FOR STARTERS
• The Washburn Ichabods are hitting the road for the first time tis season as they will travel to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on the Central Missouri Mules on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.
• The Ichabods are coming are coming off a 45-3 win over Lincoln in their home opener on Sept. 1 last time out.
• The Mules are 0-1 after falling at Pittsburg State 21-10 in their season opener on Sept. 1.
• The Washburn Ichabods are just outside of the AFCA Top 25 coaches poll at No. 26 and they are ranked No. 23 in the D2Football.com preseason poll.
• The Ichabods won the last meeting between the two teams on Sept. 9, 2021 with a 29-10 victory in Topeka.
 
 BLUE NOTES
• The Ichabods are 14-5 in their first road contest of the season under head coach Craig Schurig.
• The Ichabods enter the second week of the season ranked No. 2 in the nation in passing offense at 422 yards per game trailing South Dakota Mines who had 443 yards in its opener.
• Kellen Simoncic is ranked No. 2 in the nation in passing efficiency at 259.0 as well as fourth in passing yards per completion (23.4) and 11th in passing yards per game (351.0).
• James Letcher, Jr. is fourth in the national rankings in 177.0 yards per game receiving and 16th in the nation in yards per reception at 35.4 per catch.
• James Letcher, Jr. is ranked second amongst active NCAA D2 players with 4,280 all-purpose yards and third with 2,093 receiving yards and fourth with 153 receptions.
• The Ichabods improved 80-46-6 all-time in season openers and 3-0 when playing the Blue Tigers in the first game of the season.
• The Ichabods have won their last eight games played in Yager Stadium, which is the 10th-longest streak in the NCAA D2 ranks. The longest streak in the nation belongs to Northwest Missouri at 12 games.
• 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 131-88 (.599) in his 21st season as the Ichabod head coach and the sixth-longest tenured football coach in MIAA history.
• is 113-75 (.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 5-12 against Central Missouri.
 
Central Missouri head coach Josh Lamberson . . . 
• is in his first season on the Mule sidelines.
• named the 30th head football coach of the Mules football program in February 2022.
• served as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for the Mules from 2010-14 under former UCM head coach Jim Svoboda, returns to Warrensburg after serving as the associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach for Division I Abilene Christian University from 2017-21.
• before Abilene Christian, he served as the head coach at MIAA member Nebraska Kearney from 2015-17. While with the Lopers, he coached 20 All-MIAA selections, including 2015 and 2016 Harlan Hill Finalist and first team All-American Tyke Kozeal.
• as the offensive coordinator for the Mules, he assisted UCM to 70 offensive school records and 24 MIAA offensive records and was a part of the top-five offenses in program history.
• he helped Central Missouri to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in school history in 2010 and 2011 and coached 2010 Harlan Hill trophy winner (top player in NCAA Division II) and first team All-American quarterback Eric Czerniewski.
• was an All-American quarterback helping Northwest Missouri to the 2005 NCAA Division II national championship game. He was named the MVP of the 2005 national title game and posted an overall record of 25-6 as the Bearcats' starting quarterback
• is 0-2 against Washburn with both losses coming at Nebraska-Kearney.
 
CAREER CHARTS
• James Letcher, Jr. has 1,467 career kickoff return yards on 54 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 27.17 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 2,093 yards, which is seventh all-time at Washburn … his 153 career receptions is fifth on the all-time chart at Washburn and his 20 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 eighth with 79 extra points as an Ichabod. The school record is 157 set by Connor Sabel set from 2003-06.
 
