TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod football team took the No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma to the brink but a blocked field goal as time expired ended the game with the Ichabods falling 28-27 on senior day. The Ichabods will wrap up the season Nov. 16 at Northeastern State.
Neither team would score until the Bronchos went up 6-0 at the 5:23 mark of the first quarter, however after an offsides penalty called on the Ichabods, UCO decided to go for two, but the rush attempt failed.
Washburn (2-8, 2-7 MIAA) wrapped up their first score on its first drive of the second quarter when
Sam Van Dyne hit
Maury Sullivan on a 15-yard strike as the Ichabods took a 7-6 lead with 12:54 left in the first half.
UCO (9-1, 7-1 MIAA) came back with a 75-yard drive of its own, retaking the lead 13-7. The teams traded punts and going into the break, the Ichabods had a 35-yard field goal blocked sending Washburn to the locker room trailing 13-7.
Washburn took the second-half kickoff and needed just two plays to take a 14-13 lead when Van Dyne hit
Tre Richardson for an 80-yard touchdown pass. On UCO's next possession,
Julius Jackson picked off a pass for the second week in a row setting up another score as Van Dyne and Richardson again on a 48-yard hook up as the Ichabods pushed their lead to 21-13 with 12:27 left in the third quarter.
The two teams traded turnovers, an interception by the Ichabods, then a turnover by UCO from a forced fumble by
L.J. Minner, Jr.
With the Ichabods taking a 21-13 lead into the fourth quarter, UCO tied the score on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 12:47 to play.
The Ichabods fumbled on their next drive at the Washburn 41 and UCO took advantage on a seven-play, 65-yard drive drive taking a 28-21 lead with 6:17 to play.
Washburn then marched 65 yards of its own in seven plays on a shovel pass from Van Dyne to
Connor Searcy, but the extra point was missed as the Ichabods trailed 28-27 with 3:00 to play.
The Ichabod defense held UCO to three plays and a punt. Washburn took over with 63 seconds left and after a 17-yard pass to
Tyce Brown, a 25-yard completion to Sullivan and a 7-yard pass to
Tyler Bowden and another 13-yard pass to Sullivan to the UCO 23,the Ichabods' field goal attempt from 43 yards was blocked ending the game.
Bowden rushed for a season-high 80 yards on 17 carries and Van Dyne finished with a career-high 406 yards passing going 23 of 43 with four touchdown passes. Richardson had 193 yards receiving with 151 yards after catch and finished with 228 all-purpose ayrds.
Minner led the Ichabods with 10 tackles with seven solo stops and a forced fumble.
Washburn outgained the Bronchos 547 to 465 in the game averaging 6.9 yards per play as Washburn had 26 first downs.
Four of the Ichabods' eight losses have been by under three points or less.
