SCENE SETTER
• The Washburn Ichabods hit the road for the final time in the regular season with their shortest trip of the year with a drive down the turnpike to face the No. 15-ranked Emporia State Hornets.
• The Ichabods (6-2-1, 5-2 MIAA) are tied for third place in the conference standings with Central Missouri trailing Northwest Missouri and Emporia State who are both 6-1 in the standings after the Bearcats topped the Hornets 59-14 in Maryville on Northwest's homecoming.
• The Hornets (8-1, 6-1 MIAA) suffered their first loss of the season to the Bearcats last week and enter the contest ranked No. 15 in both the AFCA Top 25 coaches and the D2football.com polls.
• The Ichabods are ranked No. 9 in the lastest NPI rankings with the top eight reaching the NCAA postseason … the Hornets are ranked No. 4.
• The Ichabods have dropped the last five in the series and 9 of the last 10 … prior to that the Ichabods had won 9 of 12 … the Hornets lead the overall series 62-53-6 after winning last season's meeting 45-17 in Topeka.
• The Washburn Ichabods were tabbed No. 8 in both the MIAA preseason coaches and preseason media polls that were released on Aug. 27 by the league office at the annual MIAA Football Media Day hosted by Washburn inside the Sneed Indoor Athletic Facility.
 
WEATHER CHECK
• Saturday's weather forecast calls a sunny day with a high of 60 with a light breeze - but it's Kansas so who knows for sure.
 
BOD NOTES
• Logan Madden was named the MIAA Offensive Player this week after his performance against the Griffons last time out … he recorded a career-high four touchdown passes completing 13 of 19 passes for 336 yards and then grabbed his first career catch and touchdown reception for 26 yards as the Ichabods won 55-40 over the Griffons. He led the Ichabods to touchdowns on five of their first six possessions in the game.
• J.C. Heim earned his second defensive player of the week honor after tallying 17 tackles including 11 solo stops adding 2.5 sacks for 14 yards and 3.5 tackles for 17 yards … Heim's last three games he has recorded 17 (MWSU), 19 (FHSU), 17 (UCM) tackles in his last three games breaking an Ichabod record for double digit tackle games in a row with his eighth last time out against the Griffons … he leads the D2 ranks with 122 total tackles (13.6 per game) and 39 more than anyone else in the MIAA (Reece Roller, UCO) … he is also first in the MIAA in solo tackles and in the nation with 7.3 per game … Heim has more total tackles than the FBS leader (Sione Hala - San Diego State -90); the FCS lead (Trevor Barry - New Hampshire - 109); and the D3 leader (Brennan Stout - Washington and Lee - 103).
• Cam Robinson leads the team with 497 yards and four scores averaging 55.2 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry … Quinton Renfro has 316 yards and 4.5 yards per carry with two scores and 35.1 yards per game.
• Tre Calhoun has 53 catches for 884 yards and eight scores averaging 98.2 yards per game … he needs 116 yards to become the first Ichabod to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season since James Letcher, Jr. had 1,076 on 80 catches with 10 touchdowns in 2022.
• the Ichabod defense leads the nation with 13 fumble recoveries.
• the win over the Griffons …moved the Ichabods' record to 6-2-1 on the season … moved the Ichabods to 24-28-2 all-time against Missouri Western … moved the Ichabods to 51-48-1 all-time on homecoming and snapped a three-game homecoming losing streak.
• J.C. Heim has gone over the 100 tackle mark for the second consecutive season pushing his total to 122 this season after recording 142 last season.
• The Ichabod receiving duo of Nathan Lewis, Jr. and Tre Calhoun became the first pair of Ichabod receivers to both have at least 100 yards in a game since Tre Richardson (193) and Maury Sullivan (120) accomplished the feat against Central Oklahoma on Nov. 9, 2024.
• The 71 yard run by Cam Robinson against Missouri Western was the longest by an Ichabod since Hayden Groves had a run of 71 against at Missouri Western on Nov. 3, 2012.
• Last time out, the 55-40 win by the Ichabods over Missouri Western was an Ichabod football Scorigami as the score had never happened before in program history … through 1,259 Ichabod games, there have been 303 games in which a score has happened only one time. In all, there have been 530 unique scoring games.
 
