SCENE SETTER
> The Washburn Ichabod football team is back in action for the first time since Sept. 27 when they are on the road facing Pittsburg State on Saturday.
> The Ichabods are 1-4 this season looking for their first conference win of the season after falling last time out 31-24 to Nebraska-Kearney in Topeka.
> The Gorillas are 4-2 overall and 3-1 in MIAA play after topping Nebraska-Kearney in their last game on Oct. 4 in a 23-6 win … the Gorillas are ranked 15th in the AFCA Coaches Poll and seventh in the d2football.com poll.

BOD NOTES
> J.C. Heim leads the MIAA tackles with 13.6 per game and L.J. Minner, Jr.  is second with 10.2 tackles per game ranking second and 13th respectively in the NCAA D2 national rankings.
> Finnesy's 222 career tackles is 19th on the NCAA D2 active chart and he is 15th on the D2 active solo tackles chart with 136.
> Jake Zeller is fourth on the NCAA D2 active punting average chart at 41.7 and he is seventh in total punt yards (5,746) …Zeller is second in the MIAA and 14th in the national rankings in punting average at 42.3 ypp.
> Chase Allen-Jackman's six touchdown receptions lead the MIAA and is 11th in the NCAA D2 ranks.
> D.J. Bell is second in the MIAA and 25th in the nation in all purpose yards at 128.6 yards per game.
> The Ichabod defense leads the MIAA in opponent third down conversion rate at 27 percent which is also ranked 16th in the nation.
> Last time out, the 31-24 win by the Lopers was not an Ichabod football Scorigami as the score had happed one other time before … through 1,244 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.
 
 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 New England.
> 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 1-3 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 0-1 against Pittsburg State.
 
Pittsburg State head coach Tom Anthony . . .         
> is 12-5 in his his second year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University.
> he guided the Gorillas to an 8-3 record during his debut season in 2024, including guiding Pitt State to the program's third straight trip to the NCAA Division II national playoffs. He has an 12-5 career mark.
> returned to campus in December 2023 after a six-month absence to become the Gorillas 16th all-time head coach.
> served as Pitt State's defensive coordinator from 2020-22 under former head coach Brian Wright, helping the Gorillas fashion a 21-7 record and an MIAA title and NCAA-II playoff appearance in 2022.
> was elevated to the role of associate head coach/defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. He helped fashion one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division II during his three years with the Gorillas.
> is 1-0 against Washburn.
 
