SCENE SETTER
• The Washburn Ichabod football team will hit the road on Saturday to take on Missouri Western for a 2 p.m. kickoff in St. Joseph, Mo.
• The game will mark the second season in a row the Ichabods and Griffons have played in St. Joseph - Washburn won last year's match up 24-16 on Sept. 28, 2024.
• The Ichabods enter the game with a 2-6 overall mark with a 1-5 record in MIAA play coming off a 13-10 overtime loss to Fort Hays State on Washburn's Homecoming last time out.
• The Griffons have a matching 2-6, 1-5 MIAA record after topping Missouri Southern 19-12 in Joplin this past weekend.
 
BOD NOTES
• J.C. Heim leads the MIAA and he is third in the national rankings in tackles per game with 12.6 per contest and L.J. Minner, Jr.  is fourth in the MIAA with 9.6 tackles per game ranking 20th in the NCAA D2 national rankings.
• Jordan Finnesy's 239 career tackles is 16th on the NCAA D2 active chart and he is 16th on the D2 active solo tackles chart with 146.
• Jake Zeller is fifth on the NCAA D2 active punting average chart at 41.8 and he is seventh in total punt yards (6,479) …Zeller is second in the MIAA and ninth in the national rankings in punting average at 42.6 ypg … Zeller is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 41.8 and ninth in total yards at 6,479.
• The Ichabod defense is eighth in turnovers gained in the national rankings and second in the MIAA with 20 overall trailing Nebraska-Kearney's 21 and the Ichabods lead the MIAA in turnover margin and ranked 16th in the nation … in the last two weeks the Ichabods have had eight interceptions and have four fumble recoveries … Washburn's 11 interceptions this season is tied for the MIAA lead with Nebraska-Kearney and ranks 10th in the latest NCAA D2 rankings.
• The Ichabods allowed just 95 yards passing last time out by the Tigers … that was the fewest an Ichabod team had given up in a game since allowing 54 against Harding in the NCAA playoffs in 2021.
• Last time out, the 13-10 overtime loss by the Ichabods was not an Ichabod football Scorigami as the score had happed three other time before … through 1,247 Ichabod games, there have been 298 games in which a score has happened only one time. In all, there have been 525 unique scoring games.
• The Ichabods fell to 50-47-1 all-time on Washburn's Homecoming with Fort Hays State losing their third in a row dating back to 20223.
• In the overtime loss to the Tigers, the Ichabods fell to 6-8 all-time and to 1-2 against Fort Hays State in overtime games.
• For the first time this season, the Ichabods allowed an opponent to score points on its first drive of the second half against the Tigers.
 
 PRO BODS
• The Washburn Ichabods have two former players on NFL rosters this season and one in the Canadian Football League.
• Kyle Hinton is on the 53-man roster of the Atlanta Falcons.
• Corey Ballentine is on the practice squad roster in Dallas.
• James Letcher, Jr. is a standout return specialist and wide receiver  in the Canadian Football League playing for the Montreal Alouettes in his second season in the CFL.
 
 COACHES
Washburn head coach Zach Watkins . . .
• is 2-6 in his first season as the Ichabod head coach.
• named the 38th head coach in Washburn program history on Nov. 26, 2024.
• first Ichabod alumnus to lead the program in more than 30 years.
• spent 11 seasons as Washburn's co-defensive coordinator before becoming head coach
• four-year starter at linebacker for Washburn (2006–09).
• recorded 100+ tackles each season, finishing with a school-record 473 career tackles (third all-time in NCAA Division II at the time).
• the 2006 MIAA Freshman of the Year, 2006 Honorable Mention All-MIAA and Second Team All-Region, First Team All-MIAA (2007–09), 2009 MIAA & Daktronics Regional Defensive Player of the Year, 2009 AFCA First Team All-America and Daktronics Second Team All-America, Three-time Academic All-MIAA, Three-time MIAA Scholar Athlete, 2008 ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2010 Ken B. Jones MIAA Student-Athlete of the Year finalist, Three-time All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.
• bachelor's degree in Finance and Business Management, Washburn University (2009).
• master's degree in Sports Administration, Fort Hays State (2013).
• married to Amanda; two children, Parker and Naomi.
• is 0-0 against Missouri Western.
 
