FOR STARTERS
• The Washburn Ichabods return home to face Emporia State in a 4 p.m. start time on Oct. 1 on Hall of Fame Saturday in Yager Stadium.
• Saturday's meeting will be the 118th all-time between the two teams.
• The Ichabods (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) worked through the overtime bell to top Missouri Western 38-31 last time out in St. Joseph.
• The Hornets (2-2, 2-2 MIAA) fell 14-13 to No. 14-ranked Pittsburg State last time out in Emporia.
• The Washburn/Emporia State series is the second-most played series in NCAA Division II history as South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State have reclassified to NCAA Division II. Those two schools have met 134 times dating back to 1895.
• The Ichabods are receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 coaches poll and they are ranked No. 24 in the D2Football.com preseason poll.
 
 BLUE NOTES
• Kellen Simoncic is sixth in the nation in passing touchdowns with 11 and 22nd in the nation in total offense at 279.2 yards per game.
• Grant Bruner leads the nation in tackles at 14.5 per game and is second in also first solo tackles with 8.2 per game.
• James Letcher, Jr., is eighth in the nation receiving touchdowns (5), eighth in receiving yards (485) and ninth in receiving yards per game (121.2). He is also 17th in all-purpose yards (153.3) per game and 28th in total touchdowns (5).
• James Letcher, Jr. is ranked third in active NCAA D2 players with 4,685 all-purpose yards and fourth with 2,401 receiving yards and third with 175 receptions.
• 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 133-89 (.599) in his 21st season as the Ichabod head coach and the sixth-longest tenured football coach in MIAA history.
• is 115-76 (.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 133 wins.
• is 11-8 vs Emporia State.
 
Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins . . . 
• has a career record of 141-84 in his 20th season as a head coach.
• is 90-76 in his 15th season at his alma mater.
• had a 51-9 career record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma, including two trips to the national championship game.
• was quarterback for Emporia State from 1987-90 and was on the 1989 national runners-up team.
• is 7-7 against Washburn.
 
CAREER CHARTS
• James Letcher, Jr. has 1,521 career kickoff return yards on 41 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 25.7 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 2,362 yards, which is fifth all-time at Washburn … his 174 career receptions is second on the all-time chart trailing Sam Sissom's (2002-06) 191 career catches at Washburn and his 24 touchdown receptions is fifth.
• James Letcher, Jr.'s has 4,621 career all-purpose yards, which is third all-time at Washburn. Troy Slusser has the school record with 5,210 yards from 1984-88.
• Kameron Lake is seventh with 89 extra points as an Ichabod. The school record is 157 set by Connor Sabel set from 2003-06.
 
