First and 10
• For the second straight season, the Washburn Ichabods are off to a postseason bowl game as they will take on Angelo State on Dec. 2 in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cove, Texas.
• The game will mark Washburn's 13th postseason game appearance in program history and its seventh bowl game. 
• The Ichabods fell to Bemidji State in the 2016 Mineral Water Bowl. Washburn defeated Lone Star member Midwestern State in the 2010 Kanza Bowl in Topeka 45-14. Washburn also took part in the 1986 Aztec Bowl and the 2004 Mineral Water Bowl defeating Northern State 36-33. Washburn also defeated Millikin 21-7 in the 1974 Boot Hill Bowl in Dodge City, Kan. and lost to Benedictine 29-14 in the 1976 Boot Hill Bowl.
• Washburn is 6-5 this season coming off a 26-20 loss to Emporia State in its season finale.
• Angelo State is 6-4 this season coming off a 74-24 win over Texas Permian Basin in its final regular season game of the year and have won its last three games entering the bowl contest.
• Washburn finished in a tie for sixth in the MIAA standings.
• The Ichabods are one of six MIAA teams who earned postseason berths this year with four going to postseason bowl games and two in the NCAA Playoffs.
• Three of the four Kansas NCAA Division II postseason schools earned postseason berths this year with Fort Hays State as the No. 1 seed in the Division II for the playoffs, Pittsburg State at the Texarkana Bowl and Washburn in the Heart of Texas Bowl.
• Other MIAA schools involved in the postseason were Northwest Missouri, who fell in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Central Missouri is in the Mineral Water Bowl and Central Oklahoma is in the Corsicana Bowl.
• The Ichabods have the fourth-best scoring offense in the MIAA at 31.0 ppg and the fourth-best scoring defense allowing 26.2 ppg.
• Washburn is outscoring its opponents 95-32 in the first quarter this season and 96-80 in the third quarter but have been outscored 93-73 in the second quarter and 83-74 in the fourth quarter of games this season including 65-7 in the last six games.
• The Ichabods have been flagged 65 times for 497 yards which is second in the MIAA in fewest penalty yards compared to 51 times for 446 yards for their opponents which also leads the league for the fewest yards against by opponents. 
• Of the 232 first downs gained by opponents this season, 18 have been aided by Ichabod penalties … Ichabod opponents have 232 first downs compared to 231 for Washburn.
• The Ichabods have never played a game on Dec. 2.
• In the month of December the Ichabods are 3-4 all-time. 
• The Ichabods are 2-1 against Lone Star Conference teams in the postseason and 1-0 in postseason bowl games.
• Washburn defeated Midwestern State 45-14 on Dec. 4, 2010 in the Kanza Bowl which was played in Topeka.
• Washburn fell to West Texas A&M 40-39 on Nov. 17, 2007 in the NCAA First Round of the playoffs.
• The Ichabods picked up their first win the NCAA Playoffs defeating then Division II foe Abilene Christian 52-49 in Topeka.
 
Washburn / Angelo State series notes
• The bowl game will be the first between the two schools.
 
Coaches
Washburn Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
• was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
• is 109-74 (.599) in his 16th season as the Ichabod head coach.
• is 91-63 (.603) against the MIAA.
• has led the Ichabods to three NCAA Playoff appearances and four 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 109 wins.
• is 0-0 against Angelo State.
 
Angelo State  head coach Will Wagner . . . 
•  is 42-35 in his seventh season as the head coach of the Rams. 
• is familiar with Washburn has he spent the 1998-99 seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Northwest Missouri and was the defensive backs coach from 2000-2006 before moving to assistant head coach and defensive backs coach from 1998-2010.
• is 0-0 against Washburn as a head coach.
 
Washburn notes
• Derrick McGreevy is third in the MIAA and 10th in the NCAA in tackles at 11.1 per game and Heath Tucker is 16th in the MIAA with 7.1 tackles per game.
• D.J. Olmstead is leads the MIAA with six interceptions and is 12th in the nation overall. He recovered his fourth fumble, which is second in the NCAA rankings, of the season against Missouri Western, which tied an Ichabod single season record with Anthony Brooks (1987), Clay Phillips (1987), Leonard Jackson (1991) and Fred Caldwell (1989).
• Mickeel Stewart ranks 12th in the MIAA with 56.7 which is second on the team … he leads the Ichabods with seven rushing touchdowns.
• Corey Ballentine is ranked fourth in the nation and first in the MIAA in kickoff returns averaging 31.5 yards per return.
• Perry Schmiedeler is 23rd in the nation in punting and fourth in the MIAA averaging 41.0 yards per punt.
• James Brania-Hopp leads the Ichabods with 591 receiving yards and 37 receptions which average 16.0 yards per catch … his five touchdowns is tied for the team lead.
• Carey Woods has 36 receptions and his 403 yards in receiving is third.
• Derrick McGreevy leads the team with 122 tackles adding 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles.
• Rashade Chester leads the team with 9.5 tackles for loss for 28 yards.
• Will Jones' 4.5 sacks for 26 yards leads the Ichabods.
• Perry Schmiedeler has moved into the top four all-time at Washburn in career kick scoring with 197 points passing Nick Kresic who had 186 from 1983-86. His overall point total of 199 (after adding in the two-point conversion he ran for earlier this season) ranks him 10th on the all-time scoring chart at Washburn needing one more point to become the ninth Ichabod to go over the 200-point mark.
 