NOTING THE MULES
• UCM enters the contest at 0-1 overall after falling at Pittsburg State Thursday, Sept. 2, in Pittsburg, Kan., 21-10.
• In the MIAA Football Preseason Polls, UCM was picked in a tie for seventh in the coaches' poll and ninth in the media poll. Washburn was voted fourth in both the coaches' and media polls.
• Through one game, Central Missouri is paced offensively by redshirt sophomore quarterback Cedric Case (24-for-41, 0 INT, 179 yds., 1 TD, 22 lg, 179.0 avg., 30 yds. rushing) and redshirt junior receiver Arkell Smith (4 rec., 39 yds., 9.8 avg., 1 TD, 15 lg).
• With game down, the UCM defense is paced by redshirt senior Travis DeGrate (9 tackles, 1.5 TFL/5 yds., 0.5 sacks/4 yds.) and redshirt sophomore Noah Blair (9 tackles).
• Mules football welcomes back 12 starters from 2021, including All-MIAA offensive linemen Dan Sunderman and Kyle Linville, and wide receiver Arkell Smith.
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE MULES
(Sept. 9, 2021) TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods started the home slate in style tossing a shutout in the second half for the second-straight game as they defeated Central Missouri to improve to 2-0 on the season winning their fifth MIAA game in a row dating back to 2019 in a 29-10 win over the Mules on Thursday night in Yager Stadium.
Washburn took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards on six plays capped by a Mitch Schurig touchdown pass to Peter Afful for 24 yards taking a 6-0 lead after the point after attempt failed.
The Ichabod defense showed signs of things to come as the Mules were held to -7 yards on their first possession, but after the ensuing punt, the Ichabods had a turnover and the Mules needed six plays going 24 yards as the Ichabod defense held the Mules out of the endzone on three plays inside the 10 as a field goal cut the lead in half with 6:35 to play in the opening quarter.
The teams traded punts and a turnover by each team and Central Missouri took a 10-6 lead with 5:29 to play in the first half, but it was a short-lived lead as the Ichabods' James Letcher, Jr., pulled down a pass for 62 yards to the endzone from Schurig as Washburn jumped back in front 13-10.
After the Ichabods forced another punt and the Ichabods added a 48-yard, career-long field goal by Kameron Lake just before the half as Washburn took a 16-10 lead to the break.
In the third on the Mules' first drive, Christian Clark picked off Logan Twehous at the Washburn 27 ending the UCM drive and the Mules would not get into Washburn territory the rest of the game.
The Ichabods took a 23-10 lead with 6:37 to play in the third when Schurig found Matthew Simmons in the back of the endzone.
Lake added field goals of 39 yards with 12:25 and another from 32 yards out staking the Ichabods to a 29-10 lead wrapping up the scoring in the game.
The Ichabod defense held the Mules to 61 yards in the second half while the Ichabods including only 27 in the fourth quarter as the Ichabods had 11:51 of possession time in the final frame rushing 23 times for 104 yards converting 3 of 6 third down conversions.
Kevin Neal, Jr. had six tackles and Jacob Anderson had five. As a team the Ichabods had six tackles for loss for 15 yards and two interceptions with four pass break ups.
The Ichabods had three different players with at least 50 rushing yards as Zach Willis (11 carries, 54 yards), Taylon Peters (15 carries, 52 yards) and Peter Afful (1 carry, 50 yards) as the squad finished with 231 rushing yards on 43 carries averaging 5.4 yards per attempt.
Schurig was 19 of 34 for 249 yards and three touchdown passes. Letcher, Jr. had four catches for 78 yards and one score and Hunter Browning had four catches for 53 yards.
Washburn finished with 23 first downs holding the Mules to 10 while rushing for 231 yards with the Mules gaining 70. Overall the Ichabods racked up 480 yards of offense holding the Mules to 187 on the night..
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH CENTRAL MISSOURI
• The Mules lead the all-time series 28-20-2 over the Ichabods in 50 all-time meetings.
• Washburn is 7-15 in games played in Warrensburg and have lost the last five contests … the Ichabods' last win in Warrensburg was a 14-10 win over the Mules on Sept. 16, 2006.
• The Ichabods are 13-22-1 in MIAA games with the Mules.
• The largest win over the Mules by the Ichabods was a 34-0 win on Sept. 29, 1963.
• Washburn is 3-7 in the last 10 match-ups with the Mules.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods scored early and often in the first half scoring 31 unanswered points rolling to a 45-3 win over Lincoln in their season opener on Thursday night in Yager Stadium. Washburn will now turn its attention to Central Missouri on Sept. 8 in Warrensburg in the first road contest of the season.
After the Ichabods held the Blue Tigers to a punt on their first possession, Washburn needed only four plays capping a 90-yard drive with James Letcher, Jr. pulling down a 69-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Simoncic with 11:11 to play in the opening quarter taking the 7-0 lead.
On the Blue Tigers' second possession, Washburn forced a three-and-out and this time Washburn marched 10 plays in 61 yards ending the drive with a 28-yard field goal by Kameron Lake as Washburn pushed its lead to 10-0.
The Blue Tigers punted on their next possession and Simoncic hit Collin Wilson for 13 yards with 2:44 to play in the first quarter with the Ichabods going up 17-0.
Lincoln drove down to the Ichabod 3-yard line, but fumbled near the endzone as Patrick Altenor forced a fumble and Nicholas Wright scooped it up for a 9-yard return with Washburn taking over.
Washburn capped its next drive with a 5-yard run up the middle by Tyler Bowden with 11:40 to go in the first half as WU went up 24-0.
Lincoln missed a 35-yard field goal and Washburn needed five plays going 80 yards when Bowden scored again, this time from 14-yards out.
The Blue Tigers picked up their only points of the game on a 30-yard field goal with three seconds to play in the half as Washburn led 31-3 at the break.
Washburn scored on its first drive of the second half when Simoncic hit Peter Afful for 17 yards for the score.
On the ensuing Lincoln drive, the Blue Tigers drove down to the Ichabod 10-yard line, but Derrick McClendon picked of a pass to end the threat.
Washburn wrapped up the scoring with 5:14 to play in the game when Jared Taylor connected with Cole Keller for 3-yards and the 42-point win for the Ichabods' ninth-straight win over the Blue Tigers.
Washburn rushed for 163 on the ground and had 585 total yards of offense on 68 player averaging 8.6 per play holding Lincoln to 250 yards of total offense and 3.3 yards per play.
Simoncic was 15 of 21 passing for 351 yards and three touchdowns in his second career start. Letcher, Jr. led the Ichabods with five catches for a career-high 177 yards with 99 of those coming after the catch. Letcher's previous high-water mark was 166 against Pittsburg State in 2019 on eight receptions. Afful had 104 receiving yards on four catches. On the ground, Taylor Peters had 36 yards rushing on 10 carries. Letcher also finished with 208 all-purpose yards.
Grant Bruner led the Ichabods with 10 tackles and seven solo stops and Channon Ross and Patrick Altenor each had six tackles.
Kameron Lake was 4 for 4 in touchbacks on kickoff attempts and Jake Zeller in his first game as punter had three punts for 163 yards averaging 54.3 per attempts with a long of 61 yards.
 
