FOR STARTERS
•For the first time since the 2011 season and the fourth time in the program's history, the 9-2 Washburn Ichabod football season will continue as they will face off against No. 7-ranked Harding in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs in Searcy, Ark on Nov. 20.
•Harding finished the season 10-1 in the Great American Conference and is the No. 2 ranked team in NCAA Super Region 3.
•The Ichabods and the Bisons have met only once with the Ichabods winning 20-17 on Sept. 25, 1976 at Harding.
•The Ichabods also went to the 2005, 2007 and 2011 NCAA Playoffs – all under Craig Schurig and have gone 1-3 with the win coming in 2011 against Abilene Christian in Topeka in a 52-49 win on Nov. 19, 2011 in Topeka in the opening round of the NCAA Playoffs.
•Overall it will be Washburn's 14th postseason game appearance in program history with seven bowl games and the now four NCAA appearances. In Washburn's last bowl game, in the 2018 CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl, the Ichabods defeated Angelo State 41-25. The Ichabods fell to Bemidji State in the 2016 Mineral Water Bowl. Washburn defeated Lone Star member Midwestern State in the 2010 Kan•a Bowl in Topeka 45-14. Washburn also took part in the 1986 A•tec 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.
•The Ichabods have won their last seven games played in Yager Stadium and their last six overall.
•The Washburn Ichabods remained No. 24 in the latest American Football Coaches Association top 25 poll for the second consecutive week.
•The Ichabods are ranked ninth in the nation in third down conversions moving the chains on 51 percent of their attempts while Harding leads the nation converting 57 percent of their attempts.
•The Ichabods are ranked 21st in the nation in completion percentage at 63 percent.
•The Ichabods are ranked 60th in the nation in rushing offense at 160.3 yards per game and Harding leads the nation at 400.6 yards pergame.
•The Ichabods are ranked 29th in the nation in passing offense at 264.5 yards per game and Harding is ranked 163 out of 163 teams in the nation in passing offense at 35.2 yards per game.
•The Ichabods are 16th in the nation in kickoff return defense allowing an average return of 16.23 and Harding leading the country at 12.12 per return.
•The Ichabods are 14th in the nation in red•one defense.
•Malick Fall is eighth in the nation in sacks at 1.00 per game which also leads the MIAA.
•James Letcher, Jr. is 14th in the nation in all-purpose yards at 150.7 yards per game.
•Mitch Schurig is fifth in the nation in passing efficiency (169.7) fifth in the nation in completion percentage (68.7), 20th in the nation in passing touchdowns (24) and 36th in the nation in passing yards per game (237.3).
•Harding's Cole Chancey leads the nation in total touchdowns with 23 and total points scored at 138 … his 23 rushing touchdowns also leads the nation.
 
COACHING
WASHBURN ICHABOD HEAD COACH CRAIG SCHURIG
•was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
•is 130-87 (.599) in his 20th season as the Ichabod head coach.
•is 112-75 (.603) against the MIAA.
•has led the Ichabods to four 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 130 wins.
•has never coached against Harding.
 
HARDING HEAD COACH PAUL SIMMONS
•is in his fourth season as head coach at Harding.
•has a 40-10 overall record and led Harding to the NCAA II Playoffs in each of his four three seasons, including a spot in the national semifinals in 2017.
•is in his 15th season at Harding and had been Harding's defensive coordinator for the previous seven seasons.
•was a three-time All-American defensive end and linebacker at Harding from 1992-94.
•has never coached against Washburn.
 
