Opening Notes
•     The Washburn Ichabods will wrap up the road portion of their scheduled when they will face Northeastern State on Saturday in Tahlequah, Okla.
•    The RiverHawks are coached by former Washburn assistant Rob Robinson who is in his second season as Northeastern State's head coach. He has several members of his coaching staff who played and coached at Washburn. Robinson spent 12 seasons at Washburn including four seasons as the offensive coordinator.
•    Also on his coaching staff is special teams coordinator Rob Messinger who was a graduate assistant at Washburn from 2008-11.
•    Former Ichabod All-American quarterback Dane Simoneau is the RiverHawks' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Simoneau is the Ichabods' all-time leader in total offense, passing touchdowns, passing yards and 33 other school single-season, single-game and career records finishing in 2011. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at Washburn.
•    One other coach on the RiverHawks' staff has ties to Washburn as well. Defensive coordinator  Josh Lattimer is the son-in-law of Ichabod assistant men's basketball coach Dave Brown. Lattimer is married to Brown's daughter Nicole.
•     Washburn is 2-0 in games played in Tahlequah.
•     Washburn's last game in Tahlequah was a 48-3 win on Sept. 21, 2013 in which Rob Robinson was the offensive coordinator.
•    The Ichabods enter the game with a 4-5 record coming off a 47-21 loss to Emporia State and the RiverHawks are 2-7 after a 48-17 loss to Central Oklahoma.

 'Bods and Ends
•    Washburn is seventh in the MIAA in interceptions with 10 returning two of them for touchdowns. 
•    Washburn is 11th in the MIAA in penalties averaging 76.9 yards per game after being called for 77 penalties. Northeastern State is 12th in penalties recording 79.2 yards per game. Washburn opponents are averaging 55.0 yards per game in penalties which is eighth in the MIAA this season while RiverHawks opponents are averaging 63.1 yards per game in penalties which ranks fourth.
•    Washburn is fourth in the MIAA in third down conversions with a 40.0 percentage rate recording 64 first downs in 160 attempts while allowing opponents to move the chains 39.3 percent of the time ranking fifth converting 59 of 150 attempts. Northeastern State is 12th in the MIAA in third down conversions with a 27 percent success rate converting 35 of 128 attempts. Defensively the RiverHawks are ninth in opponent conversion rate at 40.5 percent.
•     The Ichabods have wore seven different uniform combinations in their nine games this season.
•    Washburn's four turnovers at Emporia State led to 20 points for the Hornets … this season the Ichabods have forced 17 turnovers into 35 points while opponents have forced  19 Ichabod turnovers into 46 points.

 Coaching Staffs
Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•    was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 
•    is 95-63 (.611) in his 14th season as the Ichabod head coach. 
•    is 77-53 (.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 95 wins.
•    is 3-0 against Northeastern State.

Northeastern State head coach Rob Robinson . . . 
•    is in his second season as the RiverHawks head coach.
•    was named the 19th head football coach in school history on Dec. 19, 2013. 
•    he owns a 2-17 all-time record at Northeastern State. 
•    spent the previous 12 years under Craig Schurig as a member of the Washburn Ichabod coaching staff, serving as the offensive coordinator for the last four seasons
•    directed the running backs from 2007-13 and coached the wide receivers from 2002-06
•    he served as the recruiting coordinator from 2002-10 and was the academic coordinator from 2010-13.
•    Robinson is the second former coordinator under Schurig's tutelage to become the head coach of another program, joining Fort Hays State's Chris Brown.

