Opening Notes
•     The Washburn Ichabods will open their 125th season of football on Sept. 3 when they travel to St. Charles, Mo., to face Lindenwood at 7 p.m. in a Thursday night opener.
•     Washburn is 74-44-6 all-time in season openers and the Ichabods have gone 52-21-4 when their opening game was played at home.
•      Washburn has won its last six of its last seven season openers with the loss coming last season to Lindenwood 44-38 in Topeka on Sept. 4.
•     In road openers, Washburn is 21-23-2 all-time and have won its last six road openers dating back to a 28-0 win over Langston on Sept. 6, 2003. The last season-opening road loss for the Ichabods was on Sept. 1, 2001 at Wisconsin-LaCrosse in a 37-18 loss.
•    The Ichabods are coming off a 4-7 season.

 'Bods and Ends
•    The Ichabods return 28 percent of their rushing yards from last season with 413 of 1,432 yards overall coming back.
•    For the first time since the 1966 season, the Ichabods will have a quarterback under center who did not take any snaps the year before.
•    This season, Derek McGinnis is slated to start for the Ichabods after joining the team for spring practice after transferring from North Dakota State.
•    Washburn returns 41 percent (85 of 207) of its receptions from last season.
•    The Ichabods return a total of 63 percent of their tackles from last season along with 92 percent of their sacks (24 of 26) and 76 percent (57 of 75) of their tackles for loss coming back from 2014.
•    Washburn won seven of 11 coin tosses in 2014.
•    Washburn scored 30 points on their first drive of the game and opponents scored 21 in 2014.
•    In the second half of games in 2014, Washburn scored 10 points in its first drive of the stanza and opponents scored 31 points.
•    The Ichabods had 32 scoring drives overall last season adding two punt block touchdowns along with a punt return, a kickoff return and a fumble return for a touchdown.
•    Ichabod opponents had 47 touchdown drives for scores adding a kickoff return for a score along with four interception returns for touchdowns and a fumble return for a score.
•    Washburn was 24 of 53 (56 percent) in scoring opportunities in its opponents redzone scoring 17 touchdowns adding seven field goals.
•    Ichabod opponents scored 34 of 42 times (81 percent) once reaching Washburn's redzone scoring 27 touchdowns and seven field goals.

 Coaching Staffs
Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•    was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 
•    is 91-58 (.611) in his 14th season as the Ichabod head coach. 
•    is 73-48 (.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 91 wins.
•    is 2-1 against Lindenwood all-time.

Lindenwood head coach Patrick Ross . . . 
•    is 101-48 overall in his 14th season as a head coach.
•    is 87-41 in his 11th season at Lindenwood.
•    was 14-7 at Ottawa prior to moving to Lindenwood for the 2004 season.
•    won three Heart of America Championships at Lindenwood.
•    coached the Lions to five NAIA national playoff appearances reaching the championship game in 2009.
•    is 1-2 against Washburn.

 Defensive Notes
•    The Washburn Ichabod defense will look to improve on its fourth-ranked total defensive unit in the MIAA from last season after allowing 359 yards per game while having the seventh-ranked scoring defense in the conference allowing 29.6 points per game. 
•    The Ichabods will need to improve on its rush defense after allowing 180 yards per game by opponents on the ground, which was ninth the in MIAA last season while continuing to keep their pass defense at 179 yards per game, which was third in the conference.
•    Overall the Ichabods return eight starters on the defensive side of the ball and overall nine who saw action at Washburn last season.
•    Returning honorable mention all-MIAA selection sophomore Trey Parker after recording 28 tackles with 20 solo stops adding five tackles for loss and four sacks … had a career-high seven tackles with six solo stops against Northeastern State adding two sacks and a forced fumble against the RiverHawks.
•     Junior defensive end Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq returns as one of three starting defensive linemen who are back from last season after finishing fourth on the team with 47 tackles while leading the Ichabods with 9.5 tackles for loss for 30 yards and tying for the team lead with 4.5 sacks.
•    Senior defensive end Spencer Matthews is the third of the three returners up front   after playing in 10 games recording 28 tackles with 11 solo stops and 17 assisted tackles. His nine tackles for loss was second on the team and his 32 yards from those tackles for loss led the team and his 4.5 sacks were tied for the team lead.
•    The Ichabods return both starting inside linebackers from last season in junior Cody Heiman and senior Alec Steuber. Heiman started 11 games at an inside linebacker position and finished third on the team with 53 total tackles with 30 solo stops while Steuber finished fourth on the team with 47 tackles adding 30 solo stops making six starts playing in 11 games.
•    The Ichabods return four of five players in the defensive backfield in seniors Jaime Myers and Shay Wooten along with sophomore Peter Pfannenstiel and junior Zach Franklin. Myers made eight appearances making four starts and recorded 30 tackles with 18 solo stops adding four tackles for loss for 11 yards. Wooten started 11 games at a safety position finishing second on the team with 69 tackles with 28 solo stops adding 7.5 tackles for loss for 27 yards and two sacks for 15 yards. Pfannenstiel made seven starts playing in all 11 games recording 45 tackles with 27 solo stops including a career-high eight tackles at Nebraska-Kearney. Franklin started 11 games at cornerback recording 23 solo stops and four pass break ups.
•    New to the group will be redshirt freshman Dwayne Simmons who joined the Ichabods for spring practice and junior transfer Cedric Vinson along with senior Jarvis Harrod all at cornerback with Simmons earning nod in the starting line up for the opener.