ICHABODS ON THE CAREER CHARTS
•Ichabod running back Zach Willis sits 11th on the all-time rushing chart with 1,795 yards. He became the 11th Ichabod to reach at least 1,600 yards on the ground in a career. Willis also is 12th with 18 career rushing touchdowns.
•Willis also has a career yards per attempt of 5.83 per carry as an Ichabod, which is seventh on the all-time chart behind Corey Crain who averaged 6.11 yards per carry.
•Ichabod quarterback Mitch Schurig has passed for 6,611 yards in his career which is third on the Ichabod career chart. Only Dane Simoneau (11,291) and Jordan Brill (7,041) have thrown for more in a Washburn uniform.
•Schurig's 507 career pass completions is second all-time at Washburn trailing Dane Simoneau who had 751 from 2007-11.
•Schurig has also thrown for 62 touchdowns which is second all-time at Washburn. The school record holder is Simoneau with 102.
•Schurig is Washburn's all-time leader in passing completion percentage at 64.2 percent ahead of current coach Dane Simoneau who completed 58 percent of his passes.
•Schurig is also ranked fifth in total offense for a career with 6,475 yards.
•James Letcher, Jr.'s 26.10 yards per kickoff return is third all-time at Washburn.
•Letcher, Jr.'s 144 career receptions is fifth on the all-time chart at Washburn and his 18 touchdown receptions is sixth.
•Letcher, Jr.'s two career kickoffs returned for touchdown is tied for first all-time at Washburn with Fletcher Terrell and Cary Williams and his 27.27 yards per return is second behind Terrell's 27.32 yards per return.
•Jace Williams' 15 touchdown receptions is 11th all-time at Washburn.
•Lane Spiker's 39.76 yards per punt average is fifth in school history … all-time leader Aaron Hummert (2011-14) had an average of 40.33.
 
ICHABODS ON THE SINGLE SEASON CHARTS
•Mitch Schurig's 68.8 (179 of 260) passing percentage is the best in school history topping his 66.1 percent in 2019.
•James Letcher, Jr.'s 64 receptions this season is tied for fifth on the single season chart and his nine touchdown receptions is tied for seventh. Letcher's 1658 all-purpose yards is tied for fourth on the single season chart.
•Malick Fall's 11 sacks is one shy of the school record and the most in a single season since the 1987 school year.
•The 30 passing touchdowns this season is fourth on the team all-time list - the record is 39 set in 2011.
 
NOTING THE BISONS
•The Bisons are 10-1 this season and riding nine-game winning streak since dropping their only game of the season on Sept. 11 at Southeastern Oklahoma State 32-31. The nine-game winning streak is the second-longest in the nation trailing Ferris State and Bowie State who each have 10 game streaks.
•Harding leads the nation in third down conversions at 57 percent moving the chains on 66 of 115 attempts.
•Harding is also ranked second in the nation in fewest penalties per game (3.27), third in fewest overall penalties (36), third in fewest penalty yards per game (32.8) and fifth in fewest penalty yards (361).
•Harding is also ranked second in fewest penalties per game (3.27), third in fewest overall penalties (36), third in fewest penalty yards per game (32.8) and fifth in fewest penalty yards (361).
•The Bison lead the country in rushing offense at 400.6 yards per game and ranked fifth in scoring offense at 43.9 points per game and their defense is ranked third in scoring defense at 11.4.
•Harding is ranked 163rd in the nation (out of 163) in passing offense throwing for 35.2 yards per game.
•Harding also leads the nation in time of possession averaging 35:52 minutes per game of clock control.
•Cole Chancey leads the nation in rushing touchdowns with 23 and his is 20th in the nation in rushing yards per game at 104.4 and 15th in total rushing yards at 1,148.
•Chancey is also third in scoring (12.5 ppg), first in total points (138) and first in total touchdowns (23).
 
