TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Washburn Ichabod defense held Northeastern State to 54 yards in the second half forcing six punts and
Taylon Peters scored on a 3-yard run with 1:49 to go in the game as the Ichabods won their 10th game in a row over Northeastern State in a 21-17 win on Saturday in Tahlequah. The Ichabods will open up the home slate with undefeated Pittsburg State on senior day Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. in Yager Stadium.
After trailing 17-6 at the break, Washburn (6-3, 6-3 MIAA) had the first possession of the frame, but an interception on the first play of the drive returned the ball back to the host RiverHawks, but the Ichabods defense forced the first of their six punts in the half and Washburn took over. On the drive, Peters had rushes for 22, 3, 2, 9 and 22 for the score with 10:27 left in the third quarter cutting the NSU lead 17-12. Peters would then catch the 2-point conversion from
Kellen Simoncic trimming the lead back to 17-14.
On the go-ahead drive,
Jared Taylor connected with
James Letcher, Jr., on a 25-yard strike converting a third and 7 and after two rushes by Peters, with a pass from Taylor to Letcher in between, Peters rushed for 2, 7, 4, 7 and the 3-yard scoring touchdown with 1:49 putting the Ichabods up 20-17 following the extra point by
Kameron Lake.
The RIverHawks moved the ball to the Ichabod 50 with 33 seconds to go, but did not complete the fourth and 6 turning the ball back to the Ichabods and a kneel down by Taylor finished the game recording
Craig Schurig's 15th winning season at the helm of the Washburn program in his 20th season on the sidelines.
Grant Bruner and
Derrick McClendon each had nine tackles and
Jordan Finnesy had seven stops – all solo and
Peyton Lane had six. Over the Ichabods had seven tackles for loss for 26 yards with
Phoenix Smith recording the lone sack for nine yards.
Peters became the first Ichabod since he accomplished the feat himself on Nov. 13, 2021 to go over 100 yards rushing in a game recording 108 yards and two scores on 20 carries to lead the Ichabods' 171-yard rushing attack.
Tyler Bowden had five carries for 49 yards.
Letcher, Jr., had 11 catches for 77 yards giving him 69 receptions this season for 888 yards.
Peter Afful scored Washburn's first touchdown of the game with 13:50 left in the 2
nd quarter on a 39-yard touchdown pass from
Kellen Simoncic finishing with four catches for 68 yards.
Washburn outgained the RiverHawks (1-8, 1-8 MIAA) 378 to 277 in the game holding NSU to 37 yards in the third quarter and 21 net yards in the fourth quarter. The Ichabods, who were limited to 3 of 14 on third downs in the game.