First and 10
• The Washburn Ichabod football team looks to bounce back from its first loss since the second week of the season when  the Ichabods will play host to Central Missouri on Homecoming Saturday in Yager Stadium in a battle for third place in the MIAA standings.
• Washburn had its four-game winning streak snapped in a 37-20 loss at Fort Hays State last time out.
• Washburn is 47-43-1 all-time on its homecoming since it was first played during the 1920-21 school year … there was no homecoming designated game during the 1921-1927 seasons.
• Washburn snapped a two-game losing streak on Homecoming with a 16-13 win over Missouri Western last season.
• The Ichabods have played Central Missouri twice on Homecoming in Yager Stadium winning 13-10 on Oct. 17, 1992 and 23-7 on Oct. 12, 1996.
• Washburn's most played Homecoming opponent is Pittsburg State playing the Gorillas 12 times … the Ichabods have recorded the most Homecoming wins against Emporia State going 7-3 overall.
• Central Missouri scored an MIAA-high 71 points in a 71-22 win over Missouri Southern winning its second-straight game.
• The Mules are averaging 39.0 points per game, which leads the MIAA, while allowing 26.6 points per game this season and 510.7 yards per game in total offense, which also leads the league. 
• The Mules are ranked fifth in the MIAA scoring defense at 26.6 points per game.
• The Ichabods have the third-best scoring defense in the MIAA allowing an average of 21.3 ppg.
• The Mules are ranked sixth in the MIAA in total defense allowing 372.7 yards per game and the Ichabods are third in total defense allowing 356.3 per game.
• Central Missouri is second in the MIAA in passing offense at 306 yards per game and fourth in pass defense allowing 214.9 yards per game.
• Washburn is outscoring its opponents 61-5 in the first quarter this season and 67-42 in the fourth quarter, but are being outscored 54-39 in the second quarter while outscoring its opponents 68 to 48 in the third quarter.
• The Ichabods have been flagged 45 times for 337 yards compared to 29 times for 240 yards for their opponents. 
• Of the 132 first downs gained by opponents this season, 14 have been aided by Ichabod penalties … Ichabod opponents have 132 first downs compared to 134 for Washburn.
• The Ichabods are 20th in the nation in punt returns averaging 14.9 yards per return and rank 19th in the nation in kickoff return average at 24.17 yards per return.
• Washburn is 20th in the nation in turnover margin.
 
Washburn / Central Missouri series notes
• Series Record: UCM leads 26-18-2
• Streaks: UCM has won the last five
• First Meeting: WU 6-0 (09/27/1902) in Topeka
• Last Meeting: UCM 29-27 (10/22/2016) in Warrensburg
• Last WU win: 36-21 (09/26/2009) in Topeka
• Last UCM win: 29-27 (10/22/2016) in Warrensburg
• Largest WU win: 34-0 (09/28/1963) in Topeka
• Largest UCM win: 44-0 (10/11/2014) in Warrensburg
 
Coaches
Washburn Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
• was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
• is 108-71 (.599) in his 16th season as the Ichabod head coach.
• is 90-60 (.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 3-10 against Central Missouri.
 
Central Missouri head coach Jim Svoboda . . . 
• has a record of 61-26 in his sixth season leading the Mules.
• is 113-46 overall in his 15th season as a head coach with a previous stop at Nebraska Wesleyan with assistant coaching positions at Eastern New Mexico, Northwest Missouri, UCLA and Montana State.
• is third place on Central Missouri's career wins list.
• has coached the Mules to 84 school offensive records and 21 MIAA offensive records during his tenure.
• is 5-0 against Washburn.
 
Washburn notes
• Derrick McGreevy is second in the MIAA and ninth in the NCAA in tackles at 10.6 per game and Cedric Gonzalez is 21st with 6.7 tackles per game  … Peter Pfannenstiel is averaging 6.1 tackles per game is 28th in the MIAA.
• D.J. Olmstead is leads the MIAA with six interceptions and is third in the nation overall. He is also tied for second in fumbles recovered as well.
• Zach Willis is ninth in the MIAA in rushing with 56.5 yards per game which also leads the Ichabods.
• Mickeel Stewart ranks 11th in the MIAA with 50.4 which is second on the team while leading the Ichabods with six rushing touchdowns.
• Corey Ballentine is ranked 15th in the nation and second in the MIAA in kickoff returns averaging 29.8 yards per return.
• Josh Wright is ninth in the nation and is second in the MIAA in punt return average at 15.8 yards per return.
• Perry Schmiedeler is 11th in the nation in punting and fourth in the MIAA averaging 42.3 yards per punt.
• James Brania-Hopp leads the Ichabods with 343 receiving yards averaging 15.6 yards per catch and 22 receptions for three touchdowns.
• Derrick McGreevy leads the team with 75 tackles adding 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
• Rashade Chester and Will Jones are tied for the team lead with six tackles for loss and Jones leads the Ichabods with four sacks..
• Perry Schmiedeler has moved into the top five all-time at Washburn in career kick scoring with 169 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 Fort Hays State game
The following Ichabods had career highs in various categories against Fort Hays State last time out.
• James Brania-Hopp - 122 receiving yards
• Will Hamilton - 52 yard reception
• Will Jones - 2.0 tackles for loss
• Blake Peterson - 38 passing attempts
• Heath Tucker - 10 tackles
 
