For starters
> The Washburn Ichabods are back in action on Saturday against Emporia State in Welch Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. in the 116th meeting between the two schools whose campuses are located 57 miles from one another.
> The Ichabods (3-5, 3-5 MIAA) are coming off a homecoming heartbreaker as Central Oklahoma kicked a field goal with three seconds to play to take a 22-20 win over Washburn.
> Emporia State is 2-6 this season and will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak after a 28-0 shutout by Missouri Western last time out.
>  Overall the Hornets have won the last four meetings against the Ichabods and six of the last seven overall after a string where the Ichabods had won eight in a row and nine of the previous 10 dating back to 2002.
>  ESU leads the all-time series 57-52-6.
>  The Washburn/Emporia State series is the second-most played series in NCAA Division II history as South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State have reclassified to NCAA Division II. Those two schools have met 133 times dating back to 1895.
>  The Ichabods are looking for their first win in Emporia since a 31-17 win on Oct 1, 2011 - a current streak of three games in Welch Stadium.
 
 Series notes
Series Record_________________ ESU leads 57-52-6
Streaks_______________________ ESU has won the last four meetings
First Meeting__________________ ESU 11-0 (11/04/1899) in Topeka
Last Meeting__________________ ESU 34-31 OT (10/27/2018) in Topeka
Last WU Win__________________ 36-10 (1001/2014) in Topeka
Last ESU Win__________________ ESU 34-31 OT (10/27/2018) in Topeka
Largest WU Win_______________ 42-0 (11/6/2010) in Topeka
Largest ESU Win_______________ 45-6 (11/02/1928) in Emporia
 
 Coaching
Washburn Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
>  was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
>  is 118-85 (.599) in his 18th season as the Ichabod head coach.
>  is 100-73 (.603) against the MIAA.
>  has led the Ichabods to three NCAA Playoff appearances and four bowl appearances and three bowl 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 118 wins.
>  is 10-7 against Emporia State.
 
Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins . . .
>  has a career record of 131-76 in his 18th season as a head coach.
>  is 80-66 in his 13th season at his alma mater.
>  is 71-42 since the start of the 2010 season. He led the Hornets to the NCAA Playoffs in three of the last four years with a national semifinal appearance in 2015.
>  had a 51-9 career record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma, including two trips to the national championship game.
>  was quarterback for Emporia State from 1987-90 and was on the 1989 national runners-up team.
>  is 6-6 against Washburn.
 
 Dee's World - Honoring #17
This season, a different Ichabod will be wearing No. 17 to honor Dwane Simmons, a senior cornerback who passed away on April 28, 2019. The mass media major was set to graduate this December.
>  Game 1 vs Lincoln - Alvin Houston … Houston had one tackle in the game starting at safety.
>  Game 2 vs Northwest Missouri - James Letcher, Jr. … Letcher had 8 catches for 113 yards and one score and finished with 182 all-purpose yards.
>  Game 3 vs Fort Hays State - Josh Wright … Wright recorded eight tackles with five solo stops and added a pass break up.
>  Game 4 vs Central Missouri - Kevin Neal, Jr. ... Neal led the Ichabods with eight total tackles with a tackle for loss.
>  Game 5 vs Missouri Western - Channon Ross ... Ross had a career-high eight tackles adding a pass breakup.
>  Game 6 vs Northeastern State - James Letcher, Jr. … Letcher had five catches for a team-high 87 yards and one touchdown adding two carries for 21 yards and two punt returns for 35 yards tallying 143 all purpose yards.
>  Game 7 vs Missouri Southern - Channon Ross … Ross had five total tackles with two solo stops.
>  Game 8 vs Central Oklahoma - Kevin Neal, Jr. … Neal had five total tackles with two solo stops.
>  Game 9 vs Emporia State - Alvin Houston
>  Game 10 vs Pittsburg State - Senior Day - no one will wear #17
>  Game 11 vs Nebraska-Kearney - Josh Wright
 
 Ichabod team captains
>  The 2019 Ichabod team captains are seniors Kyle Emerick, Kyle Hinton, Alvin Houston, Austen Hubert, Will Jones, Josh Wright and junior Mitch Schurig.
 