NPI RANKINGS
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Washburn Ichabods climbed up one spot in the latest Super Region 4 NPI rankings this week after topping Missouri Western in a 55-40 homecoming win yesterday in Yager Stadium. Washburn moved from tenth to ninth in the latest regional rankings announced on Sunday.
Washburn (6-2-1, 5-2 MIAA) is one of four MIAA squads in the rankings this week, joining Northwest Missouri (3rd), Emporia State (4th), and Central Missouri (7th).
The NPI rankings will determine playoff selection. The top eight teams will earn selection into the 2026 NCAA Div. II Playoffs. Conference champions from the MIAA, GAC, Lone Star and RMAC will receive automatic bids. The final four slots will be determined by the NPI. NPI Rankings (Nov. 1)
1. Harding                             67.031
2. CSU-Pueblo                      64.918
3. Northwest Mo. St.           63.326
4. Emporia State                  62.884
5. Western Colorado           61.450
6. Central Washington         61.447
7. Central Missouri              58.270
8. Southeastern Okla. St.    57.418
9. Washburn                         56.912
10. Midwestern St.               56.766
 
 PRO BODS
• The Washburn Ichabods have one former player on an NFL roster this season and one in the Canadian Football League.
• Kyle Hinton is on the 53-man roster of the Atlanta Falcons.
• James Letcher, Jr. is a standout return specialist and wide receiver  in the Canadian Football League playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in his third season in the CFL.
 
COACHES
Washburn head coach Zach Watkins . . .
• is 9-10-1 in his second 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).
• has had 10 players earn all-MIAA honors, an all-region selection, a CSC Academic All-American®, and 70 MIAA Academic Honor Roll picks adding five MIAA Scholar Athletes and three MIAA Academic Excellence selections after his first season as the Ichabod head coach.
• 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 Emporia State.
 
Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins . . .            
• has a career record of 177-100 in his 24th season as a head coach overall and 126-91 in his 19th season at his alma mater.
• had a 51-9 career record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma, including two trips to the national championship game.
• was quarterback for Emporia State from 1987-90 and was on the 1989 national runners-up team.
• is 10-8 against Washburn.
 
NOTING THE HORNETS
• The Hornets are 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the MIAAA after suffering their first loss of the season in a 59-14 loss at Northwest Missouri last time out in Maryville.
• Camden Crooks leads the team in rushing at 63.11 per game averaging 4.5 yards per carry with three touchdowns on the ground.
• Jamison Sarver has played in seven of nine games completing 66 percent of his passes going 191 of 288 for 1,680 yards for 14 touchdowns and only five interceptions averaging 240 yards a game.
• Trenden Collins has 49 catches for a team high 496 yards averaging 10.1 yards per catch with five touchdowns and Ethan Schultze has 50 catches for 452 yards and six scores while Malik O'Atis has 46 catches for 413 yards and two scores.
• Landon Boss leads the team with 68 total tackles and 16.0 tackles for loss adding 3.5 sacks with two inteceptions, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
• Brandon McCary is 10 of 11 on field goals including 2 of 3 of kicks of more than 40 yards going 6 of 6 in kicks between 30 and 39 yards.
• The Hornets offense is fourth in the MIAA in scoring at 30.4 per game and ranked fourth in scoring defense allowing 25.0 points per contest.
• In total offense, the Hornets are sixth in the MIAA averaging 390 yards per game and ninth in total defense allowing 411.9 yards per game.
• The Hornets have the fourth-ranked passing offense in the MIAA at 253.8 yards per game and they are ninth in the MIAA in passing defense allowing 253.1 per game.
• On the ground, the Hornets have the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the MIAA at 136.3 yards per game and they are ninth in the MIAA in rushing defense allowing 158.8 per game.
 
