FOR STARTERS
• The Washburn Ichabods will make their final appearance in Yager Stadium on Nov. 5 when they will play host to No. 5-ranked Pittsburg State with a 1 p.m. kickoff.
• The game will also be the final game for 21 seniors in Yager Stadium: Peter Afful, Collin Wilson, Kevin Neal, Jr., Derrick McClendon, Hunter Browning, Nicholas Wright, Jamison Phelps, Micah Skebo, Channon Ross, James Letcher, Jr., Brendan Harden, Jared Taylor, Peyton Lane, Christian Clark, Alex Thomas, Grant Bruner, Landen Urban, Braden Rose, Jack Hamilton, Je'Shon Edwards and Daniel Piburn.
• The Ichabods (6-3, 6-3 MIAA) led the final 1:49 of the game rallying for a 21-17 win at Northeastern State last time out.
• The Gorillas (9-0, 9-0 MIAA) clinched at least a share of the MIAA title with a 38-7 win at Central Oklahoma last time out.
• Washburn leads the MIAA in scoring offense at 33.8 ppg and is ranked fifth in scoring defense allowing 22.3 ppg.
• Pittsburg State is fourth in the MIAA in scoring offense at 32.9 ppg and first in scoring defense allowing 14.3 ppg.
• Washburn is second in the MIAA in total offense at 424.1 yards per game while the Gorillas are second in the MIAA in total defense allowing 275.6 ypg.
• The Ichabods are looking for their fifth-straight win against the Gorillas - the longest winning streak since winning six in a row between 1928 and 1933 … two other times in the series history the Ichabods have won four games in a row over the Gorillas.
• Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig has 10 of Washburn's 27 wins against Pittsburg State in the  91 overall meetings.
• Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig spent eight years as a graduate assistant and full-time assistant at Pittsburg State from 1993-2001 prior to coming to Washburn.
• Ichabod football strength and conditioning coach David Trupp was the defensive line and offseason strength and condition coordinator for the Gorillas from 1996 to 1998.
 
BLUE NOTES
• The Ichabods are 13th in the nation in third down conversions at 49 percent, ranked 16th in first downs, 11th in net punting, fifth in punt returns, 13th in passing offense and 18th in sacks allowed.
• Kellen Simoncic is sixth in the nation in passing touchdowns with 25 and 20th in the nation in total offense at 270.9 yards per game. He also is ranked sixth in the nation in points responsible for per game at 19.6 leading the MIAA as well.
• Grant Bruner leads the nation in tackles at 12.6 per game and is first in solo tackles with 7.9 per game.
• James Letcher, Jr., is 17th in the nation receiving touchdowns (8), 13th in receiving yards (878), 14th in receiving yards per game (97.6) and eighth in receptions per game (7.7). He is also 23rd in all-purpose yards (141.7).
• James Letcher, Jr. is ranked third in active NCAA D2 players with 5,323 all-purpose yards and fourth with 2,794 receiving yards and third with 217 receptions.
• James Letcher, Jr., needs six kickoff returns and 129 kickoff return yards to become Washburn's all-time leader.
• Kameron Lake's 113 PAT's is tied for third all-time at Washburn trailing Connor Sabel who had 157.
• The Ichabods were picked fourth in the MIAA preseason media and coaches polls.
• Grant Bruner's 71 solo tackles this season is tied for fourth on the all-tie chart trailing Bill Guidetti who had 88 in 1984.
• James Letcher, Jr.'s 69 pass receptions is third on the Ichabod single season chart trailing Joe Hastings' 87 catches in 2010 and Ron Hamilton's 84 in 1980 … Letcher's 7.67 receptions per game is second on the season chart behind Hamilton's 8.4 catches per game.
 
COACHES
Washburn Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
• was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
• is 136-91 (.599) in his 21st season as the Ichabod head coach and the sixth-longest tenured football coach in MIAA history.
• is 118-76 (.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 135 wins.
• is 10-8 against Pittsburg State.
 
Pittsburg State head coach Brian Wright . . . 
• Brian Wright is in his third season as head coach at Pittsburg State.
• he was hired as the program's 15th all-time head coach on December 7, 2019. Wright led the Gorillas to a 2-2 record during the abbreviated 2020 season; and he has compiled an 19-5 overall mark at Pitt State. He has a  23-5 record as a collegiate head coach.
• Wright came to Pitt State after serving the previous four seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Toledo.
• In his four seasons with the Rockets, Wright helped guide offenses that have been among the best in the Mid-American Conference while boasting four NFL draft picks.
• Prior to coming to Toledo, Wright coached at Florida Atlantic for four seasons as the Owls' offensive coordinator. He stepped in as interim head coach for the final four games of the 2013 season, leading the Owls to four consecutive victories and bowl eligibility (6-6) for the first time since 2008.
• is 0-1 against Washburn.
 
CAREER CHARTS
• James Letcher, Jr. has 1,642 career kickoff return yards on 46 attempts. Washburn's all-time leader is Clarence Taylor (1974-77) who had 1,771 yards on 72 returns - both Washburn records.
• James Letcher, Jr.'s 24.5 yards per kickoff return is second all-time at Washburn behind Fletcher Terrell's 27.32 yard per return average.
• James Letcher, Jr.'s became the ninth Ichabod to go over the 2,000-yard mark in career receiving yards now standing with 2,794 yards, which is fourth all-time at Washburn … his 217 career receptions tops on the all-time chart and his 27 touchdown receptions is fifth.
• James Letcher, Jr.'s has 5,323 career all-purpose yards is the most in school history breaking Troy Slusser's mark of  5,210 yards on Homecoming.
• James Letcher, Jr. needs two points to become the 10th Ichabod to go over 200 points scored in a career standing at 198 entering the Pittsburg State game.
 