Missouri Western head coach Tyler Fenwick. . .         
•  is 14-17 in his third season at Missouri Western and is 67-65 in 12 seasons as a head coach.
•  Fenwick previously served as the offensive coordinator at Missouri Western from 2007-2012 and helped the Griffons averaged 432.8 points per season and 35.1 points per game.
•  as a team, the Griffons went 53-18 and played in the NCAA Division II playoffs three times as well as making three bowl appearances.
•  is 1-1 against Washburn.

 NOTING THE GRIFFONS
• The Griffons have a matching 2-6, 1-5 MIAA record after topping Missouri Southern 19-12 in Joplin this past weekend winning their first MIAA game of the season.
• The Griffons are 1-3 in home games this season with the win coming over Missouri S&T in a 27-10 win on Sept. 13 dropping their last three overall at Spratt Stadium.
• Brandon Hall leads the team in rushing at 67.6 yards per game adding one score averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
• Kane Donovan has completed 57 percent of his passes going 160 of 280 with five interceptions and 10 touchdowns for 1,622 yards averaging 202.8 per game.
• Bryuce Marcus III leads the team in receiving with 53.0 yards per game and has 20 catches for 265 yards with three touchdowns … Malik Moore has 21 catches for 254 yards and three scores as well and Damir Abdullah has a team-high 25 receptions for 220 yards and two scores.
• Drew Scott leads the defense with 51 total tackles adding three for loss and Brecken Manus has 43 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
• Missouri Western is sixth in the MIAA in scoring per game at 22.1 ppg and is eighth in scoring defense allowing 30.1 ppg.
• As a team, the Griffons average 364.4 yards per game and defensively they are ranked fourth in the MIAA allowing 371.9 yards per game.
• The Griffons are last in the MIAA in opponent third down conversions allowing 49 of 99 opportunities to move the chains.
 
 LAST MEETING WITH THE GRIFFONS
(Sept. 28, 2024) ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Washburn Ichabod football team picked up its first win of the season in a 24-16 win over Missouri Western. 
After the teams traded punts, the Ichabod defense forced a turnover on downs and the Ichabods (1-3, 1-2 MIAA) took the 7-0 lead on a nine-play, 60-yard drive when Keller Hurla converted a third and 13 for a 23-yard run for the score.
The Ichabods' drive stalled, but on Western's first play from scrimmage, DeAndre Washington picked off a Kody Kirk pass ending the Griffon drive, but the Ichabod drive stalled at midfield returning possession back to the Griffons.
Western (2-3, 2-3 MIAA) would get on the board with 2:58 left in the opening half with a 52-yard field goal by Cody Watson cutting Washburn's lead to 7-3. Washburn came up empty on its next drive and Western would march 84 yards in three plays to take a 10-7 lead with under a minute to play taking a 3-point lead into the locker room.
Receiving the ball in the second half, the Ichabods went 69 yards in nine plays capped by a Lucas Oitker 1-yard touchdown run to regain the lead at 14-10 with 10:14 to play. On the ensuing Griffon drive, Daniel Chavez recorded a quarterback sack forcing a fumble that was recovered by L.J. Minner, Jr.,  setting up a 42-yard field goal by Trenton Brehm pushing the lead to 17-10 with 7:01 to go in the third quarter.
Again the Ichabod defense stymied the Griffons with a punt and Washburn went up 24-10 after an 8-yard touchdown run by Cam Robinson marching 99-yards on 10 plays using 5:19 off the clock.
Missouri Western cut the lead to 24-13 after a 42-yard field goal using a 10-play yard drive.
Washburn fumbled the ball on its next possession, but the Ichabod defense again stopped the Griffons on a fourth down play. Washburn's next drive came up empty and Western kicked a 30-yard field goal with 94 seconds to play.
With Washburn leading 24-16, Cole Keller recovered the Griffon onside kickoff as the Ichabods snapped the winless streak to start the season.
Hurla led the Ichabods on the ground with 66 yards rushing and one score while passing for 218 yards, completing 19 of 28 passes. Hurla connected with nine different receivers led by Maury Sullivan with 61 yards on four catches, D.J. Bell had five for 58 yards, and Tre Richardson had four for 51 yards.
Defensively, the Ichabods were led by L.J. Minner, Jr, with nine tackles and Caeden Spencer added five tackles with two for loss, and Chase McCoy had four tackles including two sacks.
The Griffon defense also led the MIAA in tackles for loss and sacks, but the Ichabod offensive line limited the Griffons to one sack and two tackles for loss.
 