LAST MEETING WITH HARDING
(Sept. 25, 1976) SEARCY, Ark. -- The Washburn Ichabods were outgained 384 to 169 but picked up a 20-17 win over Harding.
Harding scored on its first possession when David Skelton recorded a 34-yard field goal putting the Bisons up 3-0. Washburn came back to take a 7-3 lead when Jim Rodden scored on a 10-yard rush, but on the Bisons next possession, Joe David Smith scored on 1-yard run to go up 10-7. Harding increased its least to 17-7 on an 8-yard pass from Jeff Smith to Joe David Smith with 23 seconds to play in the first half.
The Ichabods scored the only points of the second half when Brent Cripps scored from 3-yards out with 2:12 to go in the third quarter and Cripps' second touchdown rush of the half with 6:25 to play in the game put the Ichabods up 20-17 after the extra point was missed.
Rodden had 51 yards on 17 carries and Cripps had 39 yards on 14 rushes.
Rodden also had 22 yards receiving on two receptions and Mike Grogan was 7 of 14 passing for 61 yards.
Allen Grieb led the Bisons with 87 yards rushing on 17 carries and Joe David Smith had 71 yards on 19 carries. Jeff Smith was 15 of 26 passing for 200 yards and one score.
Walter Handley had 16 total tackles with 14 assisted tackles and Travis Benton had 16 tackles.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
(Nov. 13, 2021) TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod football team put a bow on the regular season with one of the best ones in program history as they finished with a 9-2 record winning their sixth game in a row in a 38-28 win over Missouri Southern on Saturday in Yager Stadium.
After the Lions jumped out to a 7-0 on a 31-yard pass reception with 10:20 to go in the first quarter, the Ichabods ripped off 38-straight points starting with a 2-yard rush by Zach Willis with 5:38 to play in the first quarter capping an 11-play, 65-yard drive knotting the score at 7-7.
The Lions, who finish the season 3-8, punted on their next possession and the Ichabods needed six plays to take the lead for good at 10-7 when Trenton Brehm hit a 34-yard field goal.
Washburn pushed the lead to 17-7 when Mitch Schurig hit Peter Afful on a 60-yard touchdown strike with 11:28 to go in the first half finishing off an 8-play, 94-yard drive. Neither team would score until Schurig connected with Jace Williams with 33 seconds to play in the half on an 11-yard pass as Washburn took a 24-7 lead into the break.
Washburn had the opening possession of the second half and Schurig scored his second career rushing touchdown with a 1-yard sneak as the Ichabods went up 31-7 and after a Missouri Southern fumble on a punt attempt giving the Ichabods the ball at the Missouri Southern 1, Colton Dunkle moved from the offensive line to fullback and scored wrapping up the Ichabod scoring going up 38-14.
The Lions scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter cutting the lead to 38-28 but would get no closer as the Ichabods wrapped up senior day with a win.
Taylon Peters had 123 rushing yards on 11 attempts averaging 11.2 yards per carry and Willis finished with 74 yards on 20 carries.
Schurig was 20 of 27 passing for 225 yards and two scores. James Letcher, Jr., had eight catches for 73 yards with 66 coming after the catch.
Defensively, the Ichabods were led by Peyton Lane who had 10 tackles with eight solo stops. Christian Clark and Grant Bruner each had six. Chase Ast had two sacks.
Washburn outgained the Lions 472 to 371 and recorded 247 yards on the ground rushing.
The nine wins for the Ichabods is the most since recording 11 during the 2011 season when the Ichabods reached the NCAA Playoffs in their last appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
 
 A WIN OVER HARDING
•move Washburn to 10-2 on the season.
•tie the most wins by Ichabod team with 10 and be the most 10 Washburn had nine in 2011 finishing the year 10-2.
•be the Ichabods' second-straight win over the Bisons.
•snap Harding's 13-game home field winning streak and its nine-game winning streak overall.
•improve the Ichabods to 2-0 all-time against the Bisons.
•improve the Ichabods to 2-3 all-time in the NCAA playoffs and their first win since Nov. 19, 2011 in a 52-49 win over Abilene Christian in Topeka in the first round of the playoffs.
•be better than a loss.
 
A LOSS TO HARDING
•snap Washburn's six-game winning streak ending the season at 9-3.
•drop the Icchabods to 1-4 all-time in the NCAA playoffs.
•be the Bisons' 14th win in a row on their home field.
•tie the series between the Ichabods and the Bisons at 1-1.
 
 MISSOURI SOUTHERN LEFTOVERS ... THE WIN
•moved Washburn to 9-2 to end the regular season.
•are the most wins in a regular season since Washburn had nine in 2011 finishing the year 10-2.
•was the Ichabods' sixth-straight win over the Lions.
•was the Ichabods' seventh-straight win in Yager Stadium.
•improved the Ichabods to 27-21-1 all-time against the Lions.
 
