Washburn University Athletics

HAYS, Kan. - The Washburn Ichabods forced three Fort Hays State turnovers, turning two of them into defensive touchdowns, as Washburn snapped a three-game losing streak to the Tigers with a 31-22 MIAA road win on Saturday afternoon at Lewis Field. The victory improved the Ichabods to 5-2-1 overall and 4-2 in MIAA play. Washburn returns to action for Homecoming hosting Missouri Western in a 2 p.m. start.

After Fort Hays State took a 3-0 lead on a 23-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter, Washburn answered early in the second quarter with a 12-play, 73-yard scoring drive. A 34-yard completion from Logan Madden to Tre Calhoun set up the score before Keller Hurla capped the march with a 6-yard touchdown run with 13:40 left in the half.

The Ichabod defense then delivered its first game-changing play. With 6:32 remaining in the second quarter, Joshua Flash forced a fumble by Fort Hays State running back AG Floyd. Melvin Laster scooped up the loose ball and raced 60 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Washburn lead to 14-3.

Fort Hays State trimmed the deficit to 14-9 before halftime on a 3-yard touchdown run by Floyd after the extra point was missed.

The Tigers took their only lead of the second half at 15-14 midway through the third quarter when Floyd scored from 2 yards out after Washburn blocked the extra-point attempt. Laster recorded the block to keep the deficit at one point.

Washburn responded with its best offensive drive of the second half, marching 75 yards in 11 plays. Madden completed four passes on the possession, including an 11-yard touchdown strike to Calhoun with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter, putting the Ichabods back in front 21-15.

The Washburn defense came up with another takeaway on the Tigers' next possession. Flash forced his second fumble of the afternoon when he jarred the ball loose from Floyd, and Braiden Lagafuaina recovered at the Fort Hays State 49-yard line. The turnover eventually led to an Aidan Battle 34-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, extending the Ichabod lead to 24-15 with 14:17 to go in the game.

Fort Hays State answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive, cutting the margin to 24-22 with 10:02 remaining. But once again the Ichabod defense provided the decisive play. After an Ichabod punt, the Tigers drove down into field goal range at the WU 26, but Laster forced another Floyd fumble with 4:25 left, Cortlin Dalton recovered to halt a Tiger scoring threat.

Washburn would end up punting as Everett Grower put the Tigers at their own 9-yard line after a 54-yard punt. After three plays, Flash stepped in front of a pass, intercepted it at the Tiger 37 and returned it for a touchdown, stretching the lead to 31-22 with a defensive score in the second half after Laster's defensive touchdown in the first half.

Flash would pick off another Tiger pass with 44 seconds to play in the FHSU endzone to end the game.

Flash was the catalyst for the Washburn defense, recording two forced fumbles, two interceptions, a touchdown return and nine tackles. Laster added a forced fumble, a fumble recovery returned 60 yards for a score, two tackles for loss and a blocked extra point. J.C. Heim led Washburn with a career-high 19 total tackles while Jaren Heim added seven and Brody Hayes finished with seven. The Ichabods recorded six tackles for loss, two sacks and forced five Tiger fumbles, recovering three.

Offensively, Madden completed 16 of 29 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 10 yards. Calhoun led the receiving corps with four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. Nathan Lewis Jr. added four receptions for 33 yards and Aden Canty caught three passes for 36 yards. On the ground, Cam Robinson rushed for a team-high 37 yards and Hurla rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown while also completing two passes for 12 yards.  Everett Grower had four punts for 182 yards, averaging 46.5 per attempt.

Despite being outgained 437 to 282 and trailing in time of possession by nearly 12 minutes, Washburn's defense and special teams proved the difference. The Ichabods scored 17 points off turnovers,

Fort Hays State finished with 151 rushing yards, 286 passing yards and 30 first downs compared to 13 for Washburn. The Ichabods totaled 78 rushing yards, 204 passing yards and 282 yards of offense in the victory.

The Ichabods were also whistled for 10 penalties for 83 yards while the Tigers went 60 minutes without a flag in the game.

Notes:
The win
• moved the Ichabods' record to 5-2-1 on the season.
• snapped a three-game losing streak to the Tigers.
• moved the Ichabods to 4-2 in MIAA games.
• was the first win in Hays for the Ichabods since Oct. 8, 2022 in a 45-14 win.
• JC Heim went over 100 tackles for the second consecutive season pushing his total to 105 this season (55 solo) after recording 142 last season … Heim's 19 tackles were the most by an Ichabod in a single game since Derrick McGreevy had 19 against Central Oklahoma on Nov. 4, 2017.
• Joshua Flash had nine tackles against the Tigers following 10 last week against Central Missouri … Flash tied an Ichabod single-game record with two forced fumbles in a single game.
• On top of his fumble return for a touchdown, Melvin Laster had two tackles for loss and a forced fumble along with a fumble recovery.
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