NOTING THE GORILLAS
> The Gorillias are 4-2 this season and 3-1 in league play ranked No. 15th in the AFCA Poll and No. 7 in the d2football.com poll after topping Nebraska-Kearney last week 23-6.
> Zahmari Palode-Gary leads a one-two punch in rushing at 75 yards per game and Cleo Chandler, Jr. has 71 yards per game.
> Through the air, Jackson Berry is averaging 215.8 yards per game completing 59 percent of his passes going 111 of 186 for 1,295 yards and six scores with four picks.
> Greyson Holbert leads the team with 63.8 yards per game receiving and Kuron Parchmon has 21 catches for a team-high three TD receptions and 55.5 yards per game.
> Defensively, Jordan Rogers leads the team with 44 tackles and Steven Ward II has 34 tackles … Rogers also has four tackles for loss for 21 yards.
> Pitt State is fourth in the league in scoring offense at 25.7 ppg and second in scoring defense allowing 21.0 ppg.
> The Gorillas have the fifth-best total offense unit at 411.3 yards per game they are ranked third in total defense at 347.7 yards per game.
> The Gorillas are fourth in the nation with four blocked kicks this season and also ranked 15th in first downs, 11th in kick return defense, 23rd in interceptions and 10th in punt return defense.
> Osahon Ogbevoen leads the nation in blocked kicks with four recording all of the Gorillas blocks this season.
> Pitt State has posted a 266-69-1 (.793) record against its MIAA opponents since joining the conference in 1989. The Gorillas have won 14 MIAA titles since joining the conference, including consecutive MIAA crowns in 2022 and 2023.
> Pitt State has won 345 of its last 418 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 345-71-2 (.827) mark during the past 41 seasons (1985-2025). PSU is 181-30-1 at home, 160-32-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE GORILLAS
(Sept. 21, 2024) TOPEKA, Kan. – For the second straight week the Washburn Ichabod football team took a top-10 team down to the wire having a chancel to tie the game on its final drive of the contest but came up short in a 39-38 to No. 10 Pittsburg State.
The game opened in wild fashion as 37 points were scored between the two teams in the first quarter with 30 points coming in the first 5:18 of the game. After the Ichabods fumbled the opening kickoff, the Gorillas (3-1, 2-1 MIAA) scored three plays later to take a 7-0 lead after a pass from Chad Dodson, Jr. to Jack Roberts on a 17-yard connection.
However on the ensuing kickoff, the Gorillas tried an onside kick, but Tyce Brown picked it up and ran 47 yards for a touchdown return tying the score at 7-7 with 13:29 to play in the first quarter.
Pittsburg State went up 14-7 when Dodson threw his second touchdown pass of the day on a 78-yard reception by Christian Carter who caught the pass at the PSU 21 and ran the additional 79 yards for the score.
On the free kick from the Ichabods, Pittsburg State added another score when Jaylen Fuksa returned the kickoff 85 yards for a score putting the Gorillas up 23-7 with 9:54 to play in the first quarter.
Neither team scored until the Ichabods (0-3, 0-2 MIAA) cut the lead to 23-14 when Keller Hurla hit Tre Richardson for a 60-yard touchdown pass adding 62 yards after the catch yards.
The Gorillas stretched the lead to 26-14 on a 31-yard field goal by Hayden Koscicki with 9:43 to play in the opening half. 
Another special teams score was next on the bingo card as Dodson pooch punted from the Washburn 38 and Jaquez White recovered it for a 92-yard punt return trimming the Ichabod deficit to 26-21 with 6:20 left in the half. The return was a school record for the Ichabods, surpassing the previous long of 90 set by Clarence Taylor against Emporia State in 1975 and Troy Slusser against Missouri Western in 1985.
The Ichabod defense held the Gorillas on the first drive of the second half, and then Washburn took the 28-26 on a Hurla 16-yard touchdown run with 11:40 to go in the third.
The lead was short-lived as Pitt State marched back on its next drive regaining the lead at 32-28 on a Cleo Chandler, Jr. run of two yards with 8:22 to go in the frame, however on the Ichabods next drive, a 37-yard field goal by Trenton Brehm pulled Washburn back within one at 32-31 wrapping up the third quarter.
In the fourth, Pittsburg State used a 10-play, 66-yard drive using 6:49 on the clock expanding its lead to 39-31 with 2:38 to go in the game.
Washburn then took over at its own 26 and moved the ball down to the Pittsburg State 31 with under a minute to go, but a 4th and 10 pass play was broken up turning the ball over on downs securing the win for the Gorillas.
The Ichabods outgained the Gorillas 409 to 353 including a 79 to 66 advantage on the ground and a 330 to 287 margin through the air in the game. Pitt State was flagged for nine penalties for 64 yards compared to 113 yards on 12 flags for the Ichabods, Pitt State had a 35:04 to 24:56 advantage in time of possession.
Individually the Ichabods were led on the ground by Hurla who had five carries for 27 yards and the lone score. Hayden Clark was 10 of 22 passing for 159 yards and Hurla was 9 of 12 for 171 yards and a touchdown pass.
D.J. Bell had six catches for 114 yards with 57 after the catch and Richardson finished with four catches for 107 yards and 91 after the catch. Richardson finished with 162 all-purpose yards and Bell had 135.
Defensively, L.J. Minner, Jr. had 10 tackles with a tackle for loss to lead the Ichabods and C.J. Callaghan had seven tackles.
 
