Opening Notes
•     The Washburn Ichabods will look to snap a two-game slide and a three-game losing streak to the Griffons on Saturday when they will face Missouri Western in St. Joseph.
•    The Ichabods (3-3, 3-3 MIAA) are coming off a 38-28 loss to Central Missouri last time out while the Griffons (4-2, 4-2 MIAA) held off Fort Hays State on the final play of the game for a 26-21 win over the Tigers.
•    The Ichabods are making their first appearance in Spratt Stadium since Nov. 3, 2012 when they fell 56-28. 
•    Washburn has lost its last two games played in St. Joseph and they are 5-14-2 overall against the Griffons on the road in 21 meetings.

 'Bods and Ends
•    Alec Steuber became the first Ichabod to force two fumbles in a single game since Mike Gonzales did on Oct. 1, 2005 against Pittsburg State which tied a school record.
•    Peter Pfannenstiel became the first Ichabod to record at least 15 tackles since Casey Curran had 15 against Northwest Missouri on Oct. 24, 2009.
•    Washburn is last in the MIAA in penalties averaging 82.5 yards per game after being called for 54 penalties. Missouri Western is seventh in penalties recording 64.5 yards per game. Washburn opponents are averaging 61.2 yards per game in penalties this season while Missouri Western opponents are averaging 47.7 yards per game in penalties.
•    The last four games the Ichabods have put up 457, 451, 455 and 409 yards of total offense against Pittsburg State, Missouri Southern, Fort Hays State and Missouri Western respectively.
•    The Ichabods ran 84 plays against Central Missouri after running 89 plays against Fort Hays State and 95 against Missouri Southern. The 95 total offensive plays against Missouri Southern was one shy of the school record of 96 set in 1988 against Emporia State.
•    The Ichabods' longest touchdown rush has been three yards this season. Hayden Groves has two 3-yard runs with one against Fort Hays State and one against Missouri Southern and Mickeel Stewart has a 3-yard run against Fort Hays State.
•    Washburn was 4 of 16 on third down conversions against Central Missouri last time out while holding the Mules to 5 of 16 on third down conversions.
•    Washburn is fourth in the MIAA in third down conversions with a 40.7 rate while allowing opponents to move the chains 37.9 percent of the time converting 39 of 102 attempts.
•     The Ichabods have wore six different uniform combinations in their six games this season.

 Coaching Staffs
Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•    was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 
•    is 94-61 (.611) in his 14th season as the Ichabod head coach. 
•    is 76-51 (.603) 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. 
•    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 94 wins.
•    is 5-8 against Missouri Western.

Missouri Western head coach Jerry Partridge . . . 
•    was named the sixth head coach of the Griffon football program in 1997
•    is 143-73 (.669) in his 18th season as the Griffon head coach.
•    is 111-58 (.662) against the MIAA.
•    has led the Griffons to four NCAA Playoff appearances and seven Mineral Water bowl appearance.
•    has led the Griffons to the 2012 MIAA Championship and 2003 Co-MIAA regular season championship.
•    is Missouri Western's all-time winningest coach with 143 wins.
•    is third in all-time wins in the MIAA.
•    is 11-6 against Washburn.

 Defensive Notes
•    Linebacker Cody Heiman leads the team with 47 tackles (22 solo). He had a career-high 12 tackles against Central Missouri last time out.
•    Safety Shay Wooten is second on the Ichabods with 45 tackles (18 solo). He has recorded 31 tackles on rushing plays and 13 on passing plays.
•    Linebacker Alec Steuber is third on the team with 43 tackles and his two interceptions (both against Fort Hays State) lead the team. Against Central Missouri he had two sacks and two forced fumbles against Central Missouri and recovered one while recording a career-high nine tackles. He returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown against the Tigers earlier this year.
•     Defensive end Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq has 39 tackles overall (17 solo) which is fourth on the team while his 6.0 tackles for loss for 15 yards is second on the team. Thirty two of his tackles have coming on rushing plays. His 12 tackles against Missouri Southern was a career high.
•    Defensive end Spencer Matthews is tied for the team lead with 6.0 tackles for loss for a team-high 42 yards and his 4.0 sacks for 31 yards leads the team.
•    The Ichabods have six interceptions as Steuber has two and Zach Franklin, Dwane Simmons, Jamie Myers and Cody Heiman all have one. Simmons returned his 56 yards against Nebraska-Kearney and Heiman returned one for 40 yards against Pittsburg State for his first career interception.
•    Washburn has 40 pass breakups this season and they are led by Franklin's 11.
•    Keaton Cofield had a career-high three tackles against the Mules.
•    Jalen Durham recorded a season-high four tackles against Central Missouri.
•    Kinglsey Ibeh recorded his first sack adding two tackles for loss and a pass break up against the Mules.
•    Ardis Palmer had a season-high four tackles against the Mules.
•    Peter Pfannenstiel had a career-high 15 tackles against the Mules.
•    As a team the Ichabods are ranked fifth in the MIAA in scoring defense at 24.8 points per game and fourth in total defense allowing 386.8 yards per game.
•    On pass defense the Ichabods are ranked fifth in the MIAA allowing 222.3 yards per game while ranking seventh in rush defense at 164.5 yards per game.

