•      The Washburn Ichabods are back in Yager Stadium on Saturday when they will play host to Fort Hays State with a 1 p.m. kickoff in Topeka.
•       The Ichabods (4-2, 4-2 MIAA) are coming off a 45-13 win over Missouri Southern scoring 35 points in the second half and forcing seven Lion turnovers including a school-record-tying six interceptions.
•      The Tigers, who received votes in this week's AFCA top 25 coaches poll and were ranked No. 23 in the d2football.com poll, rolled up 54 points in a 54-41 win over Pittsburg State on the road and the most points scored against the Gorillas in the series history between the two teams improving to 5-1 on the season.
•      The Ichabods lead the all-time series 43-24-3 over the Tigers and have won 10 of the last 12 and six of the last seven after the Tigers broke the Ichabods' six-game winning streak with a 35-30 win in Hays last season on Oct. 3.
•      The Ichabods have not lost to the Tigers in Topeka since a Oct. 26, 1985, 30-0 loss to FHSU - since then the Ichabods have won the last nine in a row. The Tigers did have a forfeit win on Nov. 7, 1987 after a 49-12 Ichabod win, but Washburn used several illegal players resulting in the forfeit win for the Tigers.
•     Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown was an assistant at Washburn as the defensive coordinator for nine years and the Tigers' defensive coordinator Cooper Harris spent 10 seasons as a coach at Washburn including the last as defensive coordinator.
•    The Tigers also have former Ichabod defensive back Steven Dudley on their coaching staff.
•      Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig picked up career win No. 100 at Washburn in the win over Missouri Southern last time out joining Chuck Broyles (Pittsburg State - 198), Mel Tjeerdsma (Northwest Missouri - 183),  Jerry Partridge (Missouri Western - 148) and Charlie Finley (Missouri-Rolla/S&T - 100) as the only MIAA coaches to win at least 100 games as members of the MIAA.
•      The Ichabods have had 60 plays of longer than 20 yards this season including 15 more than 40 yards.
•  On the ground, the Ichabods are averaging 5.1 yards per carry on first down, 5.0 yards per carry on second down and 3.8 yards per carry on third down … on fourth down the Ichabods are averaging -3.0 yards per carry on three attempts.
•      When passing, Washburn is 28 of 60 on first down, 27 of 58 on second down, 34 of 79 on third down and 4 of 8 on fourth down.
•      The Ichabods are last in the MIAA in penalties with 54 for 506 yards averaging 84.3 yards per game … Washburn is 10th in opponent penalties at 40 for an average of 54.2 yards per game.
•      The Ichabods had two 100-yard rushers against Missouri Southern as Wesley Collins (122) and Mickeel Stewart (108) each went over the century mark … it was only the seventh time in school history the Ichabods had two 100+ yard rushers in a game and it was the first time since Oct. 29, 2011 when Justin Cooper (111) and Sean McPherson (108) went over the mark against Fort Hays State.
•      Cody Heiman's 60-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Missouri Southern was the longest since Travis Smith recorded one for 62 yards at Fort Hays State on Sept. 12, 1998.
•      The school-record six interceptions were the most by an Ichabod team since recording four against Fort Hays State on Sept. 14, 2013.
  Washburn Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•      was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
•      is 100-66(.611) in his 15th season as the Ichabod head coach.
•      is 82-56 (.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 football coach with 100 wins.
•      is 9-3 against Fort Hays State.
 
Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown . . .
•    is in his sixth season as head coach at Fort Hays State. 
•     has compiled a 35-27 (.564) record leading the Tigers.
•    was a three-time All-America free safety for the Pittsburg State from 1993-95, came to FHSU after serving as defensive coordinator at for the Ichabods from 2002-10.
•    is 1-4 against Washburn.
  •      This season, a different Ichabod senior will be wearing the No. 9 jersey which was worn last season by Brandon Bourbon, who passed away earlier this summer.
•       In the opening game against Northeastern State, Mickeel Stewart rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown.
