FOR STARTERS
• The Washburn Ichabods return home Saturday to play host to Nebraska-Kearney at 1 p.m. in Yager Stadium as part of Family Weekend at Washburn.
• The Ichabods (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) are coming are coming off a 40-32 win over Central Missouri on Sept. 8 in their first road test of the season last time out.
• The Lopers (1-1, 1-1 MIAA) were topped by Pittsburg State in their home opener 35-28 as the Gorillas tossed a 72-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining in the game.
• The Ichabods are just outside of the AFCA Top 25 coaches poll at No. 26 and they are ranked No. 18 in the D2Football.com preseason poll.
• The Lopers are receiving votes in each poll.
 
 BLUE NOTES
• The Ichabods are ranked No. 4 in the nation in total offense averaging 515.0 yards per game.
• The Ichabods are 16th the nation in third down conversions at 50 percent converting 13 of 26 attempts.
• Kellen Simoncic leads the nation in passing touchdowns with nine and he is fourth in passing yards per completion (19.64) and seventh in passing yards per game (324.0).
• James Letcher, Jr. and Peter Afful are tied for fourth in the national rankings with four touchdown receptions each.
• Grant Bruner leads the nation in tackles at 16.5 per game and is second in solo tackles with 9.0 per game.
• James Letcher, Jr. is ranked third in active NCAA D2 players with 4,413 all-purpose yards and fourth with 2,1161 receiving yards and fourth with 157 receptions.
• The Ichabods have won their last eight games played in Yager Stadium, which is the seventh-longest streak in the NCAA D2 ranks. The longest streak in the nation belongs to Northwest Missouri at 13 games.
• The Ichabod program record for most wins in a row at Yager Stadium/Moore Bowl is nine from Oct. 11, 1930 to Oct. 30, 1931 - the third and fourth seasons of the facility.
• The Ichabods were picked fourth in the MIAA preseason media and coaches polls.
 
 COACHES
Washburn Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .
• was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001.
• is 132-88 (.599) in his 21st season as the Ichabod head coach and the sixth-longest tenured football coach in MIAA history.
• is 114-75 (.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.
• is 7-2 against Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Nebraska-Kearney head coach Josh Lynn . . . 
• is 28-23 in his sixth season on the Loper sidelines.
• is 58-48 in 10 years as a head coach going 27-25 at Eastern New Mexico.
• is 2-2 against Washburn.
 
CAREER CHARTS
• James Letcher, Jr. has 1,510 career kickoff return yards on 57 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 26.49 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 2,122 yards, which is seventh all-time at Washburn … his 156 career receptions is fourth on the all-time chart at Washburn and his 22 touchdown receptions is sixth.
• James Letcher, Jr.'s has 4,255 career all-purpose yards, which is fourth all-time at Washburn. Troy Slusser has the school record with 5,210 yards from 1984-88.
• Kameron Lake is seventh with 83 extra points as an Ichabod. The school record is 157 set by Connor Sabel set from 2003-06.
 
