Opening Notes
•     The Washburn Ichabods will wrap up the 2015 season as they will host No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri on Saturday in Yager Stadium.
•    It will be the final game for 17 Ichabod seniors.
•    Washburn is coming off a 35-21 win over Northeastern State after scoring 21 unanswered points while holding the RiverHawks to -28 yards rushing overall and only 19 yards of offense in the second half.
•    The Bearcats, who moved up to No. 1 in the nation from No. 2 after West Georgia's loss to Florida Tech on Nov. 7, are 10-0 this season and beat Emporia State 44-10 clinching its third straight MIAA championship.
•    The Bearcats will be the highest-ranked team to play in Yager Stadium since a No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri team won 31-26 on Oct. 14, 2006.

 'Bods and Ends
•    The -28 yards rushing by Northeastern was a school-record-low for the RiverHawks and only four yards shy of a record for an Ichabod opponent of -32 yards set against Southwest Baptist in 1990.
•    As a team the Ichabods are ranked sixth in the MIAA in scoring defense at 26.2 points per game and fourth in total defense allowing 360.0 yards per game. The Bearcats are first in total defense allowing 224.8 yards per game and first in scoring defense allowing 11.8 ppg.
•    On pass defense the Ichabods are ranked fourth in the MIAA allowing 215.7 yards per game while ranking fourth in rush defense at 144.3 yards per game. Northwest Missouri is ranked first in rush defense at 73.8 yards per game and first in pass defense allowing 151.0 yards per game passing.
•    Washburn is seventh in the MIAA in scoring offense at 26.5 points per game and the Bearcats lead the MIAA in scoring at 40.8 points per game.
•    The Ichabods are sixth in the MIAA in total offense with 399.6 yards per game and Northwest Missouri is averaging 423.2 yards per game which is fourth in the league.
•    Washburn is averaging 172.4 yards per game rushing which ranks fifth in the MIAA and the 227.2 yards per game passing is sixth in the MIAA.
•    Washburn is seventh in the MIAA in interceptions with 11 returning two of them for touchdowns. 
•    Washburn has allowed only 17 sacks this season which is third in the MIAA and the Ichabod defense is fourth in sacks with 29 for 199 yards.
•    Washburn is 11th in the MIAA in penalties averaging 75.4 yards per game after being called for 86 penalties. Northwest Missouri is 10th in penalties recording 62.9 yards per game. Washburn opponents are averaging 57.0 yards per game in penalties which is fifth in the MIAA this season while the Bearcats' opponents are averaging 67.1 yards per game in penalties which ranks third.
•    Washburn is fourth in the MIAA in third down conversions with a 39.0 percentage rate recording 69 first downs in 177 attempts while allowing opponents to move the chains 36.9 percent of the time ranking fifth converting 62 of 168 attempts. Northwest Missouri is third in the MIAA in third down conversions with a 43.5 percent success rate converting 70 of 161 attempts. Defensively the Bearcats are first in opponent conversion rate at 23.5 percent converting only 36 of 153 attempts.
•     The Ichabods have wore seven different uniform combinations in their 10 games this season.

 Coaching Staffs
Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•    was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 
•    is 96-63 (.611) in his 14th season as the Ichabod head coach. 
•    is 78-53 (.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 96 wins.
•    is 1-13 against Northwest Missouri.

Northwest Missouri head coach Adam Dorrel . . . 
•    is 56-8 in his fifth year at Northwest Missouri. 
•    is 4-0 against Washburn as head coach at Northwest Missouri.
•    spent the 2007-10 seasons as the Bearcats' offensive coordinator after spending the 2005-06 seasons as the offensive line coach.
•    graduated from Northwest Missouri in 1997 receiving a master's degree in 2000.
•    is 4-0 against the Ichabods.