•       Bryce Chavis wore No. 9 against Northwest Missouri.
•       Against Lindenwood, James Brania-Hopp wore No. 9 and had one catch for 25 yards and a tackle on special teams.
•      Long-snapper Zach Downing wore No. 9 this past week and recorded a tackle on special teams.
•      Against Pitt State, quarterback Derek McGinnis wore No. 9 and passed for 260 yards and two touchdowns.
•      Anthony Daniels, Jr. wore No. 9 against Missouri Southern and had one catch.
•      Saul Monteon will wear No. 9 against Fort Hays State.       
  •      Cody Heiman leads the team with 51 tackles with 24 solo stops adding 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks with an interception and seven passes defended adding a 60-yard fumble recovery against Missouri Southern for a touchdown … he went over the 200-career tackle mark against Missouri Southern and now has 201 at Washburn …Heiman is eighth in the MIAA in tackles.
•      Austin Tillman is second on the team with 49 tackles recording a career-high 13 against the Lopers earlier this season.
•  Spenser Matthews leads the Ichabods with 6.5  tackles for loss for 19 yards and has 3.0  sacks … he is ranked seventh in the MIAA in tackles for loss and he is fourth in sacks at 3.0 total.
•  The Ichabods have the third-best total defense in the league allowing 372.7 yards per game … Northwest Missouri leads the league with 228.2 yards per game and Missouri Western is second allowing 359.3 yards per game … Fort Hays State defense is fourth in the MIAA allowing 374.8 yards per game.
•      Washburn is third in the league in rush defense allowing 119.8 yards per game trailing Northwest Missouri (67.8 ypg)  and Missouri Western (103.0 ypg) … Fort Hays State is fifth in the MIAA in rush defense allowing 135.8 yards per game.
•  The Ichabods are fourth in the league in sacks with 15 for 61 yards … Fort Hays State leads the league with 21 sacks … Washburn is fourth in sacks allowed with 10 for 63 yards.
•      Corey Ballentine and Trevin Wiens tied career-highs with two interceptions against Missouri Southern and Ballentine added a career-high eight tackles as well.
•      Keaton Cofield recorded his first career interception against Missouri Southern.
•      Jalen Durham and Trey Merritt tied a career-high with five tackles against Missouri Southern.
•      Heath Tucker scored his first Washburn career touchdowns with a 47-yard interception return for a score adding three tackles.
  •      Mickeel Stewart is fifth in the MIAA in rushing averaging 62.5 yards per game and 10th in the MIAA in scoring averaging 7.0 ppg … he had a career-high 21 rushes for a career-high 108 yards against Missouri Southern last time out.
•      Jake Horner is ranked fourth in the MIAA in receiving averaging 79.6 yards per game.
•       Derek McGinnis went over the 3,000-yard  career passing mark against Lindenwood … he has 3,698 yards … which is ninth on the all-time passing chart at Washburn …he needs 143 yards to move into eighth all-time … his 36 touchdown passes are fifth all-time on the Ichabod chart.
•      Bryce Chavis recorded two touchdowns for the third time in his career against Lindenwood with the second one coming on a 25-yard rushing touchdown … he has 966 career receiving yards and 64 catches.
•      The Ichabods are fifth in scoring offense at 33.0 ppg in the MIAA rankings and sixth in total offense at 422.8 yards per game.
•      Washburn has the third-best rushing offense in the league at 182.8 yards per game and they are ranked 10th in passing offense at 240.0 yards per game.
•      Wesley Collins had a career-high 122 rushing yards on 15 carries scoring two touchdowns last time out against Missouri Southern.
  •  Perry Schmiedeler is second in the MIAA in kick scoring at 7.7 points per game and ranked sixth overall in the MIAA in scoring.
•      Schmiedeler is fourth in the MIAA in punting with a 41.2 ypg average.
•      Schmiedeler set a career-high with six extra points against Missouri Southern … his 82 career extra points is fifth on the all-time chart at Washburn.