 Ichabod notes
> Mitch Schurig has moved into the top 10 list at Washburn on the all-time touchdowns thrown chart … he enters the Emporia State game with 30 ranked 10th on the Ichabod chart and he needs 150 passing yards to move into the top 10 on the career passing chart.
> Schurig's 63.3 completion percentage (124 of 196) is first on the Ichabod single season chart ahead of Dane Simoneau's 60.2 set in 2009 (186 of 309).
> James Letcher, Jr.'s 27.4 career kickoff return average is currently the best in school history.
> Josh Wright's 33 career passes defended (28 breakups, 5 INTs) is second on the Ichabod chart.
> Mitch Schurig's 27 completions against Missouri Southern last time out was a career high.
> Of Zach Willis' eight rushing touchdowns, four have come against Missouri Southern.
> James Letcher, Jr. is second in the MIAA in all purpose yards per game at 168.0 ypg and he is ranked ninth in the nation in the same category.
> James Letcher, Jr. is 15th in the nation in kickoff return average per game at 27.8 per return ranking second in the MIAA.
> The Ichabods are second in the nation and first in the MIAA in fumbles recovered with 12.
> Washburn is ninth in the nation in net punting averaging 38.61 which also leads the league.
> The Ichabods are 12th in the nation in punt return defense allowing 2.83 yards per return.
> The Ichabods were 29 of 49 (59 percent) on third down the first three games of the season, but in the last four games have gone 26 of 72 (36 percent).
> The Ichabods, who wore the gray jersey tops against Central Oklahoma last weekend, are 6-8 while wearing those tops since the 2013 season going 0-2 on homecomings.
> Ichabod opponents have scored on five of their eight second half-opening drives this season scoring four touchdowns with a field goal.
 
 Noting the Hornets
> The Hornets are 2-6 this season having lost their last four games including a 28-0 loss to Missouri Western last time out.
> The two wins for ESU this season came in a 51-14 win over Northeastern State and a 50-7 win over Lincoln.
> The Hornets are ranked 10th in the MIAA in total offense at 371.5 yards per game and third in total defense allowing 339.6 yards per game.
> ESU is ranked ninth in rush offense (152.4 ypg) and fourth in rush defense (162.8 ypg).
> ESU is 12th in the MIAA in sacks allowed this season with 25 for 143 yards and 10th in the MIAA in total sacks with nine through eight games and sixth in interceptions with eight.
> ESU has been outscored 63 to 25 in the fourth quarter of games this season.
> Carlos Grace leads the team with 55.4 yards per game on the ground rushing for five touchdowns.
> Dalton Cowaan has completed 162 of 273 passes for 1,592 yards (199.0 per game) with 11 toucdhowns and five interceptions.
> Cole Schumacher has a team-high 33 receptions for 336 yards and Dexton Swinhart has 30 catches for 367 yards.
> Jace McDown has a team-high 74 tackles with 6.0 for loss with an interception to lead the Hornets.
 
 Last meeting with Emporia State
(Oct. 27, 2018) Topeka, Kan.-- For only the second time in 115 meetings, 60 minutes was not enough to decide the game and for the second time the Washburn Ichabods came up short falling 34-31 in overtime to Emporia State in Yager Stadium. Washburn (4-5, 4-5 MIAA) will return to action next Saturday at Pittsburg State.
In the extra frame, the Hornets (5-4, 5-4 MIAA) won the coin toss and elected to be on defense first. Washburn converted a third and 15 from the ESU 30 to the Hornet 4-yard line after a 26-yard completion from Mitch Schurig to Jace Williams. Three carries by Will Evans moved the ball to the Hornet one, but a false start pushed it back to the six on a fourth down and forced Washburn to line up for a 23-yard field goal which Perry Schmiedeler hit to put the Ichabods up 31-28.
On the Hornets first play from scrimmage, they gained 17 yards on a rush up the middle and Braxton Marstall hit Justin Brown on an 8-yard touchdown pass for the game-ending touchdown and the 34-31 win. It was ESU's Brown who blocked a potential game-winning field goal by the Ichabods on the final play of regulation which sent the contest to the overtime period.
The Hornets scored the only points of the first quarter on a Marstall to Jordan Reed touchdown pass with 6:10 to play. The Ichabods tied it on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Schurig to James Brania-Hopp for the first of three touchdown catches by Brania-Hopp en route to a career-high 217 receiving yards on eight catches. His receiving total was tied for the fifth-best on the Ichabod single-game chart becoming only on of six Ichabods to have at least 200 receiving yards in a game. It also moved his season total to 992 yards looking to become the first Ichabod since DaJuan Beard to go over 1,000 yards in a season when Beard recorded 1,029 in 2011.
ESU would go up on the ensuing drive with 11:52 to play in the first half before Brania-Hopp caught his second touchdown catch of the day on an 18-yard grab tying the score at 14-14. Washburn took the lead on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Schurig to Marcus Meier with 2:53 to play in the first half staking the Ichabods to a 21-14 lead, but the Hornets returned serve with a score of their own to tie the game before the halftime horn sounded.
The Hornets took a 28-21 lead with 2:31 to go in the third quarter for the only points of the frame and on the second play of the fourth quarter, Brania-Hopp pulled down his third touchdown of the day wrapping up a 65-yard drive with 14:51 to play finishing the scoring before the overtime period.
Schurig finished with 397 yards passing a four scores completing 25 of 43 passes hitting nine different receivers on the afternoon. Will Hamilton had four catches for 66 yards. The 397 passing yards was a career high for Schurig and seventh on the Ichabod single-game chart.
On the ground, Curtis Whitten had seven carries for 31 yards and Schmiedeler converted a fake punt for a 31-yard gain setting up a score for the Ichabods.
Austin Tillman had 12 tackles to lead the Ichabod defense. Josh Wright, Corey Ballentine and Brooks Peavler each had six tackles with Ballentine adding an interception. Grant Bruner and Kevin Neal, Jr. also had interceptions for the Ichabod defense.
Washburn outgained the Hornets 526 to 524 and the teams combined for 1050 of total offense in the game. ESU ran 90 plays in the game compared to 81 for Washburn. On the ground, ESU outgained the Ichabods 151 to 129 and through the air the Ichabods had a 397 to 373 lead.
 