 Defensive Notes
•    Linebacker Cody Heiman leads the team with 67 tackles (31 solo). He had a career-high 12 tackles against Central Missouri earlier this season and leads the team with three interceptions.
•    Linebacker Alec Steuber is second on the team with 63 tackles and his two interceptions (both against Fort Hays State) are tied for second on 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.
•    Safety Peter Pfannenstiel is third on the team with 61 tackles and has 36 solo stops. He had a career-high 15 tackles against Central Missouri earlier this season. 
•    Safety Shay Wooten is fourth on the Ichabods with 59 tackles (23 solo). He has recorded 42 tackles on rushing plays and 16 on passing plays.
•     Defensive end Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq has 58 tackles overall (23 solo) which is fifth on the team while his 10.0 tackles for loss for 32 yards leads the team. His 12 tackles against Missouri Southern was a career high.
•    Defensive end Spencer Matthews is second on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss for a team-high 48 yards and his 5.0 sacks for 37 yards leads the team. He is fourth in the MIAA in sacks.
•    Defensive tackle Kinglsey Ibeh is leads the team with six sacks for 40 yards and his 9.5 tackles for loss is second on the team. Overall he has 27 tackles and two forced fumbles. He recorded a career-high six tackles against Northeastern State last time out as well as a career-high two sacks and three tackles for loss.
•    The Ichabods have 10 interceptions as Heiman, Steuber and Dwane Simmons all have two and Zach Franklin, Jamie Myers, Shay Wooten and Jordan Nelson all have one. 
•    Washburn has 47 pass breakups this season and they are led by Franklin's 12.

 Offensive Notes
•    Derek McGinnis has completed 51 percent of his passing attempts connecting on 178 of 350 passing attempts with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He is averaging 227.0 yards per game passing … his 24 passing touchdowns are second in the league and he 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 sixth in the league in total offense at 224.9 yards per game. His 350 passing attempts are third on the Ichabod single season list. He also is in the top 10 in the following categories: Completions (178- 5th); passing yards (2,270 - 8th); touchdown passes (24- T5th); yards per game (227.0 - 8th). 
•    Brandon Bourbon has 205 carries for the Ichabods for 920 yards and four scores averaging 92.0 yards per game and 4.5 yards per carry. He is sixth in the MIAA in rushing yards per game. His 26 carries against UCO was a career high. He needs 80 yards to become the eighth Ichabod to reach at least 1,000 yards in a single season. The last Ichabod to go over the 1,000-yard mark was Justin Cooper in 2011 with 1,172 yards.
•    Hayden Groves has 132 carries for 646 yards and ranks 12th in the MIAA with 64.6 yards per game rushing averaging 4.9 yards per carry … he has rushed for 1,470 yards at Washburn and has 2,275 all-purpose yards as an Ichabod. He needs 10 yards to move into the top 15 all-time at Washburn and his 2,275 all-purpose yards rank 19th at Washburn.
•    Bryce Chavis leads the team with 49 catches for 732 yards averaging 14.9 yards per catch with a team-high eight touchdowns. He is second in the MIAA in receiving yards and fifth in receptions per game with 5.1.  His eight touchdown receptions is tied for ninth on the Ichabod single season chart and his 4.9 receptions per game ranks tenth.
•    Connor Crimmins has 19 catches for 257 yards and three scores. The 55-yard touchdown reception against Northeastern State was the longest of his Ichabod career. He has 65 career receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is tied for 18th in all-time touchdown receptions, 25th in receptions and 28th in receiving yards.
•    Anthony Daniels has 18 catches for 305 yards with three touchdowns averaging 33.9 yards per game.
•    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 33 straight starts on the offensive line.
•    Logan Lexow recorded his first reception scoring his first touchdown at Northeastern State last time out on a 10-yard catch against the RiverHawks.

 Ichabod Special Team Notes
•    Freshman Perry Schmiedeler connected on his first collegiate field goal attempt of 35 yards against Fort Hays State. He has 47 punts for 1,728 yards averaging 36.8 per punt. He is averaging 55.8 yards per kickoff attempt with five touchbacks. His 48-yard punt against Missouri Western was a season-long.
•    Jaime Myers is averaging 8.0 yards per punt return on four attempts and Bryce Chavis is averaging 9.2 yards per punt return on 14 attempts.
•    Hayden Groves has 19 kickoff returns for 438 yards averaging 23.1 per return. Zach Franklin is averaging 23.6 yards per attempt on 11 returns. 
•    Trevin Wiens leads the team with eight special team kickoff tackles Derrick McGreevy and Zack Weekley and seven special teams tackles.
•    Jarvis Harrod has three of Washburn's 14 tackles on punt coverage.