NOTING THE LOPERS
• The Lopers are 1-1 this season after falling in the final seconds to Pittsburg State last time out 35-28 in their home opener.
• In the MIAA Football Preseason Polls, UNK was picked second both the coaches' poll and media poll.
• The Lopers are seventh in the nation in rushing offense at 299.0 yards per game and 23rd in the nation in time of possession per game at 33:26.
• Reigning MIAA Offensive MVP T.J. Davis is ninth in the nation and first in the MIAA in rushing yards per game at 134.0 and 26th in the nation in yards per carry at 6.23 per rush.
• Gabriel Amegatcher is 16th in the nation in forced fumbles per game at 0.5 per contest.
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE LOPERS
(Sept. 18, 2021) KEARNEY, Neb. – The Washburn Ichabod lost for the first time in 2021 season falling to 2-1 after a 28-24 loss to the No. 23-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers as a costly turnover and penalties added up to a three-point loss at Cope Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 
The Ichabods opened the scoring with a seven-play, 84-yard drive wrapped up by a Taylon Peters' 4-yard touchdown run with 11:09 to play in the first quarter. The Lopers came right back with a scoring drive of their own with a 14-play, 78-yard drive on their only possession of the first 15 minutes.
On Washburn's second drive of the game, the Ichabod drove all the way to the UNK 5-yard line, but an Ichabod fumble into the end zone ended the scoring threat and the 15-play drive. After the Ichabod defense forced the first UNK punt of the game, the Ichabods went three and out setting up a 73-yard punt by Lane Spiker flipping the field as the ball went out at the UNK 1-yard line. However the Lopers put together a 99-yard drive on six plays highlighted by a 30-yard and a 62-yard run by UNK quarterback TJ Davis. UNK would score to take the 14-7 lead leaving 3:30 on the first half clock.
Washburn then marched 55 yards on six plays capped by Mitch Schurig's 2-yard toss to Connor Searcy tying the score at 14.
After trading punts to start the second half, the Lopers drove to the Ichabod 33, but the drive stalled when the Ichabods held on fourth down and took back over at the Washburn 33 with 4:59 to go in the third quarter.
The score remained 14-all entering the fourth quarter, the Lopers scored on the second play of the frame on a 51-yard touchdown run by Davis with 14:20 to play in the game staking UNK to a 21-14.
After driving to the UNK 38, the Ichabods converted a fourth down with Schurig hitting Letcher on a 35-yard strike to the UNK three yard line setting up a 3-yard run by Zach Willis knotting up the score 21 with 11:54 to play in the game.
The Ichabod defense forced a fumble with Davis was sacked by Braden Rose and it was recovered by Malick Fall at the UNK 30. After a 28-yard run by Peters moving the ball to the UNK 11 and an Ichabod second timeout of the half, Washburn threw and incomplete pass and then took the lead at 24-21 on a 26-yard field goal by Kameron Lake with 8:34 to go in the game.
After the Ichabods stopped the Lopers on downs, Washburn went three and out returning the ball to the Lopers who capped a 12-play drive with an 8-yard touchdown run by Davis as UNK went up 28-24 with 57 seconds to play.
Washburn took over at its 25 with 57 seconds to play, but only moved the ball to the UNK 50 after three plays as the Ichabod drive ended with an interception as the Ichabods lost for the first time this season snapping its five-game winning streak dating back to 2019.
The Ichabods were outgained 483 to 372 in the game as the Lopers accounted for 317 yards on the ground with 258 on 30 carries by Davis who rushed for three scores in the game and was 16 of 26 passing for 166 yards.
Peters finished with 113 yards on the ground on 13 carries averaging 8.7 yards per carry and one score. James Letcher, Jr., had five catches for 64 yards in the game. Schurig was 17 of 31 passing for 214 yards. Jacob Anderson led the Ichabod defense with seven tackles and K.J. Turner had six tackles as did Landen Urban and Brooks Peavler.
UNK was 11 of 16 on third down conversions and held the ball for 35:22 of the game. Washburn was 1 of 6 on third down in the second half going 6 of 12 in the game.
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
• The Ichabods trail the all-time series with the Lopers 16-13.
• Washburn is 6-8 in home games against the Lopers.
• The very first meeting took place on Sept. 14, 1963 with the Lopers winning 19-14 in Kearney.
• The Ichabods are 10-2 in the last 12 meeting against the Lopers.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — The Washburn Ichabods fell behind early and then ripped off 28-straight points winning for the first time at Central Missouri since 2006 in a 40-32 win over the Mules on Thursday night. Washburn improves to 2-0 on the season and will play host to Nebraska-Kearney on Family Weekend Saturday at 1 p.m. in Yager Stadium.
The Mules (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards on eight plays to take an early 7-0 lead. The Ichabod respond with a seven-play, 63-yard drive, but the drive stalled at the UCM 5-yard line and the field goal attempt was tipped coming up short.
Washburn forced a Mule punt on their next possession and after a 51-yard punt return by James Letcher, Jr., the Ichabods scored on a Kellen Simoncic pass for five yards to Collin Wilson, but the PAT was missed as the Mules continued to lead 7-6.
The Mules continued their scoring ways going up 14-6 after an eight-play, 75-yard drive just before the end of the first quarter.
The Ichabod turned it over on their second play of their next possession setting up a 41-yard field goal by the Mules as they increased their least to 17-6.
After the teams traded punts, Washburn trimmed the Mule lead to 17-12 when Simoncic hit Letcher, Jr., on a 32-yard pass play with 6:58 to go in the opening half.  The Ichabods went for two and the pass attempt was failed.
The Mules needed only two plays to score again doubling up the Ichabod score at 24-12 capped on a 78-yard pass play. But the Ichabods came back with a 46-yard pass play from Simoncic to Peter Afful for 46 yards pulling Washburn within five at 24-19 as the Ichabods trailed by the same score heading into the halftime locker room.
To open the second half, Washburn took a 26-24 lead when Afful and Simoncic hooked up on a 17-yard pass play needing five plays moving 65 yards to go in front. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Grant Bruner picked off the first of two UCM passes on the day and then three plays later, Simoncic tossed another touchdown pass, this time to Letcher, Jr., for 14 yards as the Ichabod pushed the lead to 33-24 with 11:33 to play in the third quarter.
Neither team would score until 1:50 left in the third quarter when the Ichabods' Taylon Peters pulled down a screen pass and rumbled 35 yards pushing the Ichabod margin to 16 at 40-24 as Washburn outscored the Mules 21-0 in the third quarter outgaining them 197 to 87 including 136 to 20 in passing yards.
The Mules scored first in the fourth quarter cutting the Ichabod lead to eight at 40-32 with 12:21 to go. After a Washburn turnover, UCM drove down to the Ichabod 25, but missed on a 42-yard field goal attempt and Washburn took back possession. Again the teams would trade punts and on the first play of the Mules' drive starting at the Ichabod 47, Bruner picked off his second pass of the day with 2:16 to go.
Washburn was forced to punt and the Mules were pinned at the Ichabod six yard line with 1:34 to go. UCM had four incomplete passes and Washburn took over with a pair of kneel downs to secure the 40-32 win snapping the five-game losing streak in Warrensburg for their first win since a 14-10 win on Sept. 16, 2006.
Bruner had a career-high 23 tackles with two interceptions for 10 yards. He tallied 17 total tackles in the second half. Jordan Finnesy had seven tackles and Channon Ross had six tackles. The 22 tackles by Bruner were the most by an Ichabod since Casey Curran had 22 (14 solo) against Missouri Western on Sept. 19, 2009.
Offensively, Simoncic tied a school record with six touchdown passes tying Dane Simoneau and Barry Griffiths atop the Ichabod record book. He finished 18 for 37 for 296 yards. On the ground, Peters had 78 total yards on 17 carries and Hunter Browning had 66 yards on six carries. Wilson finished with 95 yards on seven catches and one score while Letcher, Jr., had 68 yards on four catches.
Washburn finished with 445 total yards with 297 through the air and 148 on the ground. Washburn also scored 14 points off of Mule turnovers.

