TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods celebrate Family Day by ringing up a 47-41 win over Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon in Yager Stadium. The Ichabods move to 3-1 with the win and will travel down the turnpike to face Emporia State next weekend.
 
Washburn opened the scoring on its first drive of the game as James Letcher, Jr., pulled down a 30-yard catch and run from Mitch Schurig as the Ichabods took the early lead. However the Griffons came back with a 13-play, 90-yard of the their own tying the score with 7:37 to go in the first quarter.
 
Connor Searcy put the Ichabods up 14-7 after hauling in a 3-yard reception just before the end of the quarter. But as before the Griffons came back with a score of their own tying the score at 14.
 
Missouri Western took a 20-14 lead midway through the second quarter, but the extra point was missed. Five plays later, Peter Afful scored on a 30-yard reception, but the Ichabod extra point was missed and the score remained tied at 20-20 going into the break.
 
The Griffons regained the lead on a 36-yard touchdown reception by Hezekia Trotter, but the Ichabods needed only two plays to tie the score for the fourth time in the game as Afful collected his second touchdown reception on a 44-yard completion from Schurig.
 
Missouri Western (1-3) scored on its next drive when Cooper Burton caught a six-yard pass going up 34-27 with 9:16 to play in the third quarter. Zach Willis responded with runs of 9-yards and 13-yards to tie the score again at 34 with 5:31 to play in the third.
 
After the Ichabod defense held the Griffons to a three-and-out, Schurig hit Jace Williams for a 33-yard strike pushing the Ichabods to a 41-34. On the ensuing Griffon drive, Marquise Manning picked off Anthony Vespo at the Ichabod 17-yard line ending the Griffon drive.
 
On their first drive of the fourth quarter, Will Evans scored on a 5-yard run pushing the Washburn lead to 47-34 after the extra point attempt was blocked.
 
Brooks Peavler picked off a Vespo pass at the Ichabod 1-yard line ending another drive. After holding the Ichabods on the next drive, Missouri Western's Traveon scored on a 32-yard touchdown reception cutting the Ichabods lead to 47-41, but the onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and the Ichabods took over at their own 49.
 
Washburn ran the clock down to eight seconds and punted with three left setting up a multiple lateral play for the Griffons but they fumbled and it was recovered by Peyton Lane ending the game.
 
Schurig finished with 388 yards passing for five touchdowns completing 24 of 30 passes for 388 yards. Letcher, Jr. had five catches for 113 yards. On the ground, the Ichabods were led by Zach Willis who had 63 yards on 10 carries and one score.
 
Defensively, Brooks Peavler, Peyton Lane and Marquise Manning all had 10 tackles as Peavler and Manning each had interceptions.
 
Washburn finished with 584 yards of total offense with 147 on the ground.