First and 10
•                The Washburn Ichabod football team will travel Hays, Kan., to take on the No. 8-ranked Fort Hays State on Saturday at Lewis Field.
•                Washburn won its fourth game in a row with a 49-21 win over Missouri Southern last time out in Yager Stadium.
•                The Tigers are ranked No. 8 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the D2football.com poll.
•                The Ichabods have received votes in the last five AFCA Coaches Poll and came in 28th this week while being ranked No. 22 in the D2football.com poll.
•                The Tigers are ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring offense at 34.0 points per game and second in scoring defense allowing 16.0 points per game.
•                The Ichabods have the third-best scoring defense in the MIAA allowing an average of 18.7 ppg.
•                The Tigers are third in the MIAA in total offense at 249.2 yards per game and second in total defense allowing 316.5 yards per game.
•                The Ichabods have the third-ranked rushing offense in the MIAA at 192.0 yards per game and the Tigers are ranked fourth with 177.0 yards per game … as far as rush defenses go, the teams are flipped with the Tigers sitting third allowing 91.8 yards per game the Ichabods fourth allowing 118.8 yards per game.
•                Washburn is outscoring its opponents 51-2 in the first quarter this season and 67-25 in the fourth quarter, but are being outscored 47-29 in the second quarter while outscoring its opponents 68 to 38 in the third quarter.
•                The Ichabods have been flagged 41 times for 282 yards compared to 24 times for 199 yards for their opponents. 
•                Of the 112 first downs gained by opponents this season, 11 have been aided by Ichabod penalties … Ichabod opponents have 106 first downs compared to 117 for Washburn.
•                The Ichabods are 19th in the nation in punt returns averaging 16.4 yards per return and rank 18th in the nation in kickoff return average at 23.38 yards per return.
•                Washburn is seventh in the nation in turnover margin.
•                By the numbers against Missouri Southern: Under head coach Craig Schurig, Washburn improved to 95-5 when leading after the third quarter, improved to 39-4 when having more than 200 yards rushing, 24-2 when scoring at least 40 points, and to 22-2 when gaining at least 500 yards of offense.
•                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 as a defensive back coach and special teams coordinator.
 
Washburn / Fort Hays State series notes
•                Series Record: WU leads 44-24-3
•                Streak: WU won the last one
•                First Meeting: WU 7-6 (11/27/1919) in Hays
•                Last Meeting: WU 30-24 (10/15/2016) in Topeka
•                Last WU win: 30-24 (10/15/2016) 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
 
 
Coaches
Washburn Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
•                was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
•                is 108-70 (.599) in his 16th season as the Ichabod head coach.
•                is 90-59 (.603) against the MIAA.
•                has led the Ichabods to three NCAA Playoff appearances and three 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 106 wins.
•                is 10-3 against Fort Hays State.
 
Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown . . . 
•                is in his seventh season as head coach at Fort Hays State. 
•                has compiled a 43-30 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 1-5 against Washburn.
 
Washburn notes
•                Derrick McGreevy is second in the MIAA and 11th in the NCAA in tackles at 11.0 per game and Cedric Gonzalez is 19th with 7.0 tackles per game  … Peter Pfannenstiel who is also averaging 6.3 tackles per game is ranked 23rd in the MIAA.
•                Will Jones is ranked tied for fifth in the MIAA in sacks with three.
•                D.J. Olmstead is leads the MIAA with five interceptions and is one of seven NCAA Division II players with two returns for touchdowns this season.
•                Zach Willis has gone over the 100-yard mark in back to back games after gaining 106 against Missouri Southern and he ranks seventh in the MIAA in rushing with 65.8 yards per game which also leads the Ichabods.
•                Mickeel Stewart ranks 10th in the MIAA and is second on the team while leading the Ichabods with six rushing touchdowns.
•                Corey Ballentine is ranked 14th in the nation and second in the MIAA in kickoff returns averaging 29.8 yards per return.
•                Josh Wright is 10th in the nation and is second in the MIAA in punt return average at 15.8 yards per return.
•                Perry Schmiedeler is 15th in the nation in punting and fourth in the MIAA averaging 42.3 yards per punt.
•                Carey Woods leads the team with 20 catches for 187 yards and three scores.
•                James Brania-Hopp leads the team with 221 receiving yards averaging 17.0 yards per catch with two touchdowns.
•                Derrick McGreevy leads the team with 67 tackles adding 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
•                Rashade Chester has 5.0 tackles for loss which leads the Ichabods.
•                Perry Schmiedeler has moved into the top five all-time at Washburn in career kick scoring with 161 points passing Mike Cassin who recorded 150 points from 1975-78. Next up on the kick scoring chart is Nick Kresic who had 186 from 1983-86.
 