CENTRAL MISSOURI LEFTOVERS
• James Letcher's 51-yard punt return tied his career long set on Aug. 30, 2018 against Lindenwood.
• The Ichabods improved to 15-5 in their first road contest of the season under head coach Craig Schurig.
• Grant Bruner became the first Ichabod to have two interceptions in a game since Peter Pfanenstiel did against Angelo State on Dec. 2, 2017 in the CHAMPS Bowl.
• the win moved the Ichabods to 21-28-2 all-time against the Mules.
• the win snapped a five-game losing streak in Warrensburg to the Mules.
 
A WIN OVER THE LOPERS
• move the Ichabods to 3-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2013 campaign.
• be the Ichabods' ninth-straight win in games played in Yager Stadium, which is the seventh-longest streak in the NCAA D2 ranks. The longest streak in the nation belongs to Northwest Missouri at 13 games.
• move the Ichabods to 14-16 all-time against the Lopers.
• be better than losing.
 
A LOSS TO THE LOPERS
• be the Ichabods' second-straight loss to the Lopers.
• drop the Ichabods to 13-17 all-time against the Lopers.
• drop the Ichabods to 2-1 on the season.
• be the first set of back-to-back wins against the Ichabods since the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
 
ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Washburn is 570-595-44 (.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 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 75 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times.
 
UP NEXT
The Ichabods will hit the road facing Missouri Western at 6 p.m. on Sept. 24 in St. Joseph, Mo. Washburn's next home game will be Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. against Emporia State as part of the athletics hall of fame induction day.