 Offensive Notes
•    Derek McGinnis has completed 52 percent of his passing attempts connecting on 129 of 246 passing attempts with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. He is averaging 266.5 yards per game passing … his 15 passing touchdowns are second in the league and was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week after the Pitt State game. He is third in the MIAA in passing per game and fourth in the league in total offense at 267.7 yards per game.
•    Brandon Bourbon has 110 carries for the Ichabods for 469 yards and two score averaging 78.2 yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry. He is sixth in the MIAA in rushing yards per game.
•    Hayden Groves has 72 carries for 356 yards and ranks 11th in the MIAA with 59.3 yards per game rushing averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
•    Bryce Chavis leads the team with 32 catches for 471 yards averaging 14.7 yards per catch with a team-high four touchdowns. He is third in the MIAA in receiving yards and fourth in receptions per game with 5.3.
•    Connor Crimmins has 16 catches for 177 yards and two scores.
•    Anthony Daniels has 16 catches for 276 yards with three touchdowns averaging 46.0 yards per game.
•    Jordan Hart has appeared in 29 games making five starts and has 17 catches for 294 yards and two scores this season. His 1,310 career receiving yards is 15th on the all-time Ichabod chart trailing Jake Lebahn who had 1,384 yards.
•    Senior fullback Sam Eickhoff had his first touchdown reception of his career against Lindenwood and his two catches against Pitt State was a career-high.
•    Junior offensive lineman Michael Miller has made 28 straight starts on the offensive line.
•    Washburn is seventh in the MIAA in scoring offense at 26.8 points per game.
•    The Ichabods are seventh in the MIAA in total offense with 422.2 yards per game.
•    Washburn is averaging 155.7 yards per game rushing which ranks eighth in the MIAA and the 266.5 yards per game passing is third in the MIAA.    

 Ichabod Special Team Notes
•    Freshman Perry Schmiedeler connected on his first collegiate field goal attempt of 35 yards against Fort Hays State. He has 32 punts for 1,145 yards averaging 35.8 per punt. He is averaging 57.1 yards per kickoff attempt with two touchbacks.
•    Jaime Myers is averaging 11.0 yards per punt return on three attempts and Bryce Chavis is averaging 9.5 yards per punt return on eight attempts.
•    Hayden Groves has nine returns for 205 yards averaging 22.8 per return. Zach Franklin is averaging 24.9 yards per attempt on seven returns. Jake Horner has two returns for 40 yards and Jaime Myers has two for 35 yards.
•    Freshman linebacker Derrick McGreevy is tied for the team lead on the Ichabods with six special teams tackles with all of them coming on kickoff coverage along with Trevin Wiens who also has six stops all of kickoff coverage.
•    Jarvis Harrod has three of Washburn's nine tackles on punt coverage.

 Know the Foe
•    Missouri Western is 4-2 this season after topping Fort Hays State 26-21 last time out.
•    The Griffons are averaging 424 yards per game in total offense while allowing 328 yards per game.
•    They are averaging 259 yards per game through the air and 165 on the ground.
•    Raphael Spencer is averaging 107.7 yards per game on the ground with four touchdowns.
•    Skyler Windmiller is 60 of 124 passing with seven interceptions and five touchdowns throwing for 1,096 yards averaging 219 yards per game. 
•    Dee Toliver has a team-high 19 catches for 459 yards averaging 24.2 yards per catch and 76.5 yards per game.
•    Tomi Alli has 46 tackles with 5.0 tackles for loss for seven yards leads the team.

 Series Facts with Missouri Western
Series Record: MWSU leads 24-17-2
Streak: MWSU has won the last three
First Meeting: WU 58-3 (09/16/1972) in Topeka
Last Meeting: MWSU 40-14 (10/18/2014) in Topeka
Last WU win: 41-20 (9/24/2011) in Topeka
Last MWSU win: 40-14 (10/18/2014) in Topeka
Largest WU win: 58-3 (09/16/1972) in Topeka
Largest MWSU win: 52-0 (11/7/1981) in St. Joseph

 Series Notes with Missouri Western
•  The Griffons lead the series 24-17-2 and have won the last three games and five of the last six.
• The Ichabods are 5-14-2 in St. Joseph since the series began in 1972.
• Washburn won five in a row between 1986 and 1990 and the Griffons won five in a row between 1993 and 1995.
• Washburn's last win in St. Joseph was on Sept. 29, 2007 in a 31-24 win and have lost the last three.
• Four of the last five games in the series have been played in Topeka.

 Last Meeting with Missouri Western
(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.