SERIES HISTORY WITH THE GORILLAS
> The Ichabods trail the all-time series with the Gorillas 65-28-1, after having their four-game winning streak snapped in 2022 but have still won nine of the last 17 including four of the last five in Pittsburg … overall in games played in Pittsburg the Gorillas are 14-30-1 and in games played in Topeka, the Ichabods are 13-35.
> Overall Washburn is 5-5 in the last 10 meetings.  
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
(Sept. 27, 2025) TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod football team battled down to the wire with Nebraska–Kearney at Yager Stadium on Saturday, but fell 31-24 in front of more than 4,000 fans on Family Day in Topeka. The Ichabods will enter their bye week and return to action at Pittsburg State on Oct. 11.
The opening quarter saw each team score two touchdowns each in the first 15 minutes. UNK (4-1, 2-1 MIAA) quarterback Daron Bryden scored on a 19-yard run, but Washburn quickly answered as Justin Lewis found Chase Allen-Jackman for an 8-yard touchdown strike in a four-play drive covering 45 yards and 70 seconds. After Bryden scored again on a 3-yard keeper, Lewis and Allen-Jackman connected once more, this time from 32 yards, to knot the score at 14-14 with 4:06 to play in the quarter. Allen-Jackman finished with three receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns, sparking Washburn's passing attack.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, but the Ichabods' defense held strong behind J.C. Heim's team-high nine tackles for the game and Caden Rhamy's two tackles for loss. Jordan Finnesy added six stops and forced a fumble that Josh Grant recovered in the third quarter, swinging momentum back in Washburn's favor.
After a 47-yard UNK field goal broke the halftime deadlock, Washburn (1-4, 0-3 MIAA) answered with one of its best drives of the afternoon as Aidan Battle drilled a 50-yard field goal tying the game at 17, and later in the quarter, Keller Hurla found Aden Canty for a 5-yard touchdown, giving the Ichabods a 24-17 lead. Canty caught four passes for 18 yards..
Nebraska–Kearney responded with big plays in the fourth quarter. Bryden connected with Jaden Jude on a 62-yard touchdown pass to even the score, and after a Washburn punt, the Lopers marched 81 yards capped by a Jett Turner 3-yard touchdown run for the go-ahead score at 31-24 breaking the tie.
The Ichabods posted 22 first downs to the Lopers' 18 and held a 29:08 to 30:52 split in time of possession. Washburn's offense finished with 317 total yards on 68 plays compared to UNK's 456 yards on 65 plays. The Ichabods were especially effective on third down, converting 6 of 13 chances (46%), while UNK managed just 4 of 14 (29%).
On the ground, Cam Robinson rushed 11 times for 71 yards, while Ky Thomas added 56 yards on 13 carries. Quarterback Keller Hurla chipped in 26 yards rushing to go with 45 passing yards and a touchdown. Lewis completed 8 of 15 passes for 99 yards and two scores. Overall, Washburn quarterbacks combined to go 15 of 27 for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
D.J. Bell provided a spark in the return game, racking up 152 yards on four kickoff returns, including a 67-yarder. He finished with a team-high 179 all-purpose yards, adding 22 receiving yards and five rushing yards.
Nebraska–Kearney's rushing attack was the difference, piling up 253 net yards on 47 carries (5.4 avg.) and three touchdowns. Washburn rushed 41 times for a season-high 173 yards (4.2 avg.), but failed to reach the end zone on the ground. Through the air, Washburn found more success with three touchdown passes, while UNK threw for 203 yards on just nine completions, highlighted by the 62-yard strike in the fourth quarter.
Penalties also played a role: the Lopers were flagged nine times for 82 yards, compared to just two penalties for 15 yards against Washburn. But turnovers were costly for the Ichabods, who gave away two fumbles and two interceptions, while UNK played clean with no interceptions and one lost fumble. UNK turned Washburn's miscues into 10 points.
 
A WIN OVER THE GORILLAS WOULD
> move the Ichabods' record to 2-4 on the season.
> snap a three-game losing streak to the Gorillas.
> be the Ichabods' fifth win in the last six trips to Pittsburg.
> move the Ichabods to 15-30-1 in games played in Pittsburg against the Gorillas.
> improve the Ichabods to 28-66-1 in the all-time series.
 
A LOSS TO THE GORILLAS WOULD
> drop the Ichabods to 1-5 on the season.
> be the Ichabods' fifth loss overall in a row.
> drop the Ichabods to 27-67-1 all-time against the Gorillas.
> be the Lopers fourth-straight win over the Ichabods.
 
ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
> Washburn is 582-618-44 (.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
Following the game with the Gorillas, the Ichabods will have back-to-back home games starting with Central Missouri on Oct. 18 for the Washburn Hall of Fame game and then the following week celebrate Homecoming hosting Fort Hays State at 2 p.m. on Oct. 25.