TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod football team tossed its first shutout in 73 games and recorded the first shutout on Homecoming since 1989 in a 35-0 win over Northeastern State in Yager Stadium on Saturday. Washburn, who improves to 7-2 on the season, will battle another 7-2 team next weekend in Pittsburg when the Ichabods travel to face the Gorillas.
The Ichabods did not waste anytime taking the lead as they marched 88 yards on seven plays when
Mitch Schurig hit
Peter Afful for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 11:29 to play in the opening quarter as the Ichabods took the 7-0 lead over the RiverHawks, who fell to 2-7 on the season.
After the teams traded punts the remainder of the first quarter, the Ichabods scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Schurig to
Matthew Simmons from 18 yards out with 11:50 to play in the half giving the Ichabods a 14-0 lead after the PAT from
Trenton Brehm. The RiverHawks after an Ichabod punt drove to the Ichabod 26-yard line, but their 43-yard field goal attempt was pushed right keeping the shutout intact.
Washburn, who also lifted its record to 49-45-1 on Homecoming, forced a RiverHawk punt and then went up 21-0 after Simmons recorded his second touchdown pass of the day on a 14-yard reception from
Kellen Simoncic. The Ichabod defense forced another NSU punt and Washburn went 87 yards in nine plays when
Zach Willis scored from 5-yards out staking the Ichabods to a 28-0 lead with 4:08 to play in the third quarter.
The Ichabods wrapped up the scoring on a 4-yard run by
Tyler Bowden scoring his first collegiate touchdown with 10:12 to go in the game.
The Ichabods used 13 ball carriers in the game with Willis leading the way with 85 yards on 14 carries and
Taylon Peters has 10 attempts for 72 yards.
Will King III entered the game and had five carries for 66 yards.
In recording their first shutout since a 41-0 win over Fort Valley State on Oct, 17, 2013, the Ichabods held the RiverHawks to 98 yards of total offense in the second half and 143 for the game.
Brooks Peavler led the Ichabods with eight tackles while
Grant Bruner had six.
Isaac Keener had two sacks and
Malick Fall added one as the team finished with seven tackles for loss overall.
Simoncic finished 8 for 17 for 131 yards and one score and Schurig was 7 of 9 for 112 yards and two touchdowns playing only the first quarter.
Afful,
Jace Williams and Simmons each had three catches in the game with Afful finished with 72, Williams had 60 and Simmons had 38 with the two scores.
Washburn finished with 30 first downs rushing for 292 yards on 52 carries averaging 5.6 yards per carry while the Riverhawks were limited to 56 yards on 32 attempts. Washburn finished with 257 yards passing while the RiverHawks had 87. As a team, Washburn had 549 yards of total offense compared to 143 for NSU.
The last time the Ichabods recorded a shutout on Homecoming was on Oct. 7, 1989 in a 9-0 win over Lincoln.