NOTING THE HORNETS
• Emporia State is 2-2 on the season.
• Offensively the Hornets are seventh in the MIAA in scoring offense at 26.0 ppg and ranked second in scoring defense allowing 16.0 ppg.
• ESU leads the league in passing yards per game at 307.5 and they are ranked third in pass defense allowing 163.5 ypg.
• Braden Gleason leads the MIAA in passing yards at 1230 and completions with 106 while averaging 307.5 yards per game. Corey Thomas is sixth in the league in receiving yards with 233 adding three touchdowns and 17.9 yards per catch.
• Cade Harelson is third in the MIAA in tackles at 36 with 14 solo stops.
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE HORNETS
(Oct. 2, 2021) EMPORIA, Kan. – Five turnovers for the Washburn Ichabods spelled disaster for the squad as they fell at Emporia State 35-30 as a fierce comeback rally came up short. 
The Ichabods (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) took an early 3-0 lead on their first drive of the game when Trenton Brehm connected on a 32-yard field goal capping an eight-play, 50-yard drive.  The Hornets returned serve with their first drive of the game when Braden Gleason completed a five-yard pass to Corey Thomas as ESU (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) jumped out to a 7-3 lead taking advantage of an Ichabod fumble setting the Hornets up at the Ichabod 10.
After both teams punted, the Ichabods drove 14-plays in 65 yards taking a 10-7 lead when Mitch Schurig hit Peter Afful for an 11-yard touchdown play with 32 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Hornets came back and scored a touchdown on their next drive regaining the lead at 14-10 with 12:39 to play in the opening half.
After the teams traded punts again, the Hornets went up 21-10 when Emporia State returned an interception 56 yards for a score as ESU took an 11-point lead into the break.
ESU scored on its first drive of the second half to go up 28-10 with 13:18 to play in the third quarter. After a missed field goal attempts by both teams, an Ichabod turnover set the Hornets up at the Washburn 12 and four plays later, ESU scored to go up 35-10 with 12:35 to play.
The Ichabods would then put up 20 unanswered points starting with a 58-yard touchdown pass from Schurig to Letcher with 10:21 to go trimming the lead to 35-17.
Jace Williams then caught the first of his two touchdown passes from Schurig. The first was from 11-yards out with 6:22 to go and the second was with 29 seconds to go in the game on a 21-yard grab. The second cut the lead to 35-30, but the onside kick was recovered by the Hornets ending the Ichabod rally.
James Letcher, Jr. led the Ichabods with 10 receptions for 132 yards and Williams had six catches for 88 yards and two scores. Schurig threw for a career-high 410 yards and four touchdowns completing 34 of 53 passing attempts . His 34 passing completions tied the school record set in 1980 by Mike Atkins against Wayne State.. Zach Willis had 10 carries for 86 yards and Taylon Peters had 11 carries for 44 yards.
Peyton Lane led the Ichabods with eight tackles and Jacob Anderson had six. Landen Urban had six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Letcher finished with 233 all purpose yards and went over the 100-reception mark for his career as an Ichabod. Schurig threw his 50th touchdown pass raising his career total to 53.
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH EMPORIA STATE
• The Hornets lead the all-time series 58-53-6.
• Washburn is 29-28-4 all-time against the Hornets in Topeka.
• The Ichabods are looking to snap a two-game losing streak in Topeka to the Hornets.
• Washburn's last win over ESU came on Nov. 1, 2014 in a 36-10 win.
• ESU has won 7 of the last 9 meetings dating back to 2012 … prior to that the Ichabods eight in a row from 2004 to 2011.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
(Sept. 24, 2022) ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Washburn Ichabods played their first overtime game of the 2022 season and needed only one offensive play to come away with a 38-31 victory over Missouri Western State. 
The Griffons (2-2, 2-2 MIAA) scored first, driving nine plays on the opening drive to set up a field goal. It would be the first and only lead for Missouri Western in the game. 
Washburn (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) responded with a 40-yard pass from Kellen Simoncic to James Letcher Jr. to set up a 1-yard QB sneak from Simoncic into the endzone.
The Ichabod defense forced two more punts in the quarter. On the next offensive possession, Simoncic found Letcher Jr. again, this time in the endzone from 25-yards out to lead 14-3. 
The first Washburn drive of the second quarter stalled in the red zone and the ensuing field goal attempt was blocked by the Griffons. 
Missouri Western drove 87 yards on ten plays to score. Ending with back-to-back passes from Reagan Jones to Caleb Martin for 12 and 36 yards respectfully to make it 17-10. 
Both teams traded punts until the next Ichabod drive with under two minutes in the half. A 29-yard catch and run by Letcher Jr. Set up another field goal attempt by Kameron Lake which was successful from 38-yards. A long field goal attempt by the Griffons with one second in the half was no good and Washburn led 17-14 at the break. 
Missouri Western began the third quarter with a 13-play drive which resulted in a field goal to tie the game at 17. The Ichabods needed just four plays to score. A 35-yard pass to Collin Wilson set up a seven-yard rush by Taylon Peters, putting Washburn up 24-17. 
One punt for each team wrapped up the third quarter. Two plays into the fourth quarter the Griffons tied the game with 14:33 to play after two runs by Jonas Bennett. 
Washburn drove 66 yards over 13 plays and came up empty after a missed field goal from 25 yards away. The defense forced a quick Missouri Western three and out. 
Once again, the Ichabods drove into Griffon territory, this time the drive ended after a fumble. The very next play Christian Clark intercepted a pass with 5:29 remaining to give Washburn back the ball. 
A 43-yard run from Hunter Browning set up another connection between Simoncic and Letcher Jr., this time from 22-yards away to put the Ichabods up 31-24 with 4:41 remaining. 
Missouri Western drove 60 yards in 10 plays and found the endzone with just 38 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it to overtime. 
Taylon Peters ran left the first play of overtime and went all 25-yards into the endzone for what would be the game-winning touchdown. The Griffons ran seven plays but never found the endzone in overtime. 
Washburn's last overtime game came on Oct. 9, 2021, against Fort Hays State where they won 23-20. The Ichabods had never played an overtime contest against Missouri Western. The last time the two played in St. Joseph was in 2018. 
Letcher Jr. Finished the game with 180 yards receiving on 12 catches and two touchdowns. He fell one short of the Washburn single-game reception record but sits all alone at third on the charts. Taylon Peters had two touchdowns on the ground and Hunter Browning rushed for 82 on seven carries. 
Grant Bruner posted 14 tackles to lead the Ichabods, Channon Ross added 10. Christian Clark's interception was his first of the season and second of his career.  
Washburn had 521 total yards of offense in the game, compared to 452 for the Griffons. Simoncic had all 311 yards in the air, completing 25 of 43 passes, while the Ichabods rushed for 210 yards at a clip of 6.4 per carry.

MISSOURI WESTERN LEFTOVERS … THE WIN
• moved the Ichabods to 3-1 on the season and move Washburn to 22-26-2 against the Griffons.
• was the second-straight win over the Griffons.
• the Ichabods moved to 6-7 all-time in overtime games and played their first since a 23-20 win over Fort Hays State on Oct. 9, 2021.
• Washburn improved to 1-2 in overtime games against Missouri Western.
 
A WIN OVER THE HORNETS
• move the Ichabods to 4-1 on the season and move Washburn to 54-58-6 against the Hornets.
• move the Ichabods to 30-28-4 in games played in Topeka.
• snap a two-game losing streak to the Hornets in Topeka and be the first win over ESU in Yager Stadium since a 36-10 win on Nov. 1, 2014.
• be better than losing.
 
A LOSS TO THE HORNETS
• drop the Ichabods to 3-2 on the season and move the series record to 59-53-6 in favor of the Hornets.
• be the second-straight win by the Hornets in the series.
• be the third-straight win by the Hornets in Topeka.
 
ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Washburn is 571-596-44 (.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 77 times and have been ranked in the top 10 a total of 15 times.
 
UP NEXT
The Ichabods will spend the next two weeks on the road starting Oct. 8 with a 7 p.m. contest against Fort Hays State and then an Oct. 15 game at Northwest Missouri. The Ichabods will return to Yager Stadium on Oct. 22 to face Central Oklahoma for Washburn's Homecoming game. After a roadtrip to Northeastern State on Oct. 29, the Ichabods will host Pittsburg State on senior day on Nov. 5 before wrapping up the regular season at Missouri Southern on Nov. 12.