SEARCY, Ark. – The Washburn Ichabods had their season come to an end with a 30-14 loss to No. 7-ranked Harding Bisons in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs Satruday. The Ichabods finish the season 9-3 with their most wins since going 10-2 in 2011.
 
Harding (11-1) scored on its first drive of the game going up 7-0 after the Ichabods punted on their first drive of the game. The teams traded punts three times the finish out the quarter and in the second quarter Harding took a 10-0 lead with 8:58 to play in the first half.
 
On the ensuing kickoff, James Letcher, Jr., returned his third kickoff return of his career and his second of the season for 97 yards trimming the Harding lead to 10-7, but the Bisons came right back and scored seven plays later with 5:00 to play in the first half going up 17-7.
 
The Bisons added a 45-yard field goal as the clock expired to end the half taking the 20-7 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
Harding took the second half kickoff and converted two fourth down conversions en route to a 12-yard touchdown run to go up 27-7 with 6:39 to play in the third.
 
The Ichabods cut into the lead at 27-14 when Mitch Schurig hit Letcher, Jr. for a 15-yard strike with 12:37 to play in the game. Washburn held Harding to a field goal on its next possession with 7:11 to play as Harding increased its lead to 30-14 wrapping up the scoring for both teams.
 
Kevin Neal, Jr., had a career-high 16 tackles with 13 solo stops adding two tackles for loss. Grant Bruner had 15 tackles and Brooks Peavler had 12.
 
Letcher, Jr. finished with 198 all-purpose yard with 113 total kickoff returns and 76 receiving on four receptions. Peter Afful had 53 yards on four catches.
 
Schurig was 12 of 28 for 214 yards and one score.
 
Overall the Bisons ran 93 plays for 473 yards compared to 36 for the Ichabods for 212 yards.