 2021 All-MIAA HONORS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Washburn football team earned an Ichabod MIAA-high 18 selections to the all-conference football that was released Tuesday by the MIAA office. The Ichabods were honored with the special teams player of the year, six first-team selections, two second-team picks, three third-team selections and six additional players voted to the honorable mention all-MIAA squad. The Ichabods open up the NCAA postseason on Saturday against No. 3-ranked Harding in Searcy, Ark. The six first-team selections tie for the most top picks with the 2005 Ichabod squad and the total 18 all-MIAA selections is the most in program history and the most since the 2011 team had 16 honorees.
Senior James Letcher, Jr. was named the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year as well as earning first-team honors at wide receiver and first-team accolades at kick/punt returner. He's the first Ichabod to be named the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year since placekicker Steve Ivanisevic was following the 2010 season. Letcher is second in the league averaging 27.24 per kickoff return and ranks third in the league in punt returns averaging 9.7 yards per return. As a receiver he is third in the league with 5.8 receptions per game and his 77.4 receiving yards per game is third and he is also second in touchdown receptions. He also is second in the MIAA in all-purpose yards with 150.7 per game.
Senior Mitch Schurig was a first-team all-MIAA selection at quarterback. He is fourth in the MIAA in passing yards per game (237.3) and third in the league in touchdown passes (24) and sixth in the MIAA in total offense (227.4) per game. Schurig is also ranked third in passing efficiency (169.7), fourth in completions (180), third in passing yards per attempt (9.1) and second in completion percentage (68.1).
Senior offensive lineman Colton Dunkle was a first-team selection after helping the Ichabods to the third-best scoring offense in the league.
Senior defensive end Malick Fall earned first-team honors after leading the MIAA in sacks with 11 – one shy of the Ichabod single-season record of 12 set in 1984. He also finished fifth in the MIAA in fumbles recovered and had three sacks in two different games against Lincoln and Northwest Missouri this season. He has 37 total tackles this season and 13.5 tackles for loss.
Senior defensive back Marquise Manning was a first-team selection after leading the MIAA in passes defended (12) with nine back-ups and three interceptions, which tied for fourth in the league. Manning has 26 tackles with 22 solo stops.
Senior Jace Williams was a second-team all-MIAA selection at tight end after finished 10th in the MIAA with six touchdown receptions. He finished the regular season with 32 receptions for 480 yards averaging 15 yard per catch.
Junior defensive tackle Landen Urban was a second team all-MIAA pick after finishing fourth in the regular season in the conference rankings with six sacks. Urban has 10 tackles for loss for 53 yards adding a forced fumble.
Earning third-team all-MIAA honors is sophomore Bergan Hofer on the offensive line. He has helped the Ichabods to the third-best scoring offense in the league.
Junior Braden Rose was named a third-team all-MIAA pick as a defensive lineman. He finished 16th in the MIAA in sacks and he has 32 total tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss for 24 yards and also had a 75-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown at Central Oklahoma.
Senior Brooks Peavler was named third-team defensive at linebacker. He ranks 29th in the MIAA in tackles with 5.36 per game and he is second on the Ichabods with 59 total tackles adding four tackles for loss and an interception.
Sophomore Taylon Peters was an honorable mention all-MIAA selection at running back leading the Ichabods with 694 yards rushing on 133 carries scoring four touchdowns. He also had 26 receptions, which is third on the Ichabods for 232 yards and one touchdown. He is seventh in the MIAA in rushing yards per game at 63.9.
Freshman Peter Afful was an honorable mention all-MIAA pick at wide receiver. So far this season he has 25 catches for 507 yards and eight touchdowns with an average reception of 20.3 yards per catch. He is tied for third in the MIAA in touchdown receptions with eight and second in the MIAA in yards per catch.
Sophomore Andrew Funk was an honorable mention selection on the offensive line. He has helped the Ichabods to the third-best scoring offense in the league.
Junior Kevin Neal was an honorable mention all-MIAA selection at defensive back after finishing the regular season 34th in the MIAA in tackles. He is third on the ichabods with 49 total tackles and has one interception and a forced fumble.
Senior Lane Spiker earned honorable mention honors at punter. His 38.5 yards per punt is fifth in the MIAA. He has placed 12 punts inside the 20 and had four punts for more than 50 yards.
 
ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
•Washburn is 564-587-44 (.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 171 first team all-MIAA picks and 53 first team all-MIAA selections.
•Washburn has had 83 All-American selections and 56 All-American picks since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in 1989.
•Washburn has made 14 postseason appearances including bowl games and tournament games going 5-2 in seven bowl games.
•Seven 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 73 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times.
 
UP NEXT
A win will send the Ichabods to the second round of the NCAA playoffs where they will take on the winner of the Northwest Missouri/Central Washington game on Nov. 27. A loss a would mean the Ichabods will open the 2022 season the first week of September against Lincoln in Yager Stadium.