Central Missouri Notes
• The Mules are 5-2 this season and have won their last two games coming off a 71-22 win over Missouri Southern. The Mules led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. Central Missouri outscored the Lions 48-0 in the second and third quarters.
• The Mules set a school record in the win gaining 726 yards of total offense in the win over the Lions.
• The Mules scored 71 points while picking 32 first downs with 377 of those yards coming on the ground and 349 through the air. 
• The Mules are 5-2 this season and have won their last two games coming off a 71-22 win over Missouri Southern.
• Devante Turner leads the Mules averaging 81.4 yards per game with 7.3 yards per carry and a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
• Brook Bolles is 141 of 260 passing with 12 touchdowns averaging 302.1 yards per game.
• Jaylen Zachery leads the Mules with 30 receptions for 473 yards and Kyrion Paker has a team-high four touchdown receptions.
• Codie Bell leads the Mules with 38 tackles and both Austin Miller and Kolesen Crane have 5.5 tackles for loss.
 
Last time out for Washburn …
HAYS, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods led 20-10 at the break, but could not hold the lead as they were outscored 27-0 in the second half by the No. 8 Fort Hays State Tigers as Washburn fell 37-20. Washburn returns home next week to face Central Missouri for Homecoming at Yager Stadium in a battle for third place in the MIAA standings.
The Tigers (7-0, 7-0 MIAA) took an early lead on a 29-yard field goal by Brandon Brown with 6:41 to play in the opening quarter. After a 52-yard pass from Blake Peterson to Will Hamilton on the first play of the drive, the Ichabods (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) would continue to move down the field, but the drive stalled and Perry Schmiedeler capped the drive with a 35-yard field goal of his own to tie the score at 3-3 with 5:26 left in the quarter.
On the Tigers' ensuing drive D.J. Olmstead picked off Jacob Mezera's and returned it 60 yards for a score for his sixth interception of the season and his third one returned for a touchdown breaking the Ichabod single-season record for the most touchdown returns in a season breaking the previous record shared by Fletcher Terrell (2005), Dave Bowen (1970) and Zuri Stokes (1996).
With the Ichabods leading 10-3, Schmiedeler connected on his second field goal of the day with a 36-yard conversion with 10:28 left in the first half.
After a pair of punts by both teams, the Tigers would score and cut the Ichabod lead to 13-10 with 5:48 to play in the half.
Neither team would score until Peterson hit James Brania-Hopp on a 22-yard strike with 18 seconds to play in the half as the Ichabods took a 20-10 lead into the break.
To start the second half, the Tigers went on an 8-play, 75-yard drive trimming the Ichabod lead to 20-17. The scoring drive was aided by a roughing the punter penalty call on the Ichabods and four plays later the Tigers took advantage and scored.
After a punt by the Ichabods, the Tigers connected on a 30-yd field goal tying the score at 20 with 3:59 to play in the third quarter.
The Tigers used a 12-play, 87-yd drive to go up 27-20 with 12:36 to play in the game.
Washburn drove down to the Tiger 19 yard line, but came up short on fourth down and Fort Hays State took over 8:50 to go.
The Tigers went up 34-20 in the fourth quarter when Mezera hit Tyler Bacon on a 30-yard touchdown strike as FHSU scored its 24th unanswered points against the Ichabods with 5:04 to play in the game.
FHSU added a field goal with 3:09 remaining wrapped up the scoring and the 37-20 win for the Tigers.
Washburn was held to 291 yards of offense on 64 plays while the Tigers had 549 yards on 83 plays. Washburn was outgained 267 to 47 on the ground in the game. Washburn was outgained 174 to 8 in the third quarter and 145 to 81 in the fourth.
Mickeel Stewart had 28 rushing yards to lead the Ichabods on seven carries. Brania-Hopp had career-highs of nine receptions for 122 yards and one score for Washburn and Peterson was 18 of 38 passing for 244 yards and one score.
Heath Tucker led the Ichabod defense with a career-high 10 tackles with seven solo stops and Josh Wright had nine tackles with eight solo stops. Derrick McGreevy had eight tackles with one for loss and five solo stops.
 