Career highs from Missouri Southern game
The following Ichabods had career highs in various categories against Missouri Southern last time out.
•                James Brania-Hopp - 108 receiving yards
•                Kyle Emerick - Four tackles
•                Will Jones - Five tackles
•                Nathan Mikoleit - Five tackles
•                Brooks Peavler - Four tackles
•                Blake Peterson - 287 passing yards, 3 passing TD's, 322 total offensive yards
•                Perry Schmeideler - 7 extra points
•                Landon Seabaugh - two tackles
•                Devonta Staples - three tackles
•                Matthew Williams - 10 rushing attempts, 86 rushing yards
 
Fort Hays State Notes
•                The Tigers are 6-0 this season and ranked No. 8 in the AFCA top 25 coaches poll.
•                The Tigers are now approaching their highest ranking ever in an official NCAA Division II Poll. The highest mark was a No. 6 ranking in the September 16th poll of 1996, organized by the NCAA Football Committee at that time. The AFCA Poll did not take over as the official poll until 2000. This is the highest ranking for the Tigers since holding the No. 8 ranking in the preseason poll of the 1996 season.
•                Fort Hays State beat Pittsburg State 21-17 in Hays for the first time 1978 after scoring 21 unanswered points in the win last time out. 
•                The Tigers moved to 6-0 for the first time since 1983 and look to match the best start ever in program history against Washburn.
•                The Tigers last started 7-0 in 1917.
•                Junior quarterback Jacob Mezera directs the FHSU offense. Mezera has completed 115 of 169 passes (.680) for 1,414 yards and 12 touchdowns with three four.
•                Senior running back Kenneth Iheme has rushed the ball 119 times for a team-leading 666 yards (5.6 ypc) and eight touchdowns.
•                Junior wide receiver Monterio Burchfield has caught 25 passes for 517 yards (20.7 ypc) and six scores, while senior wide receiver Tyler Bacon has 26 grabs for 213 yards (8.2 ypc).
•                The FHSU offense is averaging 34.0 points and 449.8 total yards (272.8 passing).
•                Junior linebacker José Delgado has made a team-leading 52 tackles (30 solo) with 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks in five games played, while senior defensive tackle 
•                Nathan Shepherd has posted 21 tackles (10 solo) with a team-leading 6.5 tackles-for loss. 
•                As a unit, the FHSU defense is allowing 16.0 points and 316 total yards (91.8 rushing) per game. 
•                Senior Brandon Brown has converted five of eight field goals on the season and all 27 of his PAT tries, while sophomore Dante Brown has punted 26 times for a Division II and MIAA-leading 46.3-yard average with eight kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.
 
Last time out for Washburn …
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod football team racked up a season high 570 yards of offense and held Missouri Southern to 112 yards of offense in the second half as they rolled to a 49-21 win over the Lions improving to 5-1 on the season. Washburn travels to Fort Hays State next Saturday.
After the Lions were forced to punt on the their opening drive of the game, Washburn marched 68 yards in 10 plays capped by a Blake Peterson to Jake Horner 13-yard touchdown pass staking the Ichabods to the 7-0 lead with 9:11 to play in the first quarter.
On the ensuing Lions' possession, D.J. Olmstead picked off the first of his two passes on the afternoon returning the ball to the Ichabods and then six plays later, Zach Willis scored from 1-yard out as Washburn went up 14-0 for the only points of the quarter as Washburn held the Lions to 32 first quarter yards from scrimmage.
The Lions (0-6, 0-6 MIAA) cut the lead in half on a 3-yard rush by Brayden Scott capping an 11-play, 81-yard drive but on the Ichabods' next possession, Mickeel Stewart scored on a 1-yard plunge with 6:06 to play in the half as Washburn went up 21-7.
The teams traded punts and the Lions came back with a score on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Scott to Deuzae Johnson with 1:08 to play in the first half as Washburn would go on to take a 21-14 lead into the halftime break.
Washburn received the second half kickoff and Willis scored his second touchdown on a 14-yard scamper doubling the Lions score at 28-14 with 10:20 left in the third quarter.
After a Lions' punt, the Washburn drive was stalled when the Ichabods came up short on a 4th and one from the Ichabod 35 and two plays later the Lions scored on a 24-yard touchdown strike again pulling the Lions within seven at 28-21 with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.
However it took only one play when Peterson hit James Brania-Hopp on a 75-yard touchdown score as the Ichabods went up 35-21.  
On the Lions first play from scrimmage after the score, D.J. Olmstead picked off his league-leading fifth pass of the year and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown giving the Ichabods two scores within 17 seconds of each other stretching the lead to 21 at 42-21. Washburn had 194 yards of offense in the third quarter on 22 plays while holding the Lions to 61 yards on 11 plays.
In the fourth quarter, the only score of the frame was when Peterson hit James Letcher, Jr. on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 6:19 to play as Washburn cruised to the 49-21 win.
The win was the 16th in the last 18 games over the Lions and the third straight in the series overall and the eighth in a row over the Lions in Topeka.
Peterson finished with 287 yards passing completing 15 of 25 passes with three touchdowns hitting nine different receivers led by Will Hamilton and Jake Horner who each had three catches. Brania-Hopp had two catches for 108 yards.
Willis went over the 100-yard mark for the second game in a row with 106 yards on 16 carries and two scores as Washburn finished with 262 yards rushing on 56 carries. Matthew Williams had 10 carries for 86 yards.
Defensively, Derrick McGreevy and Heath Tucker each had six tackles to lead the Ichabods with McGreevy adding a sack for four yards. Will Jones had 1.5 sacks and D.J. Olmstead had two interceptions adding four tackles.
Perry Schmeideler had four punts for 182 yards averaging 45.5 per punt with two inside the 20 while averaging 59.5 yards per kickoff attempt with three touchbacks.
Washburn had season highs with 56 rushes for 262 yards and 308 total passing yards while running a season high 82 plays recording 570 total offensive yards.
Missouri Southern had 279 total offensive yards with 110 coming on the ground.
 