•      Kenyatte Harris, Jr., is ranked seventh in the MIAA in punt returns averaging 4.2 yards on 10 returns.
•      Chris McGee, Jr., is ranked 14th in kickoff returns with a 17.9 yard per return average on 15 attempts … his 15 returns is tied for the league lead.
  •      Fort Hays State is 5-1 this season after beating Pittsburg State 54-41 in Pittsburg last time out.
•      Quarterback Jacob Mezera threw for 446 yards on 31 of 38 passing adding a total of 508 yards in total offense rushing for 62 yards against the Gorillas accounting for six touchdowns passing for five in the win.
•      Shaquille Cooper leads the team with 67.3 yards per game on the ground on 78 attempts scoring one touchdowns … Malik Thomas has scored five touchdowns on 43 carries.
•      Tyler Bacon has a team-high 29 catches for 279 yards … Charles Tigner and Cooper each have three touchdown receptions.
•      Jose Delgado had a team-high 63 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss … Sie Doe, Jr., has 40 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss for 50 yards adding nine sacks for 46 yards - which both leading the MIAA.
•      Overall the Tigers are averaging 407.8 yards per game allowing 374.8 … they are rushing for 164 yards per game while giving up 136 yards per contest and through the air, they are passing for 244 yards per game giving up 239 per contest.
  •      Series Record: WU leads 43-24-3
•      Streak: FHSU won the last one
•      First Meeting: WU 7-6 (11/27/1919) in Hays
•      Last Meeting: FHSU 35-30 (10/03/2014) in Hays
•      Last WU win: 27-24 (ot) (10/04/2014) in Topeka
•      Last FHSU win: 35-30 (10/03/2014) in Hays
•      Largest WU win: 46-0 (11/9/1963) in Topeka
•      Largest FSHU win: 35-0 (10/14/1967) in Topeka        
  (10/3/2015) HAYS, Kan. -- Trailing by 13 entering the fourth quarter, Washburn's comeback came up short in a 35-30 loss to Fort Hays State snapping the Ichabods' seven-game winning streak over the Tigers.
With 8:05 remaining in the game, Hayden Groves scored on a 3-yard run capping a 12-play drive pulling the Ichabods (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) within 35-24.
After forcing a Tiger punt, the Ichabods scored again to cut the margin to five at 35-30 with 5:22 to play in the game.
Again the defense held and Washburn took over after a Fort Hays State punt at its own 20 and drove down to the Ichabod 41, but the pass on fourth down fell incomplete wrapping up the win for the Tigers.
To start the game the Tigers drove 82 yards on nine plays to take the 7-0 lead.
Washburn got on the board on a 48-yard pick six by Alec Steuber with the first of his two interceptions on the day. His pick tied the score with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter.
The Tigers would score the next 14 points to go up 21-7 with 7:18 to play in the first half.
Perry Schmiedeler connected on a 35-yard field goal with 5:16 to play in the half cutting the lead to 21-10 to play. After another Tiger score, Washburn's Hayden Grove scored on a 39-yard pass play from Derek McGinnis with 22 seconds cutting the lead to 28-17.
In the third, the Tigers scored to go up 35-17 for the only score of the third quarter.
The teams combined for 921 total yards as the Ichabods finished with 455 while the Tigers gained 466 yards.
Groves finished with 87 yards on 17 carries and one score on the ground. McGinnis finished 26 for 45 for 280 yards and one score. Groves finished with 267 all-purpose yards gaining 87 on the ground, 72 receiving on seven catches and 108 on kickoff returns. His total yards was fifth on the all-purpose yard single game chart.
Shay Wooten led the Ichabods with eight tackles and Steuber had seven tackles with five solo stops and two interceptions. He became the first Ichabod to record two interceptions in a game since Willie Williams had two at Nebraska-Kearney on Sept. 5, 2013.