 Know the Foe
•    Northwest Missouri is 10-0 coming off a 44-10 win over Emporia State last time out to clinch to secure its 27th MIAA regular season championship.
•    Phil Jackson leads the team with 59.7 yards per game rushing as the Bearcats as a team are averaging 146.6 per game on the ground.
•    Brady Bolles is 199 of 348 with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions passing for 2,506 yards. Overall he is averaging 264.5 yards per game in total offense.
•    Shawn Bane has 47 receptions for 787 yards and six scores averaging 16.7 yards per catch and 78.7 yards a game receiving.
•    Simon Mathiesen is 14 of 18 in field goal attempts and has hit all 52 of his PATs.
•    Defensively Jacob Vollstedt leads the team with 79 tackles adding 12 tackles for loss for 72 yards and nine sacks for 66 yards with an interception and seven quarterback hurries.
•    Brock Sherman and Brandon Yost have 46 tackles each.
•    As a team the Bearcats have 94 tackles for loss for 384 yards and 34 sacks for 222 yards with 20 interceptions for 253 return yards.

 Series Facts with Northwest Missouri
Series Record: NWMSU leads 28-6
Streak: NWMSU has won the last ten
First Meeting: NWMSU 27-0 (09/01/1944) in Maryville
Last Meeting: NWMSU 31-14 (11/15/2014) in Maryville
Last WU win: 31-28 (10/8/05) in Maryville
Last NWMSU win: 31-14 (11/15/2014) in Maryville
Largest WU win: 48-14 (10/8/1994) in Topeka
Largest NWMSU win: 56-6 (10/27/2012) in Topeka   

 Series Notes with Northwest Missouri
• The Ichabods are 6-28 all-time against Northwest Missouri.
• The Bearcats have won the last 10 meetings.
• Washburn's last win came in a 31-28 win on Oct. 8, 2005 in Maryville as the Ichabods went on to win the MIAA championship.
• The Bearcats are 13-4 in games played in Topeka and 15-2 in games played in Maryville.
• Overall the Bearcats have won the last 10 games in Topeka. Washburn's last win over the Bearcats came in 1994 in a 48-14 win on Oct. 8, 1994.

 Last Meeting with Northwest Missouri
(11/15/2014) MARYVILLE, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabod football wrapped up the 2014 season with a 31-14 loss to No. 7-ranked Northwest Missouri. Washburn finishes the season with a 4-7 record.
Neither team would score until Brady Boles completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Quanzee Johnson with 2:28 to play in the first quarter capping a 10-play, 79-yard drive.
The Bearcats added to their lead going up 14-0 with 6:11 to play in the first half as the Bearcats would take a two touchdown lead into the break.
Northwest Missouri connected on a 32-yd field goal on its first drive of the second half.
Washburn scored with 1:10 left in the third quarter when Adam Luthi scored on a 22-yard touchdown reception from Zeke Palmer. The drive was set up by an interception by Shay Wooten setting the Ichabods up at the Northwest 30 yard line.
The Bearcats would add a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter building their lead to 31-7 with their last score coming with 7:24 to play in the game.
The Ichabods finished the scoring with a 24-yd touchdown pass from Palmer to Brad Gourley as the Ichabods fell 31-14.
Palmer finished 14 of 37 with two touchdown passes and DaJuan Beard had four catches for 64 yards. Gourley had two catches for 30 and a score and Luthi had two catches for 25 yards and a score. Vershon Moore led the Ichabods with five receptions while rushing.
Wooten finished with 12 catches adding a tackle for loss and an interception. Calvin Kenney finished with seven stops.
Washburn finished with 28 rushes for 33 yards gaining 178 on the day on 66 plays. 
Northwest finished with 72 plays for 362 yards.