Rolling through some ichabod notes and thoughts
• Never has anyone in a Washburn uniform had a better career kickoff return average than Corey Ballentine … who has a career average of 31.48 on 21 returns.
• Going to the defensive side of the ball, Peter Pfannenstiel has 243 career tackles which is 14th on the all-time chart at Washburn.
• To the postseason Washburn goes for the seventh time under head coach Craig Schurig. 
• Give it up for D.J. Olmstead who set a Washurn record for the most interception returns in a season with three.
• You can't forget about Derrick McGreevy who has 122 tackles ranking eighth on the single season chart this year.
• Up in the air this season has been Blake Peterson's 311 passing attempts which is sixth on the Ichabod single season attempts chart.
• Never has an Ichabod team faced Angelo State.
• Going to Texas is something somewhat new for the Ichabods having only played one postseason bowl in the Lone Star State against West Texas A&M in the 2007 playoffs.
• To move into the top 15 all-time on the career rushing charts Mickeel Stewart needs two yards to pass Brent Cripps who had 1,480 yards.
• Let it also be known Stewart has 16 rushing touchdowns, which rank 13th on the Ichabod career chart.
• You know Corey Ballentine has 661 kickoff return yards this season, which is third on the Ichabod single season chart.
• Down by six yards to Jaime Myers, who recorded 667 kickoff return yards for second on the Ichabod single season chart.
• Never has an Ichabod team had a better kickoff return average than the 25.71 yards per return Washburn has this season collecting 900 yards on 35 returns.
• Going to be a while until Washburn's next game when they open the 2018 season at Lindenwood.
• To make it back to back trips to St. Charles to face the Lions in next season's opener.
• Run the ball has been an emphasis for the Ichabods this season and their 2,095 rushing ayrds is ninth on the Washburn single season chart.
• Around on the ground and Washburn's 4.71 yard per carry average is third on the Ichabod single season chart.
• And did you know Peter Pfannenstiel will be making his 42nd career start as an Ichabod. 
• Desert or dessert … one you can eat, one is filled with sand.
• You know Perry Schmiedeler has hit all 39 of his extra point attempts this season.
• Never has the Ichabods played a postseason bowl game in Texas.
• Going to be rough saying good bye to Ichabod senior defensive linemen Trey Parker and Jalen Durham who have been SID favorites coming in to shoot the breeze during the week.
• To say Zach Willis was having a great year before getting injured is an understatement has his 6.53 yards per rush on 92 carries is 11th on the Ichabod average yards per carry chart.
• Make it to the posteason to extend their season as six of 12 MIAA football playing school with Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri reaching the NCAA Playoffs.
• You know there are four MIAA teams playing in a postseason bowl game this season with Washburn (Heart of Texas), Pittsburg State (Texarkana/Live United Bowl), Central Missouri (Mineral Water) and Central Oklahoma (Corsicana Bowl).
• Cry Cry Cry was a song written by Johnny Cash, who met his first wife Vivian Leberto in San Antonio, Texas - which is 211 miles from San Angelo, Texas - the location of Angelo State.
• Never has three of the four Kansas MIAA schools made the posteason in the same year.
• Going to be a long drive to the Heart of Texas Bowl as it is 650 miles from Topeka.
• To the end zone on three interceptions this season by the Ichabods is tied for second on the Ichabod single season chart.
• Say the seven interceptions thrown this season by Ichabods is tied for first for the fewest thrown by a Washburn team since the 1951 season.
• Goodbye to the 13 seniors on the Ichabod team wear the navy blue and white for the final time against Angelo State.
• Never has anyone at Washburn had more fumble return yards than Peter Pfannenstiel who has 78 yards passing Ichabod co-defensive coordinator Zach Watkins who had 72.
• Going to Texas to broadcast the game will be former Ichabod wide receiver Jake Lebahn and former Ichabod quarterback Mark Elliott on 106.9 FM.
• To say the Ichabod return teams are good is an understatement ranking eighth in the nation in kickoff returns and 38th in the nation in punt returns while ranking 36th in kickoff return defense and 57th in net punting.
• Tell you what, Washburn had pretty good attendance this season averaging 5,703 people a game in Yager Stadium which is 24th out of all NCAA D2 schools and fifth in the MIAA.
• A win at the Heart of Texas Bowl would give the Ichabods their fifth bowl game victory in school history.
• Lies are bad.   
• And the 15 forced fumbles this season is third on the Ichabod single season chart.
• Hurt this season has been Jace Williams, who played in four games and averaged 11.3 yards per catch and two scores on 12 receptions and now has joined the Ichabod basketball team.
• You have been Rick Rolled.
 