 SERIES HISTORY WITH THE GRIFFONS
• The Griffons lead the all-time series 27-23-2.
• Washburn is 14-12 in games played in Topeka and 9-15-2 away from Yager Stadium.
• The teams have split the last 10 meetings.
• The 2022 meeting in St. Joseph in the Ichabods' 38-31 win was the only overtime game in the 52-game series.
• Washburn has won four of the last five meetings in St. Joseph.
   LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
(Oct. 25, 2025) TOPEKA, Kan. -- On a rain-soaked Homecoming afternoon at Yager Stadium, Washburn's defense delivered a gutsy effort, but Fort Hays State escaped with a 13-10 overtime win on Saturday.
The Ichabods (2-6, 1-5 MIAA) struck first when Ky Thomas capped a short field with a 3-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter after Braiden Lagafuaina's interception return to the FHSU 20. Aidan Battle's extra point made it 7-0. Washburn extended its lead early in the second quarter as Battle drilled a 32-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 12:37 to go before halftime.
Fort Hays (5-4, 4-3 MIAA) finally broke through in the third quarter, taking advantage of a Washburn interception to score on an 18-yard keeper from quarterback Caleb Heavner. The Tigers tied the game later in the period with a 25-yard field goal by Zane Hall.
Neither team managed points in the fourth quarter as both defenses forced turnovers and traded punts in increasingly wet conditions. Washburn reached the red zone late but missed a 41-yard field goal attempt in overtime before the Tigers' Michael Polley connected from 34 yards out to seal the win, 13-10.
Thomas powered the Ichabods' ground game with 95 yards on 16 carries, averaging 5.9 per attempt, and added 16 receiving yards. Quarterback Logan Madden went 16-for-29 for 101 yards, with Henry Mohrmann catching three passes for 26 yards and Jaden Abongo Jr. adding 21 yards receiving and 38 on kickoff returns.
Defensively, Washburn's L.J. Minner Jr. led the way with 11 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a forced fumble. Kamble Haverkamp and J.C. Heim each added six stops, while Quay Wright and J.T. Tillis recorded sacks. The Ichabods' defense forced four turnovers—two interceptions and two fumbles recovered—holding Fort Hays to 10 points in regulation despite the Tigers outgaining Washburn 308-228.
Heavner paced the Tigers with 117 rushing yards and 95 passing yards, while running back Curtis Douglas added 82 on the ground.
Washburn finished with 127 rushing yards and 101 through the air while punter Jake Zeller pinned the Tigers inside the 20 five times, averaging 40.4 yards on seven punts.
The game marked the third time in the last six years the two teams needed an overtime to decide a winner.
 
 A WIN OVER THE GRIFFONS WOULD
• move the Ichabods' record to 3-6 on the season.
• be the second-straight win over the Griffons in the series and the second-straight win over the Griffons in St. Joseph.
• move the Ichabods' road record against the Griffons to 10-15-2 all-time.
• move the Ichabods to 24-27-2 all-time against the Griffons.
 
  A LOSS TO THE GRIFFONS WOULD
• drop the Ichabods to 2-7 on the season.
• drop the Ichabods to 23-28-2 all-time against the Griffons.
 
 ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Washburn is 583-620-44 (.484) in the 135th year of Ichabod football.
• The Ichabods are 15th in NCAA Division II history in wins.
• The Ichabods have 12 conference titles with the last coming in 2005 in the MIAA.
• Washburn has had 177 all-MIAA picks and 62 first team all-MIAA selections.
• Washburn has had 97 overall All-American selections and 73 individual All-American picks since joining the NCAA Division II ranks in 1989.
• Washburn has made 14 postseason appearances including bowl games and tournament games going 5-2 in a bowl games.
• Seven Ichabods have been picked in the NFL Draft.
 
 UP NEXT
The Ichabods will return home for senior day as the Ichabods will wrap up the home slate with Emporia State at 1 p.m. on Nov. 8. The Ichabods will end the season on the road at Missouri Southern on Nov. 15 in Joplin.