 Last time out for Northwest Missouri
(11/7/2015) Maryville, Mo. – Northwest Missouri racked up 512 yards of total offense as they used a 44-10 victory to wrap up the MIAA Championship in football.
Offensively the Bearcats were led by Brady Bolles who was 24 of 32 for 362 yards and four touchdowns. He hit Shawn Bane seven times for 146 yards and two touchdowns while Phil Jackson carried the ball 19 times for 108 yards and a score.
On the defensive side of the ball Brock Sherman had seven tackles as did Collin Bevins who also added a safety.

 Last time out for Washburn
(11/7/2015) TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The Washburn Ichabod defense held Northeastern State to 19 yards of offense in the second half as the Ichabods turned a 21-7 deficit into a 35-21 win over the RiverHawks on Saturday.
Washburn held the RiverHawks to a school-record-low -28 rushing yards in the game. The Ichabod record for an opponent low-rushing total is -32 set against Southwest Baptist in 1990.
Northeastern State scored first with a 2-yard touchdown run by Cody Busby after taking advantage of a pass interference penalty taking the lead with three minutes left to play in the first quarter.
Washburn tied the score on its ensuing drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Derek McGinnis to Bryce Chavis with 1:22 left to play in the first quarter.
The RiverHawks took a 14-7 lead on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Thor Long to Matthew Butler turning a sack into a scramble finding Butler for the score.
After the Ichabods had driven down into RiverHawk territory, Tony Newman picked off a Washburn pass and returned it 73-yard for a touchdown staking the RiverHawks (2-8, 2-8 MIAA) to a 21-7 lead with 4:45 to play in the first half.
In the first half the Ichabod defense limited the RiverHawks to 91 yards of offense on 35 plays while the Ichabods gained 148.
Brandon Bourbon opened the scoring for the Ichabods in the second half with a 2-yard touchdown plunge with 2:01 to play in the third quarter cutting the lead to 21-14.
Connor Crimmins caught a pass on the Ichabods' next drive tying the score at 21 on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 55-yard reception.
After an interception by Shay Wooten, Washburn (5-5, 5-5 MIAA) scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from McGinnis to Logan Lexow as the Ichabods would go up 28-21 with 8:58 left in the game.
The teams would trade punts, Hayden Groves broke off a 52-yard touchdown rush as the Ichabods would go ahead 35-21 with 2:15 to play.
The Ichabod defense held the RiverHawks to a school-record-low -28 rushing yards in the game and only 19 yards of offense in the second half leading to 110 total yards on 62 plays while the Ichabods recorded 401 yards on 80 plays.
The Ichabods recorded 10 tackles for loss for 51 yards and six sacks overall. Kingsley Ibeh led the Ichabods with three tackles for loss for 15 yards and two sacks for 11 yards. Cody Heiman had five tackles.
Bourbon finished with 131 yards on 25 carries and one score and Groves had 14 carries for 87 and a score as the Ichabods had 192 yards on the ground overall. 
Bryce Chavis had four catches for 45 yards and a score and Crimmins had two catches and a score. Will Hamilton added three catches for 47 yards.
McGinnis was 14 of 29 for 209 yards and three scores.

 A win for Washburn over Northwest Missouri would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 535-570-44 in their football history.
• move the Ichabods to 6-5 on the season.
• snap a 10-game winning streak by the Bearcats over the Ichabods making Washburn 7-28 all-time against Northwest Missouri.
• be the first win by the Ichabods over the Bearcats since a 31-28 win on Oct. 8, 2005 in Maryville and would be the first win in Topeka over Northwest Missouri since a 48-14 win on Oct. 8, 1994 snapping a 10-game losing streak in Topeka.
• be the first time the Ichabods have defeated the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. The Ichabods defeated a No. 2-ranked Pittsburg State squad on the road on Nov. 5, 2011 43-25.

 A loss for Washburn to Northwest Missouri would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 534-570-44 in their football history.
• be the 11th straight win by the Bearcats overall and the 11th straight win by the Bearcats in Topeka.

 Washburn Football History
•    Washburn is 534-569-44 (.484) in the 125th year of Ichabod football.
•    The Ichabods are ranked 15th in NCAA Division II history in wins.
•    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. 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
The Ichabods will open the 2016 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Northeastern State at Yager Stadium with a 6 p.m. start.