Last Ichabod meeting with Fort Hays State …
Oct. 15, 2016 -- TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game picking up a 30-24 win over Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon in Yager Stadium. 
The Ichabods (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) jumped on the board first with their special teams touchdown of the day when Cody Summers scored on a fake field goal from 26-yards out capping Washburn's first drive of the game as Washburn went up 7-0 with 10:28 left in the first quarter.
After the teams possessions, including the Ichabods turning it over on downs inside the Tiger 2-yard line. After three plays gaining one yard, Tiger quarterback Jacob Mezera was sacked by Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq and Austin Tillman recovered it into the end zone scoring the Ichabod defensive touchdown putting Washburn up 13-0 after the missed extra point.
Washburn's offense joined the scoring with a 67-yard touchdown strike from Derek McGinnis to Bryce Chavis for a score on the fourth play of the fourth quarter as the Ichabods increased their lead to 20-0 with 13:27 remaining in the first half.
The Tigers (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) scored on their next possession cutting the Ichabod lead to 20-7 needing eight plays and 67 yards to trim the Ichabod lead.
After the Ichabods came up empty on their next drive, the Tigers cut the lead to 20-14 on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Mezera to Shaquille Cooper with 6:30 to play in the half.
Washburn's Perry Schmiedeler added a career-long 44-yard field goal on Washburn's next possession putting Washburn up 23-14 with 4:49 left in the second quarter wrapping up the scoring in the first half.
The Ichabod special teams scored their second touchdown of the day when the Tigers were stopped on their first drive of the half and were forced to punt. Chavis recorded his first punt return for a score with an 83-yard scamper extending the Ichabod lead to 30-14.
Neither team would score until 1:32 left in the Tigers wrapped up a 55-yard drive scoring trimming Washburn's lead back to 30-17. Washburn was outgained 159 to 29 in the third quarter.
In the fourth, both teams were scoreless until the Tigers finished off the scoring with 52 seconds to play. The ensuing onside kick attempt by the Tigers was recovered by Curtis Whitten and the Ichabods would run out the clock picking up their 10th-straight win over the Tigers in Topeka.
Reigning MIAA Defensive Player of the Week Trevin Wiens led the Ichabods with 10 tackles. Cody Heiman had nine tackles with a half sack, a tackle for loss, an interception and a pass break up while Abdul-Razzaq had seven tackles with two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss for 24 yards and a forced fumble which set was recovered for an Ichabod touchdown adding two pass break ups. Overall the Ichabods had nine tackles for loss for 47 yards and three sacks for 24.
Wesley Collins led the Ichabods with 57 yards rushing and McGinnis was 8 of 20 passes for 145 yards and one score.
Chavis finished with 101 receiving yards on four catches and one score and had 189 all-purpose yards in the game.
Washburn was outgained 433 to 299 in total yards and 24 to 17 in first downs. 
 
A win over Fort Hays State would …
•                lift the Ichabods to 548-575-44 in their football history.
•                improve the Ichabods to 45-24-3 all-time against the Tigers.
•                improve the Ichabods to 18-14-2 in games played in Hays.
•                be the second-straight win over the Tigers and the 12th in the last 15 games.
•                clinch the 12th winning season under head coach Craig Schurig in his 16th year on the Ichabod sidelines.
 
A loss to Fort Hays State would …
•                drop the Ichabods to 547-576-44 in their football history.
•                drop the Ichabods to 5-2 on the season.
•                be the second-straight loss to the Tigers in Hays.
 
Ichabod football history
•                Washburn is 547-575-44 (.484) in the 127th 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 127 first team all-conference picks and 45 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 received votes for the fifth-straight week in the latest AFCA Top 25 coaches poll of the season.  Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 62 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times.
 
Up Next
Washburn is back in action in Topeka on Oct. 21 when they will take on Central Missouri as part of Washburn's Homecoming.