 Offensive Notes
•    The Washburn Ichabod offense averaged 20.7 points per game output and the 345 yards per game in total offense entering the 2015 season.
•    Overall the Ichabods return 29 percent of their rushing yards, 30 percent of their rushing attempts and 41 percent of their receptions and 43 percent of their receiving yards. 
•    Second team all-MIAA pick in junior Michael Miller is moving from right tackle to left tackle this season after starting all 11 games last season.
•    Also returning up front is senior center Cameron Brown and sophomore right guard Bob Marco. Brown and Marco each started all 11 games last season.
•    Newcomers to the Ichabod offensive line include junior transfer Zac Gillis at left guard and junior transfer Saul Monteon at right tackle.
•    Senior Connor Crimmins returns at one wide receiver spot having played in 33  games adding 46 catches for 654 yards. He wrapped up his Ichabod baseball career last season earning honorable mention all-MIAA as a senior starting 53 games with a .319 batting average hitting a team-high 14 doubles collecting 58 hits overall finishing his career fifth on the all-time doubles chart.
• Senior wide receiver Jordan Hart has appeared in 26 games making four starts recording 59 catches for 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns averaging 17.2 yards per reception in his career at Washburn.
•    Slated to start at running back for the Ichabods is senior transfer Brandon Bourbon. Bourbon grew up less than 80 miles from Lindenwood in Potosi, Mo., and joined the Ichabods from Kansas. He finished his KU career with 422 yards and four touchdowns on 81 carries. Bourbon was heavily recruited out of Potosi, Mo., rushing for a school-record 2,531 yards and 34 touchdowns on 196 carries as a senior. He originally committed to Stanford before deciding on Kansas.
•    Senior fullback Sam Eickhoff will return and has made 27 appearances making 14 starts recording nine starts as a junior.

 Ichabod Special Team Notes
•    The Ichabods will have new faces enter the 2015 season at both the placekicker and punter positions.
•    Entering the opener, true freshman Perry Schmiedeler is slated to handle both the punting and placekicking duties.
•    The Ichabods finished second in the MIAA in 2014 in average return with a 22.3 yard per attempt average. Senior Jaime Myers had 21 returns for 487 yards averaging 23.2 yards per returns and junior Zach Franklin had 17 returns for 365 yards averaging 21.5 yards per return.
•    Washburn finished second in the league in punt return average as well but will need to replace Vershon Moore who was a first team all-MIAA pick as a returner last season.
•    Myers had four punt returns for 11 yards last season and Jarvis Harrod had one fair catch as the only two Ichabods returning with punt return experience.

 Know the Foe
•    Lindenwood was 2-9 last season including a win over the Ichabods in the 2014 season opener in Topeka in a 44-38 win.
•    Lindenwood received 34 points in the MIAA coaches poll, finishing just behind Nebraska-Kearney by five points and having twice as many as Missouri Southern. 
•    In the media poll, Lindenwood had 122 points, finishing shy of Missouri Southern. 
•    Lindenwood returns eight starters on offense and seven starters on defense. The top returner on either side of the ball is linebacker Connor Harris, a 2014 All-American after averaging nearly 14 tackles a game last season. 
•    On offense, an experience squad could receive a boost from two NCAA Division I FBS transfers who will be fighting for playing time in quarterback Jesse Scroggins (Arizona) and running back Rob Standard (Iowa State).