Ichabods in the posteason
• The Washburn Ichabods are their 13th postseason appearance. NCAA Postseason 
• Washburn has gone 4-2 in postseason bowl games.
• The Ichabods are 1-5 in postseason tournament games.
Postseason Overall Record – 5-7
11/30/74 - Boot Hill Bowl - Dodge City, Kan.
Washburn 21, Millikin (Ill.) 7
11/20/76 - Boot Hill Bowl - Dodge City, Kan.
Benedictine 29, Washburn 14
12/6/86 - NAIA Quarterfinals - Pittsburg, Kan.
Pittsburg State 58, Washburn 24
11/27/88 - NAIA Quarterfinals - Monticello, Ark.
Arkansas-Monticello 20, Washburn 13
12/20/86 - Aztec Bowl - Exhibition - Mexico City, Mexico
Washburn 27, Mexican All-Stars 8
12/4/04 - Mineral Water Bowl - Excelsior Springs, Mo.
Washburn 36, Northern State 33
11/19/05 - NCAA Second Round Playoffs - Topeka, Kan.
Northwest Missouri 42, Washburn 32
11/17/07 – NCAA First Round Playoffs - Canyon, Texas
West Texas A&M 40, Washburn 39
12/04/10 – Kanza Bowl - Topeka, Kan.
Washburn 45, #24 Midwestern State 14
11/19/11 – NCAA First Round Playoffs - Topeka, Kan.
#15 Washburn 52, #11 Abilene Christian 49
11/26/11 – NCAA First Second Round Playoffs - Pittsburg, Kan.
#7 Pittsburg State 31, #15 Washburn 22
12/3/16 - Mineral Water Bowl - Excelsior Springs, Mo.
Bemidji State 36, Washburn 23
 
Ichabods earn 15 All-MIAA selections
• The Washburn Ichabod football team had 15 selections for 13 players as the all-MIAA team which was announced at the end of the season.
Washburn had three players selected for the first team as senior offensive lineman Bob Marco, junior return specialist Corey Ballentine and senior defensive back D.J. Olmstead were all tabbed by the league coaches. Marco has made 33 starts on the offensive line and Olmstead led the MIAA in interceptions setting an Ichabod team record returning three for touchdowns. Ballentine led the MIAA and is fourth in the nation in kickoff returns averaging 31.5 yards per return.
Named to the second team was senior defensive lineman Trey Parker, junior linebacker Derrick McGreevy and Ballentine who picked up his second all-MIAA award at defensive back. Parker made his 38th career start last time out against Emporia State and this season has recorded 36 tackles with 3.5 for loss with a blocked kick. McGreevy led the Ichabods with 122 tackles adding 7.5 tackles for loss for 30 yards with two forced fumbles. Ballentine had 50 tackles with six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
Senior running back Mickeel Stewart and sophomore offensive lineman Kyle Hinton earned third team all-MIAA honors this season. Stewart led the Ichabods with 624 rushing yards with a team-high seven touchdowns and Hinton started all 11 games on the offensive line this season.
Named honorable mention were junior wide receiver James Brania-Hopp, senior defensive back Peter Pfannenstiel, senior wide receiver Carey Woods, senior linebacker Cedric Gonzalez, senior defensive lineman Jalen Durham and junior Perry Schmiedeler who was selected at both punter and placekicker. Brania-Hopp led the Ichabods with 37 catches for 591 yards and tied for the team lead with five touchdown receptions. Pfannenstiel made his 41st career start last time out and has recorded 65 tackles with five for loss and one interception. Woods finished second on the team with 36 catches for 403 yards adding five touchdowns. Gonzalez was third on the team in tackles with 66 adding four tackles for loss. Durham recorded 38 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss with 1.5 sacks. Pfannenstiel finished fifth in the MIAA in punting averaging 41.0 yards per punt and he hit 10 of 14 field goal attempts this season and he ranked ninth in the MIAA in scoring this season leading the Ichabods with 71 points.
 