NOTING THE GORILLAS
• The Gorillas are one of eight undefeated teams in the D2 ranks entering the game with a 9-0 record.
• Pitt State has secured at least a share of the 2022 MIAA Championship – the program's first MIAA title since
2014.
• Caleb Lewis leads the team on the ground with 714 yards and eight touchdowns averaging 79.3 yards per game.
• Chad Dodson, Jr., has completed 137 of 245 passes with 22 touchdowns throwing four interceptions averaging 238.1 yards per game.
• Christian Carter is averaging 51.0 yards per game tying for the team high with five touchdowns.
• P.J. Sarwinski leads the team with 57 tackles adding 7.5 tackles for loss for 19 yards and Dubem Okonkwo leads the squad with 10.0 tackles for loss with a team-high 7.5 sacks.
• Cross Holmes with 3 for 7 on field goal attempts having two blocked and Dominik Stadlman is averaging 37.8 yards per punt.
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE GORILLAS
(Nov. 6, 2021) – PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods' Jace Williams blocked a potential game-winning field goal with 30 seconds to play as the Ichabods survived 10 penalties and three turnovers in a 28-26 win at Carnie Smith Stadium. Washburn improves to 8-2 on the season with the win winning its fourth-straight game over the Gorillas and the fourth in a row in Pittsburg. 
After the Ichabods (8-2) moved the ball to the Pitt State 11, Washburn fumbled with 3:24 to play leading 28-26. Pitt State (7-3) took over and drove down to the WU 16 before Cross Holmes 26-yard field was blocked by Williams securing the win after one kneel down by the Ichabods.
The Ichabods took the early lead at 7-0 after an interception by Peyton Lane set up the Washburn 3-yard line. Zach Willis scored on the next play putting the Ichabods up.
The Gorillas tied the score on a scoop and score with 8:54 to play in the first quarter to wrap up the first quarter scoring.
Pittsburg State took the lead wrapping up a 12-play, 71-yard drive going up 14-7 but the Ichabods came back on their next drive tying the score at 14 on a Taylon Peters 6-yard run with 6:26 to play in the half.
After a 22-yard field goal by the Gorillas putting them up 17-14, Washburn took a 21-17 lead right before the half when Mitch Schurig hit James Letcher, Jr., on a 12-yard pass.
Neither team scored in the third quarter and the Ichabods opened the fourth quarter with a 16-play, 93-yard drive finished off by a 5-yard pass and catch from Schurig to Letcher as Washburn went up 28-17.
Pitt State cut the score to 28-20 at a field goal with 9:05 to play in the game and on the ensuing kickoff by the Gorillas, the Ichabods fumbled the kick and with 6:58 to go, the Gorillas cut the lead back to 28-26 but the 2-point conversion failed setting up the final minutes for the Ichabod win.
Willis finished with 73 yards on 15 carries. Schurig finished the game 15 of 21 passing with two scores.
Letcher had nine catches for 128 yards and two scores tallying 219 all-purpose yards.
Defensively the Ichabods were led by Grant Bruner who had a career-high 20 tackles with 10 solo stops adding a tackle for loss. Kevin Neal, Jr. had 8 tackles as the team finished with four sacks and six tackles for loss.
Washburn was outgained 400 to 316 in the game and was flagged for 10 penalties for 106 yards while Pitt State had eight for 73.
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH PITTSBURG STATE
• The Ichabods trail the all-time series with the Gorillas 63-27-1, but have won the last four overall and nine of the last 14 including four-straight in Pittsburg … overall in games played in Pittsburg the Gorillas are 14-29-1.
• Washburn is 13-33 in games played in Topeka.
• Overall Washburn is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
• The Ichabods are looking for their fifth-straight win against the Gorillas - the longest winning streak since winning six in a row between 1928 and 1933 … two other times in the series history the Ichabods have won four games in a row over the Gorillas.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
(Oct. 29, 2022) 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 2nd 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.

NORTHEASTERN STATE LEFTOVERS … THE WIN
• moved the Ichabods to 6-3 and be the 10th-straight win over the RiverHawks.
• was Washburn's fifth-straight win in Tahlequah.
• improved the Ichabods to 11-1 all-time against the RiverHawks.
 
A WIN OVER PITTSBURG STATE
• move the Ichabods to 7-3 and be the fifth-straight win over the Gorillas.
• be Washburn's second-straight win over the Gorillas in Topeka.
• improve the Ichabods to 28-63-1 all-time against Pittsburg State.
• be better than losing.
 
A LOSS TO THE GORILLAS
• drop the Ichabods to 6-4 on the season.
• snap a four-game winning streak over the Gorillas.
• be Pitt State's first win over the Ichabods since Oct. 1, 2016 in a 45-27 win in Topeka.
 
ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Washburn is 574-598-44 (.484) in the 130th 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 61 first team all-MIAA selections.
• Washburn has had 96 All-American selections and 72 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 a 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 77 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times.
 
UP NEXT
The Ichabods wrap up the regular season at Missouri Southern on Nov. 12.