 Series Notes with Lindenwood
Series Record: WU leads 2-1-0
Streaks: LWU won the last one
First Meeting: WU 19-16 (10/20/2012) in St. Charles, Mo.
Last Meeting: LWU 44-38 (9/4/2014) in Topeka
Last WU win: 44-35 (10/26/2013) in Topeka
Last LWU win: 44-38 (9/4/2014) in Topeka
Largest WU win: 44-35 (10/26/2013) in Topeka
Largest LWU win: 44-38 (9/4/2014) in Topeka

 Last Meeting with Lindenwood
(9/4/2014) TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods scored the first 17 points of the game but lost in a shootout falling 44-38 to Lindenwood on Thursday night in Yager Stadium.
After deferring the opening kickoff, the Ichabods forced a three-and-out and then Jarvis Harrod blocked the Lions' punt and Peter Pfannenstiel picked it up and ran 26 yards for the score. Washburn forced another punt on the Lions and next drive and needed seven plays to go up 14-0 after Mitch Buhler connected with DaJuan Beard for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 11 minutes to play in the first quarter.
The two teams traded drives and Justin Linn hit a 26-yard field goal with 5:04 to play in the frame staking the Ichabods to a 17-0 lead. The Lions scored their first points when Marvin Byrd scored from five yards out cutting the lead to 17-7. Washburn pushed the lead back to 17 after Buhler and Beard hooked up again for a touchdown pass for 24 yards just before the end of the quarter.
The Lions cut the lead to 10 at 24-14 on their first drive of the second quarter and then trimmed it to three at 24-21 with 3:25 to play in the first half. The Lions would go on to tie the score at 24 on a 40-yard field goal.
The Ichabods regained the lead on another Buhler to Beard connection on a 3-yard strike with 5:27 to play in the third quarter. The Lions needed on a 97-yard kickoff return by Lavorrie Johnson. The Lions took the lead at 37-31 after an Ichabod turnover with just over a minute to play in the third quarter.
Washburn regained the lead on a 14-yard pass from Buhler to Connor Crimmins at 38-37 with 14:09 to play in the game. However the Lions used a 13-play, 79-yard drive to go up 44-38 with 8:13 to play as the Ichabods were unable to retake the lead.
Vershon Moore led the Ichabods with 108 rushing yards and Buhler finshed 26 for 49 with four touchdown passes. Crimmins had seven catches for 90 yards and Beard finished with six catches for 57 yards and three scores.
Defensively Washburn was led by Cody Heiman and Zach Franklin who head had nine tackles. Calvin Kenney had seven adding an interception and Mark Kolmer had seven tackles as well.
As a team Washburn outgained the Lions 451 to 319 recording 26 first downs compared to 18 for the Lions. The Lions finished with 13 points of Ichabod turnovers turning out to be the difference in the game.

 Last time out for Lindenwood
(11/15/2014) Lindenwood recorded 269 rushing yards as they picked up a victory over Northeastern State on the road. LWU finished with 454 yards of total offense as they finish with a 2-9 record on the season.
For the Lions Connor Harris carried the ball 11 times for 188 yards and four touchdowns. Graham Lindman was 20 of 28 for 185 yards and one touchdown hitting Jared Rayford for the score. On the defensive side of the ball Harris had a team high 14 tackles including two sacks.
For the RiverHawks Kevin Pantastico was 23 of 43 for 250 yards and one touchdown. Prince McJunkins caught four passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. On defense Kenneth Davis led the way with 11 tackles and Justin Carlisle picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown.

 Last time out for Washburn
(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 builiding 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. 

 A win for Washburn over Lindenwood would . . .
• lift the Ichabods to 530-565-44 in their football history.
• be the second-straight win for the Ichabods over the Lions in St. Charles.
• put the Ichabods up 3-1 all-time in the series.
• improve the Ichabods to 74-45-6 all-time in season openers.

 A loss for Washburn to Lindenwood would . . .
• drop the Ichabods to 529-566-44 in their football history.
• be the second-straight loss to Lindenwood.
• drop the Ichabods to 1-1 all-time in St. Charles.
• make the Ichabods 73-46-6 all-time in season openers.
• make the Ichabods 2-2 all-time against the Lions.

 Washburn Football History
•    Washburn is 529-565-44 (.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 fell did not receive any votes in the preseason poll which was released last week. 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 a total of 15 times. 

 Up Next
The Washburn Ichabods will open the 2015 home slate on Thursday, Sept. 10 in Yager Stadium when they will host Nebraska-Kearney at 6 p.m.