KEARNEY, Neb. – The Washburn Ichabod football team picked up a 47-44 win in the longest game in Ichabod history outlasting Nebraska-Kearney in three overtimes at Cope Stadium on Saturday in Kearney, Neb., putting a downer on the Lopers' homecoming festivities. The Ichabods will be back in action on Saturday returning to Yager Stadium playing host to Pittbsurg State with a 1 p.m. kickoff.

The win, which moved the Ichabods to 3-5 all-time in overtime games, saw the Ichabods matriculate three Mickeel Stewart touchdowns in the extra sessions. Stewart's first was on a 13-yard touchdown run and tying the score after UNK scored on its first drive of the extra frames.
Stewart's second score came on a 25-yard touchdown reception from Derek McGinnis on the Ichabods' first play of the second overtime period. After the Lopers were held to a 36-yard field goal to start the third overtime, Stewart carried the ball the final 1-yard for the winning score en route to 42 total rushing yards in the overtime periods on eight carries. Stewart finished with 87 yards on the ground on 19 carries in the game.

The Lopers (0-4, 0-4 MIAA) scored on its first possession of the game taking advantage of a bad snap on the Ichabods' first punt of the day and then would score on a 10-yard run with 12:45 to play in the first quarter.

Washburn got on the board with a 22-yard field goal by Perry Schmiedeler capping a six-play, 74 yard drive. Schmiedeler scored the Ichabods' three other points in the first half when he hit a 33-yard field goal with 4:27 to play in the opening stanza as the Lopers took a 7-6 lead into the break.To start the third quarter, the Lopers marched 79 yards in six plays to go up 13-6, but the extra point was blocked by Cody Heiman keeping the Ichabods within a touchdown.

The Ichabods tied the score when Jake Horner pulled down a 37-yard touchdown pass from McGinnis and after the PAT by Schmiedeler the score was tied at 13-13 with 10:13 left in the third quarter.

Washburn (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) took the lead when McGinnis hit Carey Woods on a 19-yard touchdown strike across the middle of the field putting the Ichabods up 20-13 with 3:07 to play in the game.

Stewart put the Ichabods up 27-13 with 11:49 to go after scoring what would be the first of his four total touchdowns of the game. However the Lopers would score two touchdowns in the final 5:05 of the game including a game-tying score capping a 66-yard, 15-play drive in 2:56 which sent the game into overtime.

Stewart finished a game-high 87 yards on 19 carries and Chris McGee, Jr., finished with 82 yards on five carries.

McGinnis was 12 of 27 for 203 yards and three scores and James Brania-Hopp led the Ichabods with four catches for 36 yards while Horner had three catches for 85 yards.

Defensively Austin Tillman recorded a career-high 13 tackles with four solo stops while Cody Heiman finished with nine tackles with six solo stops, a forced fumble and a blocked extra point.

Washburn finished with 26 first downs overall picking up 195 yards rushing and passing for 203 for 398 yards of total offense. The Lopers, who lost their 15^th straight game, finished with 389 total yards with 155 coming on the ground and 234 through the air.

Washburn will now turn its attention to Pittsburg State as Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig will go for career win No. 100.