LINCOLN LEFTOVERS
• Kellen Simoncic passed for a career-high 351 yards and three touchdowns completing 15 of 21 passes playing one drive into the third quarter in the win over Lincoln. Simoncic's 16.7 yards per passing attempt was first in school history and his 23.4 yards per completion was fourth. His passing efficiency of 259.0 was a school record as was his 16.1 yards average gain per play for a single game as well.
• Jake Zeller averaged 54.3 yards per punt on three attempts including a 61-yarder in his collegiate debut against Lincoln. His punt yard average per punt is the second-highest in single game history at Washburn en route to MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• Jake Zeller averaged 54.3 yards per punt on three attempts including a 61-yarder in his collegiate debut against Lincoln. His punt yard average per punt is the second-highest in single game history at Washburn en route to MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• the 422 yards passing was the third-highest single-game total in school history trailing the 452 against Sioux Falls set in 2011 and 424 set against Abilene Christian also in 2011 by current offensive line coach Dane Simoneau.
• the Ichabods improved to 32-0 when holding their opponents under 10 points under Craig Schurig.
• Lincoln was not called for any penalties while the Ichabods were whistled for eight flags for 87 yards.
• was the Ichabods' eighth win in a row in Yager Stadium.
• moved the Ichabods to 9-0 all-time against the Blue Tigers.
• improved the Ichabods to 80-46-6 all-time in season openers and 55-22-4 in home openers.
 
A WIN OVER THE MULES WOULD
• move the Ichabods to 2-0 on the season.
• move the Ichabods to 21-28-2 all-time against the Mules.
• snap a five-game losing streak in Warrensburg to the Mules.
• be better than losing.
 
A LOSS TO THE MULES WOULD
• be the Ichabods' sixth loss in a row to the Mules in Warrensburg.
• drop the Ichabods to 20-29-2 all-time against the Mules.
• drop the Ichabods to 1-1 on the season.
 
ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Washburn is 569-595-44 (.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 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 return home on Family Day hosting Nebraska-Kearney on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m.