 Last time out for the Ichabods
TOPEKA, Kan. – A field goal with three seconds remaining in the game spelled disaster for the Ichabods as Central Oklahoma spoiled the Washburn Homecoming game in a 22-20 loss on Saturday in Yager Stadium.
The Ichabods took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in 10 plays as Taylon Peters scored on a 15-yard run staking the Ichabods to a 7-0 lead. The Bronchos (3-5, 3-5 MIAA) came back with a field goal on their next possession cutting the lead to 7-3 for the only points in the first quarter as the teams struggled combining for 138 total yards.
In the second quarter, the only points scored were by Central Oklahoma when they sacked the Ichabods for a safety with 5:46 left as Washburn took a 7-5 lead into the halftime break.
Central Oklahoma scored on its first possession of the second half as Chandler Garrett hit Dustin Basks for a 26-yard touchdown putting the Bronchos up 12-7 with 12:29 to play in the third quarter, but the Ichabods came back and cut the UCO lead to 12-10 after a 20-yard field goal by Kameron Lake. After the Ichabod (3-5, 3-5 MIAA) defense held the Bronchos to a punt on the ensuing drive, Washburn took the lead at 13-12 after Lake's second field goal of the day on a 36-yard field goal with 5:24 to go in the third quarter.
UCO went up 19-13 with 1:23 to play in the frame when Garrett scored from 2-yards out wrapping a 10-play drive.
Starting the fourth quarter, Washburn used a nine-play, 65-yard drive of their own to go up 20-19 when Mitch Schurig hit Jace Williams for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 13:19 left in the game.
After the teams traded punts, UCO took what would be the game-winning drive covering 10 plays and 71 yards converting two third down plays and a fourth down play for a first down setting up the 20-yard field goal by Alex Quevedo for the winner.
Grant Bruner led the Ichabods with a career-high-tying 10 tackles and K.J. Turner added eight with seven solo stops. Jacob Anderson, Braden Rose and Malick Fall each had sacks for the Ichabods and Josh Wright had an interception.
Peters finished with 54 yards on the ground on 13 carries and one score while Schurig was 18 of 31 for 157 yards and one touchdown and was sacked three times. James Letcher, Jr., had five catches for 47 yards finishing with 144 all-purpose yards in the game with 98 coming on kickoff returns.
Washburn was outgained 343 to 289 in the game while the Ichabods had 24 first downs compared to 20 for UCO. Washburn was flagged for a season-high 13 penalties for 106 yards with four leading to a UCO first downs.
 
 A win over Emporia State would
> lift the Ichabods to 558-590-44 in their football history.
>  snap a four-game winning streak by the Hornets in the series.
>  improve the Ichabods to 4-5 on the season.
>  move the series record to ESU leading 57-53-6.
>  be the first win over ESU since a 36-10 win on Nov. 1, 2014 in Topeka.
>  be Washburn's first win in Emporia since a 31-17 win on Oct 1, 2011 snapping a three-game losing streak in Welch Stadium.
 
 A Loss to Emporia State would
> drop the Ichabods to 557-591-44 in their football history.
> drop the Ichabods to 3-6 on the season.
> drop the Ichabods 52-58-6 all-time against the Hornets.
> be the fifth in a row by the Hornets over the Ichabods.
> the fourth-straight win by ESU over the Ichabods in Emporia.
> the seventh win in the last eight meetings by ESU between the two teams.
> the longest winning streak by ESU in the series since winning 11 in a row between 1991 and 2001.
 
 Ichabod football history
>  Washburn is 557-590-44 (.484) in the 129th 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.
>  Washburn has made 12 postseason appearances including bowl games and tournament games going 5-2 in seven bowl games.
>  Six Ichabods have been picked in the NFL Draft.
 
 Ichabods in the national polls
The Ichabods, under head coach Craig Schurig, have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 66 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times.
 
 Up next
The Ichabods will then host Pittsburg State on Nov. 9 wrapping up the home slate on senior day in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods will finish off the regular season at Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 16.