TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday afternoon in Yager Stadium in a 58-28 loss to No. 25-ranked Central Missouri. The Ichabods will return to action next week at Nebraska-Kearney.
 
In a wild first quarter that saw Central Missouri (3-1, 3-1 MIAA) scored in two plays after a blocked 52-yard field goal attempt was returned to the Washburn 19 taking a 6-0 lead after the extra point was missed by the Mules. After an Ichabod punt, UCM drove down to the Ichabod 3 yard line, but recovered a fumble to take over. The Washburn drive stalled and then Jake Zeller kicked a career-long 71-yard punt flipping the field down to the UCM 22.
 
Three plays later, UCM's pass from Zach Zembrowski was picked off by Josh Grant. Washburn then took a 7-6 lead when Sam Van Dyne connected with D.J. Bell on an 18-yard touchdown pass and Trenton Brehm's extra point gave the Ichabods the lead with 3:15 left in the first quarter.
 
Central regained the lead on a 49-yard touchdown run taking the lead back at 12-7 after its second extra point attempt of the day was missed.
 
On the Ichabods' ensuing drive, Teondre Carter rushed down to the UCM 1-yard line, but fumbled into the endzone and it was recovered by offensive lineman Mason Fair for the score as Washburn regained the lead at 14-12. However the Mules needed seven plays marching 75 yards capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass with 11:37 to go in the half.
 
After a 57-yard punt by Zeller, Washburn went 80 yards on 10 plays to take the lead at 27-14 midway through the second quarter. The Mules added a touchdown just before the half to take a 34-14 lead into the break.
 
UCM scored a touchdown on its first possession stretching the lead to 41-14.
 
The Ichabods then traveled 80 yards in 13 plays capped by a Van Dyne to Maury Sullivan 11-yard touchdown pass trimming the lead to 41-21, but the Mules answered with an 11-play drive going up 48-21.
 
UCM scored on its next two drives going up 58-21. Washburn wrapped up the scoring when Hayden Clark hitting Sullivan for a 7-yard touchdown with 61 seconds to play.
 
Bell and Sullivan each had four catches to lead the Ichabods with Bell having one score and Sullivan recording two. Carter had 50 yards on seven attempts. Van Dyne finished 10 of 26 passing with two touchdowns and Clark finished 5 for 12 for 44 and a score. Bell also led the Ichabods with 193 all-purpose yards with 148 from kickoff returns. Zeller averaged 51.2 yards per punt on four attempts.
 
Mason Capper had 10 tackles with eight solo stops and Jaquez White and Andrew Pujado each had six stops.
 
UCM's Zebrowski finished 40 for 48 with five touchdowns passing for 369 yards. Marcellous Hawkins had 144 yards on six carries and two scores. Zach Phipps had 82 yards receiving on six catches. Cade Miller had seven tackles to lead the Mule defense.
 
The Mules outgained the Ichabods 659 to 314 with a 377 to 151 advantage through the air.