 Last time out for Missouri Western
(10/10/2015) ST. JOSEPH – The Griffon defense held Fort Hays on four plays from the Missouri Western 7-yard line to preserve a 26-21 win, Saturday, the Griffons' 11th straight win over Fort Hays.
Sam Brown broke up Fort Hays' last chance on fourth down when he swatted away a fade route intended for Evan Jennings in the back corner of the end zone. Brown's breakup came one play after Michael Jordan broke up a pass for Isaiah Maxi in the other back corner on third down and goal. With 11 seconds left on the MWSU seven, Fort Hays spiked the ball and first down then threw three more incompletions to end the game.
The chance was set up by a 41-yard pass on fourth and four from the MWSU 48 from Treveon Albert to Jennings. The Griffon defense limited the MIAA's top-two rushers to a combined 189 yards on the ground. Shaquille Cooper finished with 114 yards rushing that included a 67-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Albert rushed for 76 yards on 15 carries. Albert passed for 290 yards and a touchdown and also threw one interception to Darrian Bass.
Missouri Western led 19-7 at halftime on two Tanner Pettet field goals, including a 51-yarder, and a 40-yard touchdown pass from TJ LaFaver to DiJuan Ussery. LaFaver, who entered in the first quarter after Skyler Windmiller was injured after two series, finished 13-20 passing with no interceptions and two touchdowns. He threw for 163 yards and rushed for 81, despite taking three sacks for a total loss of 16 yards. Ussery led the Griffons in receiving yards with 61. Alek Ferbet had the most catches with five for MWSU and scored one touchdown. Raphael Spencer rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.
Yomi Alli led the Griffon defense with 12 total tackles, including three for loss and a quarterback hurry. Bass finished with three tackles, all solo and an interception to go with two pass break-ups. Jordan broke up three passes. Fort Hays outgained MWSU, 479-441 but was just 2-14 on third down in the game. The win improved MWSU to 4-2 on the year and dropped Fort Hays to 4-2.

 Last time out for Washburn
(10/10/2015) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods lost a hard-fought battle to Central Missouri falling 38-28 to the Mules. 
Washburn scored the first points of the game when Derek McGinnis hit Anthony Daniels on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 7:36 to play in the opening quarter staking the Ichabods to a 7-0 lead. However the Mules would score the next 17 points of the game in a five-plus minute stretch building a 17-7 lead of their own.
The Ichabods (3-3, 3-3 MIAA) cut the lead to three at 17-14 after McGinnis scored from 1-yard out with 2:46 to play in the first half, but the Mules took the ensuing kickoff 77 yards in nine plays to take a 24-14 lead going into the halftime break.
Central Missouri went up 31-14 with 8:31 to play in the third quarter, but again Washburn came back with a touchdown drive capped by Jake Horner pulling in a 26-yard reception from McGinnis with 6:14 to play in the third quarter.
The Mules (4-2, 4-2 MIAA) when up by 17 after a 3-yard run by Markel Smith with 10:24 to play in the game.
Washburn pulled within 10 at 38-28 with 40 seconds to play when Daniels caught his second touchdown pass of the game on a 30-yard score from McGinnis, but the onside kick failed and the Mules ran out the clock picking up the win.
Peter Pfannenstiel led the Ichabods with a career-high 15 tackles with seven solo stops adding a tackle for loss and Cody Heiman had 12 with seven solo stops. Alec Steuber had six tackles adding two sacks and two tackles for loss with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. As a team the Ichabods recorded 14 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Hayden Groves led the Ichabods on the ground with 74 yards on 14 carries and Bryce Chavis had eight catches for 81 yards. McGinnis finished 22 for 50 for 264 yards and three touchdown passes.
Markel Smith led the Mules with 77 yards. Garrett Fugate finished 24 of 38 for 295 yards and one score. Jaylen Zachary had seven catches for 107 yards. Tevin Teamer had eight tackles along with Alex Lackey to lead the Mules.

 A win for Washburn over Missouri Western would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 532-568-44 in their football history.
• move the Ichabods to 4-3 on the season and in the MIAA.
• move the Ichabods to 18-24-2 all-time against the Griffons.
• snap a three-game losing streak to the Griffons and will be the first win over Western since Sept. 22, 2011 in a 41-20 win in Topeka.
• be the first win over the Griffons in St. Joseph since Sept. 29, 2007 in a 31-24 victory.

 A loss for Washburn to Missouri Western would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 533-568-44 in their football history.
• be the fourth-straight win by the Griffons over the Ichabods and third-straight in St. Joseph.

 Washburn Football History
•    Washburn is 532-568-44 (.484) in the 125th year of Ichabod football.
•    The Ichabods have 12 conference titles with the last coming in 2005 in the MIAA.
•    Washburn has had 126 first team all-conference picks and 44 first team all-MIAA selections.
•    Washburn has had 78 all-American selections and 54 all-American picks since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in 1989.
•    Five Ichabods have been picked in the NFL Draft.

 Ichabods in the National Polls
WACO, Texas -- The Ichabods did not receive votes in this week's poll after receiving votes in each of the previous three weeks. Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 55 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times. 

 Up Next
Washburn will return home to face Central Oklahoma on Oct. 24 for the Grand Homecoming wrapping up the 150th year of Washburn's four-year celebration.