 Defensive Notes
•    Linebacker Cody Heiman leads the team with 62 tackles (28 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 60 tackles and his two interceptions (both against Fort Hays State) are 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. His three fumbles forced this season is tied for the MIAA lead.
•    Safety Peter Pfannenstiel is third on the team with 59 tackles and has 35 solo stops. 
•     Defensive end Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq has 57 tackles overall (22 solo) which is fourth on the team while his 9.0 tackles for loss for 24 yards leads the team. His 12 tackles against Missouri Southern was a career high.
•    Safety Shay Wooten is fifth on the Ichabods with 56 tackles (22 solo). He has recorded 38 tackles on rushing plays and 16 on passing plays.
•    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.
•    The Ichabods have 10 interceptions as Heiman, Steuber and Dwane Simmons all have two and Zach Franklin, Jamie Myers and Jordan Nelson all have one. 
•    Washburn has 43 pass breakups this season and they are led by Franklin's 12.
•    As a team the Ichabods are ranked seventh in the MIAA in scoring defense at 26.8 points per game and fifth in total defense allowing 387.6 yards per game.
•    On pass defense the Ichabods are ranked fifth in the MIAA allowing 214.0 yards per game while ranking fifth in rush defense at 163.6 yards per game.
•    Jalen Durham had a career-high five tackles against Emporia State last time.
•    Kingsley Ibeh tied a career-high with four tackles adding a sack against Emporia State.
•    Derrick McGreevy had a career-high four tackles against the Hornets.
•    Jordan Nelson tied a career high with six tackles against ESU with five solo stops.
•    Ardis Palmer had a career-high four tackles against ESU.
•    Austin Tillman had a career-high 1.5 sacks against ESU.
•    Zack Weekley had a career-high eight tackles against ESU.
•    Trevin Wiens recorded a career-high 10 tackles against ESU.

 Offensive Notes
•    Derek McGinnis has completed 51 percent of his passing attempts connecting on 164 of 321 passing attempts with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is averaging 229.0 yards per game passing … his 21 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 229.0 yards per game. His 321 attempts are fourth on the Ichabod single season list. He also is in the top 10 in the following categories: Completions (164 - 6th); passing yards (2,061 - 13th); touchdown passes (21 - 8th); yards per game (229 - 8th). 
•    Brandon Bourbon has 180 carries for the Ichabods for 789 yards and three score averaging 87.7 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry. He is sixth in the MIAA in rushing yards per game. His 26 carries against UCO was a career high.
•    Hayden Groves has 118 carries for 559 yards and ranks 12th in the MIAA with 62.1 yards per game rushing averaging 4.7 yards per carry … he has rushed for 1,383 yards at Washburn and has 2,129 all-purpose yards as an Ichabod. 
•    Bryce Chavis leads the team with 45 catches for 687 yards averaging 15.3 yards per catch with a team-high seven touchdowns. He is second in the MIAA in receiving yards and fifth in receptions per game with 5.1.  His seven touchdown receptions is tied for 15th on the Ichabod single season chart and his 5.25 receptions per game ranks eighth.
•    Connor Crimmins has 17 catches for 185 yards and two scores.
•    Anthony Daniels has 18 catches for 305 yards with three touchdowns averaging 33.9 yards per game.
•    Michael Lickteig had his first touchdown reception with an 8-yard catch against Central Oklahoma.
•    Mickeel Stewart rushed 16 times for a season-high against Missouri Western for 61 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 31 straight starts on the offensive line.
•    Washburn is seventh in the MIAA in scoring offense at 25.6 points per game.
•    The Ichabods are sixth in the MIAA in total offense with 399.4 yards per game.
•    Washburn is averaging 170.2 yards per game rushing which ranks fifth in the MIAA and the 229.2 yards per game passing is fifth in the MIAA.    
•    Will Hamilton and Riley Davis each had their first career touchdown receptions against Emporia State last time out.

 Ichabod Special Team Notes
•    Freshman Perry Schmiedeler connected on his first collegiate field goal attempt of 35 yards against Fort Hays State. He has 43 punts for 1,565 yards averaging 36.4 per punt. He is averaging 56.7 yards per kickoff attempt with three 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 9.9 yards per punt return on 13 attempts.
•    Hayden Groves has 17 kickoff returns for 390 yards averaging 22.9 per return. Zach Franklin is averaging 23.6 yards per attempt on 11 returns. 
•    Derrick McGreevy, Zack Weekley and Trevis Wiens each have seven special teams tackles  which lead the team.
•    Jarvis Harrod has three of Washburn's 11 tackles on punt coverage.
•    Hayden Groves had a career-high 130 kickoff return yards against Emporia State.

 Know the Foe
•    Northeastern State is 2-7 coming off a 48-17 loss to Central Oklahoma last time out.
•    Their two wins came over Nebraska-Kearney (31-14) and Missouri Southern (31-21) in back to back games in October.
•    The RiverHawks have been outscored 92 to 41 in the first quarter, 100 to 62 in the second quarter, 59 to 38 in the third quarter and 89 to 13 in the fourth quarter.
•    Offensively the RiverHawks average 294 yard per game allowing 456 per contest.
•    Joel Rockmore leads the team with 81.3 yards per game rushing and four touchdown rushes.
•    Kevin Pantastico is 103 of 219 with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions passing for 1,345 yards.
•    Garrett Powell leads the team with 35 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns averaging 54.0 yards per game.
•    Irving Steele has 105 tackles to lead the team adding 11.0 tackles for loss with four sacks.

