TOPEKA, Kan. -- A Washburn Ichabod frantic comeback came up short in a 31-28 loss to Fort Hays State on Saturday at Yager Stadium. The Ichabods return to action next week hosting Northwest Missouri as part of Washburn's Homecoming festivities Oct. 28 with a 1 p.m. start.

Washburn trailed 31-14 with 2:29 to play in the third quarter before trimming the Fort Hays State lead to 31-21 with 6:08 remaining when Teondre Carter, who made his first start, scored from 5-yards out. His touchdown run was set up after the Ichabods' Nasjon Porter blocked a Tiger field goal attempt and Kamble Haverkamp returned it 34 yards. After a 59-yard pass from Sam Van Dyne to D.J. Bell setting the Ichabods up at the Tiger 5, Carter went out the left side for the score.

On the Tigers' next possession, the Washburn defense held the Tigers to a punt and Bell returned it 47 yards to the Tiger 42 yard line. After passes to Tyce Brown and Triston Johnson, Van Dyne hit Johnson for a 25-yard touchdown pass pulling the Ichabdos within three at 31-28 with 2:35 to go.

After an Ichabod kickoff, the Tigers converted on a third and four from the 31 and three plays later ran out the clock for the win.

The Tiger (6-2, 5-2 MIAA) led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and it was not until the 11:34 mark of the second quarter the Ichabods got on the board with a 6-yard touchdown run by Carter cutting the Tiger lead in half at 14-7.

FHSU added to its lead with a 44-yard field goal with 8:59 to play in the opening half building a 17-7 lead.

The Ichabods (punted on their next drive returning possession to the Tigers at the FHSU 1-yard line after Jake Zeller's 39-yard punt was douwned at the 1-yard line. Five plays later on the Tiger drive, Caeden Spencer picked off a pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown as the Ichabods trailed 17-14 at the break.

Carter led the Ichabods with 56 yards rushing scoring two touchdowns and Van Dyne finished 19 of 33 for 202 yards and a touchdown. Bell had six catches for 82 yards including 72 after the catch and Johnson had five catches for 55 yards and a score.

Defensively, Josh Grant had nine tackles with seven solo stops and Jaquez White, C.J. Callaghan, Spencer and L.J. Minner, Jr. each had seven tackles.

The Tigers outgained the Ichabods 487 to 280 running 82 plays compared to 58 for Washburn.