EMPORIA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabods football team opened the 2024 season with a 30-14 loss to Emporia State on Thursday night at Welch Stadium. Washburn will return to action in its home opener facing Colorado Mines as the Ichabod sabbatical from non-conference play ends on Sept. 14 in Yager Stadium.
 
After trailing 6-0 at the end of the first half, Washburn (0-1) took the opening half drive but turned it over after an interception and the Hornets took advantage kicking their third field goal of the game on a 22-yard make from ESU stretching the lead to 9-0.
 
The Ichabods came back with a 67-yard, 10-play drive for the season's first touchdown when Cam Robinson capped the drive with a 4-yard run over the left side for the score with 7:14 to play in the third.
 
Washburn's defense held the Hornets (1-0) to a punt on their ensuing drive, but the Ichabods turned it over and ESU marched 91 yards on a 17-play drive to go up 16-7 with :06 to play in the third.
 
To start the fourth quarter, the Ichabods and Hornets traded punts before ESU used a 57-yard pass play to go up 30-7 with 6:23 in the game.
 
Washburn wrapped up the scoring with a 1-yard run by Eli Garnett set up by a 52-yard scamper by Hayden Clark with 1:53 to go wrapping up the scoring.
 
Keller Hurla finished 14 of 25 for 116 yards while Clark led the Ichabods with 50 yards rushing. Tre Richardson had four catches for a team-high 34 yards and D.J. Bell finished with a team-high five catches,
 
Defensively, the Ichabods were led by Jacques White with 10 tackles including seven solo stops. L.J. Minner had six solo stops and nine total.
 
Washburn was outgained 478 to 308, the Hornets ran 80 plays, and the Ichabods ran 67. The Ichabods had 159 yards on the ground on 34 attempts.