KEARNEY, Neb. – The Washburn Ichabods fell 27-21 to Nebraska-Kearney on the road Saturday at Cope Stadium with a combined 28 points being scored in the final 15 minutes of the game. Washburn returns to action on Oct. 7 when they will host Missouri Western at 3 p.m. in Yager Stadium.
 
The Ichabods (1-4, 0-4 MIAA) trailed 6-0 at the break after a scoreless first quarter as the Lopers took a 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
 
In the third quarter, the Lopers (2-3, 2-3 MIAA), the Ichabods forced a fumble, but was unable to capitalize and on the ensuing punt, the Lopers blocked the kick and then one play later, UNK went up 13-0 with 8:42 to go in the frame.
 
Washburn came back with a score on its next possession when Sam Van Dyne hit Connor Searcy on a 9-yard touchdown pass with 3:56 to go in the third trimming the Loper lead to 13-7. The Ichabod defense forced another punt, but neither team would score the rest of the way.
 
In the fourth quarter, Josh Grant picked off a UNK pass at the Washburn six yard line halting the Loper drive, but the Ichabod drive stalled forcing a punt. On the second play of the drive, UNK scored on a 42-yard pass play with 12:51 to go in the game stretching its lead to 20-7.
 
On the Ichabods' next drive, Washburn drove to midfield, but a Washburn fumble was returned 35 yards for a score with 9:28 to go as the Lopers went up 27-7. Washburn then went on a 16-play, 70-yard drive to trim the margin to 13 at 27-14 after Van Dyne hit Maury Sullivan for a touchdown pass with 3:05 to go.
 
The Ichabod defense held the Lopers on a fourth and one play with 67 seconds to play in the game and then Van Dyne hit D.J. Bell on a 54-yard touchdown strike with 41 seconds to play as the Ichabods cut the deficit to 27-21.
 
Lining up for an onside kick, Gavin Wilhelm's kick bounced off a Loper returner and after a scrum, the Lopers recovered and then after one kneel down the clock hit 0:00.
 
The Ichabod defense held the Lopers to 261 yards on 50 plays while the Ichabods ran 82 plays for 421 total yards.
 
Van Dyne passed for a career-high 378 yards and three touchdowns completing 30 of 45 attempts, but was sacked six times in the game. Triston Johnson had five catches for 106 yards. On the ground Taylon Peters had 14 rushes for 50 yards.
 
L.J. Minner, Jr., Mason Capper and Daniel Chavez all had four tackles.
 
On special teams, Jake Zeller averaged 52 yards per punt on three attempts including an 81-yard punt, the third-longest in program history behind a pair of 87-yard punts.