  (10/8/2016) PITTSBURG, Kan. – After playing spoiler two years ago in Pittsburg, Fort Hays State played the role again on Saturday (Oct. 8) in an impressive 54-41 win at Pittsburg State. The 54 points were the most scored by the Tigers against the Gorillas in the all-time series. The Tigers improved to 5-1 overall and remained in a tie for second place in the MIAA, while the Gorillas dropped to 4-2.
The Tigers went into Carnie Smith Stadium in 2014 and defeated a then No. 8 ranked Gorilla team 7-6 in a defensive battle in front of over 11,000 fans. Saturday was the opposite as plenty of offense was on display with FHSU and PSU combining for 95 points and 1,102 total yards. The Tigers claimed their second straight victory in Pittsburg, a feat it had not accomplished since 1970 and 1972, and spoiled PSU Homecoming in front of 10,238 fans this time.
Jacob Mezera had a huge afternoon for the Tigers, throwing for 446 yards on 31-of-38 passing. He racked up a new school record 508 yards of total offense by adding a team-high 62 rushing yards. He broke the old mark of 477. Mezera had a hand in six touchdowns, tying the school record for passing touchdowns with five, while adding one score on the ground.
The teams traded blows throughout the first half. FHSU scored first with a Brandon Brown 19-yard field goal, but PSU responded with the game's first touchdown at the 7:32 mark of the first quarter.
The Tigers took the lead back, 10-7, after a Sie Doe, Jr., sack (his ninth of the season) and forced fumble set up a 43-yard touchdown strike from Jacob Mezera to Charles Tigner with just over four minutes to go in the opening quarter. That would be first of touchdown onslaught from Mezera.
Pittsburg State took the lead back on another touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but the Tigers continued to have an answer. FHSU marched 78 yards on 10 plays with Mezera finding Kenneth Iheme on a 14-yard touchdown pass to take the lead again, 17-14, early in the second quarter. The Gorillas knotted the score at 17-17 with a 27-yard field goal at the 7:22 mark.
Fort Hays State pushed back into the lead, 24-17, with another Mezera to Tigner 43-yard touchdown pass at the 5:43 mark of the second quarter. The Gorillas tacked on another field goal from 39 yards out to make a halftime score of 24-20 in favor of FHSU. At the half, Mezera already had 304 yards passing.
The Tigers kept their foot on the gas pedal in the third quarter, while holding the Gorillas scoreless for the first 13 minutes of the first half. An 8-yard touchdown pass to Iheme and a 24-yard touchdown strike to Shaquille Cooper pushed the Tiger lead to 38-20 and gave Mezera a share of the single-game passing touchdown record at FHSU.
A Gorilla touchdown at the 2:01 mark of the third quarter sliced the lead back to 11, but Mezera ran for a 9-yard touchdown just five seconds into the fourth quarter to push the lead back to 18 at 45-27. A Brown 38-yard field goal at 13:40 pushed the lead out to 21, the largest of the game for FHSU and PSU would try to rally late, but the lead was too much to overcome.
The Gorillas had touchdowns to cut the lead to 14 and 10, but the Tigers countered each push with Brown field goals from 37 and a season-long 49 yards to create the eventual 13-point final spread of 54-41. Brown was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals and 6-of-6 on extra points. The 49-yard field goal tied the seventh longest in school history.
The Tigers racked up 595 yards of total offense, their most in a game since the 2013 season finale against Nebraska-Kearney when they had 711. Pittsburg State also broke the 500 mark, producing 507. Even though they surrendered 507 yards, the Tiger defense still made several key defensive plays to remain in winning position. Raheeme Dumas had two interceptions and Sheldon Schmidt had two sacks, while Jose Delgado led the team in tackles with nine.
Tigner had a huge game for the second straight week, producing 179 all-purpose yards. He had 160 receiving yards on eight receptions, averaging 20 yards per catch with two touchdowns, while adding 19 return yards. Cooper added 138 all-purpose yards with 98 receiving and 40 rushing yards. Iheme had 112 all-purpose yards with 47 rushing, 22 receiving, and 43 return yards. Mezera spread the ball around to nine different Tiger receivers that combined for the 31 receptions in the game.