 Series Facts with Northeastern State
Series Record: WU leads 4-1-0
Streak: WU has won the last three
First Meeting: WU 23-21 (09/26/1987) in Tahlequah
Last Meeting: WU 42-7 (11/08/2014) in Topeka
Last WU win: 42-7 (11/08/2014) in Topeka
Last NSU win: 35-30 (09/24/1988) in Topeka
Largest WU win: 48-3 (09/21/2013) in Tahlequah
Largest NSU win: 35-30 (09/24/1988) in Topeka   

 Series Notes with Northeastern State
• The Ichabods are 4-1 all-time against the RiverHawks and have won the last three in the series.
• Washburn won last season's game in Topeka 42-7 on Nov. 8, 2014.
• The RiverHawks lone win came in the second meeting in the series in a 35-30 win on Sept. 24, 1988 in Tahlequah.
• Washburn is 3-0 in games played in Topeka and 1-1 in games played in Tahlequah.

 Last Meeting with Northeastern State
(11/8/2014) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabod football team scored twice on special teams, once on defense and three times on offense scoring 34 unanswered points in a 42-7 win over Northeastern State on senior day in Yager Stadium. The RiverHawks had the opening possession and on the first play of the game Washburn's Calvin Kenney picked off a pass of a deflection by Shay Wooten as the Ichabods set up shop at the NSU 20 yard line. Three plays later Vershon Moore scored from 14 yards out placing Washburn up 6-0 and on the extra point the RiverHawks did not cover the swinging gate and Cody Heiman scored the two-point conversion staking Washburn to an 8-0 lead with 14:04 to play in the first quarter.
The teams would trade the next 10 drives before anyone would score when the RiverHawks scored on a touchdown play cutting Washburn's lead to 8-7 with 8:52 to play in the first half. However on the ensuing kickoff, the Ichabods used a reverse for a 100-yd touchdown return after Zach Franklin started the return at the goal line, Kameron Stewart took the ball on the handoff from Franklin at the 14 and returned it the remaining 86 yards for the touchdown.
Nether team would score until the Ichabods took advantage of a RiverHawk turnover when Terrance Dixon fumbled at the NSU 23 and Wooten scooped it and scored from 23 yards out putting Washburn up 21-7 with 4:33 to play in the half as the Ichabods took the two touchdown lead into the break.
The Ichabods added a 51-yard touchdown run by Vershon Moore midway through the third quarter putting the Ichabods up 28-7 and then on the RiverHawks' next drive, Brad Gourley blocked the NSU punt in the endzone and Terek Hawkins recovered it for the score stretching the Ichabod lead to 35-7.
Joel Piper hit Connor Crimmins from 18 yards out for a score with 4:13 to play in the game wrapping up the scoring and the 42-7 win over the RiverHawks.
Moore led the Ichabods with 122 yards and two scores on 20 carries finishing with 160 all-purpose yards adding 17 receiving yards on four catches and one punt return for 21.
Zeke Palmer was 11 of 24 for 79 yards in the game. Aaron Hummert recorded seven punts for 300 yards including a 79-yard punt in the first half.
Defensively the Ichabods were led by Trey Park and Alec Steuber who each had seven tackles with six solo stops. Parker added two sacks for 12 yards and a fumble recovery and Steuber had a sack with two tackles for loss. Austin Tillman had five solo stops and an interception for 63 yards.
Washburn had 13 first downs compared to 10 for the RiverHawks as the teams combined for 455 yards with Washburn recording 245 in the game. The teams had 22 penalties in the game for 212 yards. The Ichabods finished with 148 yards rushing while holding the RiverHawks to 72. Washburn finished with 97 yards passing while NSU gained 138.