Last Ichabod meeting with Central Missouri …
Oct. 22, 2016 -- WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabod football team cam up just shy of its third-straight win in a 29-27 loss to Central Missouri on Saturday afternoon. 
The Ichabods and Mules (6-2, 6-2, MIAA) traded punts on their first two drives while remaining scoreless until Central Missouri opened the scoring with a 6-yard rush by Marquel McNac with 7:32 in the game capping a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
Washburn (5-3, 5-3 MIAA) came back for its own score after driving down to the Central Missouri 3-yard line, but the drive stalled with three plays inside the Mule five and the Ichabods settled for a 22-yard field goal by Perry Schmiedeler with 3:59 to play in the first quarter.
The Mules scored on their ensuing drive on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Fugate to Wesley Thomas, but the extra point was blocked by Josh Wright as UCM led 13-3 with 1:31 left in the first quarter.
Washburn again returned serve after a score when Derek McGinnis scrambled for a 2-yard run with 12:01 to go in the first half wrapping up a 9-play, 78-yard drive.
As the case after the two previous Ichabod scoring drives, the Mules needed only five plays to go 65-yards in 86 seconds to go back up 20-10 with 10:37 to play in the half.
Neither team would score until a Peter Pfannenstiel fumble recovery setting Washburn up at the UCM 36. Two plays later Mickeel Stewart scored on a 5-yard run with 7:11 remaining trimming the Mule lead to 20-17.
Again the Mules scored on their next possession on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Fugate to Seth Hebert for 31 yards going up 26-17, but Schmiedeler connected on a 36-yard field goal after a penalty on the Mules with no time left on the first half clock as the Ichabods trailed 26-20 entering the break.
The Ichabods were outgained 343 to 217 in the first half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter and UCM put the first points of the second half on the board with a 26-yard field goal by Billy Greco with 13:42 left in the game as the Mules would go up 29-20.
Washburn came back with a score of its own when Chris McGee, Jr. scored on an 18-yard run cutting the Ichabod deficit back to two at 29-27.
After the Ichabod defense forced a three-and-out, Washburn drove down to the Central 30 yard line, but Schmiedeler's 47-yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar and bounced back into the field of play.
The Mules regained possession and reached the Ichabod 43 before the defense forced another UCM punt, however the Ichabods would turn the ball back over on downs after two rushes for four yards and two incomplete passes giving the ball back to the Mules at the Ichabod 14 yard line.
The Ichabod defense held the Mules to one of offense and a missed 30-yard field goal with 1:02 to play in the game.
However the Mules would come up empty with only one first down to the Washburn 37. Two incomplete passes by the Ichabods and a Mule interception at the UCM 42 sealed the win for Central Missouri taking a knee to run out the clock. 
Austin Tillman led the Ichabods with 11 tackles and Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq finished with seven tackles adding 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack for 15 yards.
McGee, Jr. finished with 57 yards rushing and eight carries and a touchdown and McGinnis was 15 of 33 for 214 yards with one interception as the Ichabods finished with 14.3 yards per completion. Bryce Chavis had seven catches for 99 yards.
Central Missouri had had 26 first downs compared to the Ichabods' 19. The Ichabods outrushed the Mules 130 to 113, but were outpasses 357 to 214 as the Mules tallied 470 yards overall to 344 for Washburn. 
 
A win over Central Missouri would …
• lift the Ichabods to 548-576-44 in their football history.
• improve the Ichabods to 19-25-2 all-time against Central Missouri.
• be the first Ichabod win over the Mules since Sept. 26, 2009 in a 36-21 victory in Topeka.
• snap a five-game losing streak to the Mules.
• clinch the 12th winning season under head coach Craig Schurig in his 16th year on the Ichabod sidelines.
 
A loss to Central Missouri would …
• drop the Ichabods to 547-576-44 in their football history.
• drop the Ichabods to 5-3 on the season.
• be the Mules' sixth-straight win over the Ichabods.
 
Ichabod football history
• Washburn is 547-576-44 (.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 sixth-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 63 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times.
 
Up Next
Washburn is back in action on Oct. 28 when they will take on Missouri Western in St. Joseph and then return home for its final regular season game hosting Central Oklahoma on Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day.