Mezera came up just 21 yards shy of the single-game passing yards record at FHSU. Robert Long still holds the record of 467, set in 1985. The 446 yards was third most on the all-time list at FHSU as Long also holds the second-highest performance with 464 yards, also in 1985.
  (10/8/2106) JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabod defense picked off a school-record six Missouri Southern passes and head coach Craig Schurig picked up career win No. 100 as the Ichabods ruined the Lions' homecoming in a 45-13 win.
Washburn (4-2, 4-2 MIAA) scored on its first possession of the game capping a nine-play, 59-yard drive as Perry Schmiedeler connected on a 28-yard field goal 3:19 into the game.
Neither team would score until Heath Tucker picked off Brayden Scott for his first career interception and returned it 47 yards for a score with 49 seconds left in the first half staking Washburn to a 10-0 lead entering the halftime break.
After trading punts to open the second half, the Lions drove down to the Ichabod 10, but Trevin Wiens picked off the Lions for their sixth interception of the day. Washburn came back and converted it into a score when Wesley Collins finished off a 12-play, 94-yard drive putting Washburn up 17-0 with 3:39 left in the third quarter with his first touchdown rush of his collegiate career.
On the Ichabods' next drive, Washburn needed only 55 seconds and three plays to go 49 yards going up 24-0 when Collins scored again on a 4-yard touchdown run.
Back to back scores by the Lions cut the lead to 24-13 with 8:56 to play in the game.
Washburn ending the Lions' scoring run when Mickeel Stewart scored from 2-yards out converting a pair of long passes with 7:08 to play in the game as the Ichabods would go up 31-13.
After a Lions score was called back because of a penalty, Missouri Southern fumbled on the next play and Cody Heiman scooped it up and returned it 60 yards for the Ichabods' second defensive score of the day with 6:06 to play in the game expanding the Washburn lead to 38-13.
With 3:13 to play in the game after the Lions threw their sixth interception of the game, Kenyatte Harris, Jr., scored on a run up the middle finishing off a 40-yard drive as Washburn would go up 45-13.
Washburn's six interceptions tied a school record. Washburn picked off six passes against Missouri Western in games in 1983 and 1974 and a game against Fort Hays State in 1975.
Heiman and Wiens each had 10 tackles to lead the Ichabods while Wiens added two interceptions and two break ups while Heiman had the 60-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown adding a 1/2 sack in the process.
Corey Ballentine also recorded two interceptions adding eight tackles and Austin Tillman had eight tackles as well.
Collins and Stewart each finished over the 100-yard mark as Collins had 15 carries for 122 yards and two scores while Stewart had 21 carries for 108 yards and one score.
Derek McGinnis had 213 yards passing completing 12 of 25 passes throwing to eight different receivers led by Bryce Chavis' three catches for 57 yards and Jake Horner had three grabs for 50 yards.
Washburn finished with 494 yards in total offense compared to 338 for the Lions and outgained them 281 to 100 on the ground.
  •      lift the Ichabods to 539-573-44 in their football history.
•      move the Ichabods to 5-2 on the season.
•       improve the Ichabods to 44-24-3 all-time against the Tigers.
•      be the 10th on the field win in a row by the Ichabods in Topeka.
  •      drop the Ichabods to 538-574-44 in their football history.
•      drop the Ichabods to 4-3 on the season.
•      be the second-straight loss to the Tigers and the Tigers' first win in Topeka without a forfeit since a 30-0 win on Oct. 26, 1985.
  •  Washburn is 538-573-44 (.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.
  WACO, Texas -- The Ichabods did not receive votes in the first regular season poll of the 2016 season. 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.
  Washburn returns to the road with a game at Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Oct. 22 for the Mules' homecoming game with a 1:30 p.m. kick.