 Last time out for Northeastern State
(11/1/2015) TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State football team lost a 48-17 decision to Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at Doc Wadley Stadium.
The game was Homecoming for the RiverHawks, who fell to 2-7 on the season and 2-7 in the MIAA. The Bronchos improved to 4-5 overall and 4-5 in the league.
Senior running back Joel Rockmore broke a school record for the second-straight week. Last week he became NSU's all-time leader in career all-purpose yards, and he extended that mark to 4,240 yards. He tallied 117 kick returns yards against the Bronchos and is also now NSU's all-time leader in career kick-return yards (1,100). He passed NSU's all-time mark of 1,027 that was held by Wendell Barnett (1988-91).
UCO struck first Saturday when Seth Hiddink connected on a 39-yard field goal on the Bronchos' second possession.
NSU answered right back when junior kicker Eddie Garcia hit a season-long 36-yard try of his own, but Clay McKenzie scored the first of his three rushing touchdowns less than a minute later to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.
Hiddink hit a second field goal early in the second quarter, but the RiverHawks would cut the deficit to 13-10 when junior QB Kevin Pantastico found junior wide receiver Jamari Pope for a 19-yard score 6:28 before halftime.
McKenzie scored another rushing TD with 1:56 left in the opening half to open up a 10-point lead, and the Bronchos went on to outscore NSU 28-7 in the final two quarters.
Rockmore finished the day with 213 all-purpose yards (117 kick return, 88 rush, eight receive). Junior wide receiver Matthew Butler had two receptions for 61 yards and a score, while both Pantastico and redshirt freshman quarterback Blayne Armstrong finished with 59 yards passing and one TD.
T.J. Eckert led the UCO passing attack with 140 yards on 13-of-19 passing. He had one passing TD and he threw two interceptions (both to junior DB Darian Morris). McKenzie ran the ball 33 times for 248 yards and three TD's.

 Last time out for Washburn
(11/1/2015) EMPORIA, Kan. -- The No. 17-ranked Emporia State Hornets scored the first 30 points of the game and the Ichabods could not recover in a 47-21 loss on Saturday at Welch Stadium. 
The Hornets scored 13 points in the first quarter outgaining the Ichabods 242 to 18 running 33 plays compared to nine for the Ichabods. After increasing its lead to 30-0 with 6:40 to play in the first half, Washburn got on the board on its next possession on a 15-yard touchdown run by Hayden Groves trimming the Hornet lead to 30-7.
ESU (8-1, 8-1 MIAA) would score prior to the end of the first half going up 37-7 as the Hornets took the lead into the break.
In the second half the Ichabods held the Hornets to three and out on their first three possessions of the half and Will Hamilton pulled down a 7-yard touchdown reception from Derek McGinnis with 10:12 to play in the third quarter capping a 3-play, 48-yard drive in 48 seconds.
ESU added a touchdown and a field goal going up 47-14 before Riley Davis pulled in a 26-yard touchdown reception wrapping up the scoring for both teams with the Hornets holding a 47-21 lead.
It was the 112th meeting in the series with the Hornets now holding a 54-52-6 lead in the series.
Washburn (4-5, 4-5 MIAA) was outgained 445 to 291 in the game with the Hornets collecting 307 yards through the air compared to the Ichabods' 120 passing yards. Washburn outgained the Hornets 171 to 138 in rushing yards.
Brandon Bourbon had 106 yards rushing on 22 carries and Groves finished with 58 yards on 14 carries.
McGinnis was 14 of 28 with two interceptions and two touchdown passes.
Hamilton, Jake Horner and Bryce Chavis each had three catches with Hamilton leading the Ichabods with 47 yards and one score.
Defensively, Trevin Wiens had a career-high 10 tackles while Shay Wooten, Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq and Zack Weekley each had eight tackles.

 A win for Washburn over Northeastern State would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 534-570-44 in their football history.
• move the Ichabods to 5-5 on the season and in the MIAA.
• move the Ichabods to 5-1 all-time against the RiverHawks.
• be the fourth-straight win over the RiverHawks.

 A loss for Washburn to Northeastern State would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 533-569-44 in their football history.
• be the first win by the RiverHawks over the Ichabods since Sept. 24, 1988 in a 35-30 win in Tahlequah.
• drop the Ichabods to 4-2 all-time against Northeastern State.

 Washburn Football History
•    Washburn is 533-569-44 (.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
On Nov. 14 to take on Northwest Missouri in Yager Stadium for senior day festivities in the regular season finale.