Angelo State Notes
• The Rams finished the regular season 6-4 and 4-4 in the Lone Star Conference.
• The Rams have the sixth-best passing offense in the nation at 326.4 yards per game and the seventh-best total offensive unit in the nation.
• Defensively the Rams have the fifth-best team tackles for loss mark in the nation averaging 9.5 per game.
• Markus Jones is ninth in the nation in sacks averaging 1.1 per game and is ranked eighth in the nation in forced fumbles, 12th in the nation in tackles for loss and sixth in the country in blocked kicks … Jones was named the Lone Star Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and the Defensive Lineman of the Year while Justin Jackson was the Linebacker of the Year and Fred Lawrence earned Defensive Back of the Year … Jones was the LSC and ASU leader in sacks with 10.5 and tackles for loss with 18.0 (1.80 per game) … recorded 61 total tackles which was third on the team.
• Donovan Thompson was named a first team All-LSC wide receiver for the second time in his career … the senior caught 49 passes for 716 yards in just seven games averaging 102.3 yards per game and caught one touchdown … he set the ASU record for receptions in a single game with 13 and became the ASU career leader in receptions.
 
Last time out for Washburn …
(Nov. 11, 2017) EMPORIA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods season came to an end with a 26-20 loss to Emporia State in the 114th meeting of the second-longest series in NCAA Division II history on Saturday in Emporia. 
The Hornets took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in five plays needing 1:19 to go up 7-0 over the Hornets. After the teams traded punts, Washburn tied the score with a six-play, 75-yard drive when Blake Peterson scrambled in from 12 yards out knotting the score at 7-7.
Washburn started the scoring in the second quarter on the second play of the frame when Perry Schmiedeler connected on a 42-yard field goal staking the Ichabods to a 10-7 lead with 14:52 to play in the first half.
After the Ichabods forced a Hornet punt, Washburn was pinned at its own three, but a Washburn fumble in the end zone was recovered by the Ichabods for a safety as Washburn led 10-9 with 12:13 to play in the opening half.
The Hornets scored after the free kick on a 10-play, 65-yard drive to go up 16-10 with 9:02 to play in the second half.
Both teams turned it over on their next two drives and after an Ichabod punt, ESU would go up 23-10 going 91 yards in 2:19, but the Ichabods came back with a touchdown of their own set up by a 63-yard kickoff return by Corey Ballentine and three plays later, Washburn's Will Hamilton pulled down a Peterson pass for the score with 14 seconds to go in the half as the Hornets took a 23-17 lead into the break.
To start the second half, Washburn punted on its first drive and ESU would go up 26-17 capping an 83-yard drive with a 21-yard field goal with 8:41 to play in the third quarter.
Neither team would score until Schmiedeler connected on a 24-yard field goal with 2:26 to go in the game cutting ESU's lead to 26-20.
The Ichabods held the Hornets to one yard on three plays and took over at their own 11 with 1:23 to go in the game, but a Washburn fumble on the first play of the drive and it was recovered by the Hornets to wrap up the game.
Cedric Gonzalez and Derrick McGreevy each had 11 tackles with nine solo stops to lead the Ichabods and Heath Tucker and Corey Ballentine each had seven tackles. Peter Pfannenstiel had five tackles with an interception and Josh Wright had an interception with two tackles.
Peterson led the Ichabods on the ground with 93 rushing yards on 16 carries and one score and Mickeel Stewart had 17 carries for 93 yards. Ryan Peroo had eight carries for 65 yards. Peterson finished 15 of 29 passing for 164 yards, but was sacked four times in the game. Jake Horner led the Ichabods with four catches for 28 yards and James Brania-Hopp had three catches for 60 yards.
Each team recorded 22 first downs in the game and ESU held a 457 to 429 advantage in total yards running 80 plays compared to 74 for the Ichabods. Washburn rushed for 265 yards and ESU had 267 and ESU outpassed the Ichabods 190 to 164. The Hornets were 7 of 15 on third down compared to 4 of 13 for the Ichabods in the game.
 
A win over angelo State would …
• lift the Ichabods to 549-579-44 in their football history.
• improve the Ichabods to 1-0 against Angelo State.
• improve the Ichabods to 6-7 in the postseason and 5-2 in postseason bowl games.
• improve the Ichabods to 7-5 on the season.
 
A loss to Angelo State would …
• drop the Ichabods to 548-580-44 in their football history.
• drop the Ichabods to 6-6 on the season.
• drop the Ichabods to 0-1 all-time against the Rams.
 
Ichabod football history
• Washburn is 548-579-44 (.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 142 first team all-MIAA picks and 48 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 did not receive votes for the first week since week No. 1 in the latest AFCA Top 25 coaches poll of the season after receiving votes the previous eight.  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
The Ichabods will open the 2018 season at Lindenwood on August 30th and then will return for the home opener against Northwest Missouri on Sept. 6 in Yager Stadium.