind the rest of the way.
UCO got on the scoreboard with 3:42 left in the half when Seth Hiddink drilled a 40-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 64-yard drive highlighted by Stallard passes of 18 yards to Caleb Moss and 16 yards to Connor Pulley.
The Bronchos got the ball right back when Cade Shearwood forced a fumble that Nick Koenig recovered at the UCM 38 and a 24-yard Stallard-to-Pulley pass gave UCO a first-and-goal at the 10.
Two runs and a penalty pushed the Bronchos back to the 24 and Stallard's third-and-goal pass from there was picked off at the six.
The Mules pushed their lead to 21-3 early in the third quarter and UCO answered with another field goal drive keyed by Gandara's 41-yard run.
The Bronchos had a first-and-goal at the UCM 4, but gained only one yard in three plays and were forced to settle for Hiddink's 20-yard field goal to make it 21-6.
UCO had a chance to draw closer early in the final period after getting a 42-yard pass from Stallard to Clark in moving to a first-and-goal at the Mule 10, but an end zone interception stopped that threat and Taylor broke off an 80-yard scoring run minutes later to give UCM a 28-6 advantage.
Stallard threw his third interception at the Central Missouri 28 on UCO's next possession and the Mules used a 63-yard pass to set up a 19-yard field goal for a 31-6 lead with 9:10 left to play.
The Bronchos came back with their first TD drive of the game, Gandara Gandara's 40-yard burst setting up Stallard's one-yard scoring scamper with 6:20 remaining.
UCO couldn't recover the onside kick, but quickly forced a punt and then drove 75 yards for another score.  Stallard ended it again, this time from 10 yards out with 1:58 left, and it was a 31-19 deficit after the two-point conversion failed.
Again the Bronchos couldn't recover an onside kick try and UCM then ran out the clock. 

 Last time out for Washburn
(10/18/2014) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn football team fell behind early and could not recover as Missouri Western topped the Ichabods 40-14 on Homecoming Saturday in Yager Stadium. 
The Griffons scored the first 37 points of the game as they were up 24-0 at the end of the first quarter and 34-0 at the half as Washburn was held to three first downs and 117 total yards.
The Griffons scored added to their score with a field goal stretching the lead to 37-0 midway through the third quarter. Washburn got on the board when DaJuan Beard scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Zeke Palmer with 13:21 to play in the game. After another field goal by the Griffons, Washburn's Ronnell Garner pulled down a touchdown pass from Palmer on a 15-yard strike making the final score 40-14 with 35 seconds to play wrapping up the scoring.
Vershon Moore had 17 yards on the ground as the Ichabods were limited as a team to 43 yards rushing. Palmer was 21 of 34 for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Connor Crimmins had four catches for 98 yards.
Defensively Calvin Kenney had 12 tackles in his sixth-straight game in double digits. Tyler Ewy had eight tackles and Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq recorded six tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss. As a team Washburn had four sacks and nine tackles for loss.
Washburn finished with 289 yards of offense while the Griffons recorded 355. 

 Washburn Football History
Washburn is 527-562-44 (.480) in the 124th year of Ichabod football. 

 A win for Washburn over Central Oklahoma would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 528-562-44 in their football history.
• snap a two-game losing streak by the Ichabods.
• make the Ichabods 3-1 all-time against Central Oklahoma.
• be the second-straight win over UCO.
• give head coach Criag Schurig his 90th win on the Washburn bench.

 A loss for Washburn to Central Oklahoma would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 527-563-44 in their football history.
• drop the Ichabods to 2-2 all-time with the Bronchos.
• drop the Ichabods to 2-6 overall and 2-6 in the MIAA.
• be the Ichabods' second-straight loss to UCO in Edmond.
• be the Ichabods first three-game losing streak during the season since the final three games of the 2013 season.

 Ichabods in the National Polls
WACO, Texas -- The Ichabods fell did not receive any votes this week after the loss to Missouri Western after receiving votes in the preseason poll released on Aug. 18.
Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 52 times and have been ranked in the top 10 15 times. Washburn has received votes in or been ranked in 10-consecutive AFCA preseason polls.

 Up Next
Washburn will then return home for back-to-back home games against Emporia State on Nov. 1 and Northeastern State on Nov. 8 before wrapping up the season against Northwest Missouri in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 15.