LAST MEETING WITH THE HORNETS
(Nov. 8, 2025) TOPEKA, Kan. – The Washburn Ichabod football team traded blows early but couldn't keep pace in the second half, falling 45–17 to Emporia State on Saturday afternoon at Yager Stadium in the MIAA home finale for the hosts.
Washburn (2–8, 1–7 MIAA) erased a 14–0 first-quarter deficit with a pair of second-quarter touchdown drives to tie the game 17–17 before halftime. Sophomore running backs Lucas Oitker and Cam Robinson each found the end zone in the first half, knotting the score heading into the break.
After Emporia State (5–5, 4–4 MIAA) took an early lead with a blocked punt return and a 35-yard touchdown pass, Aidan Battle put the Ichabods on the board with a 36-yard field goal to make it 14–3 late in the first quarter. Oitker capped an 81-yard drive early in the second quarter with a 16-yard touchdown run, and Robinson powered in from three yards out just before halftime to tie the game.
The Hornets regained control in the second half, scoring 28 unanswered points—two offensive and two defensive touchdowns—to pull away.
Washburn finished with 336 yards of total offense, including 137 rushing and 199 passing yards. Robinson led the way with 101 all-purpose yards (70 rushing, 24 receiving, 7 punt return), while Oitker added 94 total yards (63 rushing, 31 receiving) and his third rushing touchdown of the season.
Quarterback Logan Madden completed 14 of 34 passes for 156 yards, with Nathan Lewis Jr. catching two passes for a team-best 51 yards, including a 37-yard grab. Aden Canty added two receptions for 39 yards.
Defensively, the Ichabods were led by J.C. Heim, who tallied 13 tackles, and Kamble Haverkamp, who added 10. L.J. Minner Jr. contributed 10 stops and an interception that set up Washburn's first touchdown drive.
Emporia State held a 447–336 edge in total yardage and scored twice on interception returns in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Washburn's special teams were highlighted by Battle's 36-yard field goal and punter Jake Zeller, who averaged 51.2 yards on five punts, including a 63-yarder.

 SERIES HISTORY WITH THE HORNETS
• The Hornets lead the all-time series 62-53-6 winning the last five in the series and 11 of the last 13 overall.
• Washburn's last win in the series came on Nov. 2, 2019 in a 37-17 win in Emporia.
• Washburn is 24-32-2 in games played in Emporia and they are 29-30-4 all-time against the Hornets in Topeka.
• The Ichabods have lost the last three matchups in Emporia and the Ichabods have dropped the last four games in Topeka to the Hornets. The Ichabods' last win in Emporia came on Nov. 2, 2019 in a 37-17 win and Washburn's last win in Topeka over the Hornets came on Nov. 1, 2014 in a 36-10 win.
  LAST TIME OUT FOR THE ICHABODS
(Oct. 31, 2026) TOPEKA, Kan. - On a cloudy Halloween afternoon, the Washburn Ichabods provided the Homecoming crowd with more treats than tricks, racing to a huge early lead and then holding off a late Missouri Western rally for a 55-40 MIAA victory at Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl.
The Ichabods wasted little time getting on the board as Logan Madden connected with Nathan Lewis Jr. on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 9:56 left in the opening quarter. Later in the period, a 71-yard run by Cam Robinson from the Ichabod 3-yard line helped set up one of the game's most unique scoring plays as back-up quarterback Justin Lewis threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Madden, pushing the Washburn lead to 13-0 for Madden's first career reception.
After Missouri Western answered with a touchdown, Madden found Tre Calhoun for a 68-yard touchdown strike giving Washburn a 20-7 lead after one quarter. The same duo connected again early in the second quarter on another 68-yard touchdown reception, stretching the advantage to 27-7 with 12:20 left in the opening half.
The Griffons cut into the lead before halftime, but Madden and Lewis, Jr. hooked up once more when the quarterback found Lewis on a 42-yard scoring pass with 1:22 remaining in the half, sending the Ichabods into the break with a 34-21 advantage after the Griffons finished the scoring in the opening 30 minutes with a field goal just before the break.
Washburn delivered its biggest Halloween scare in the third quarter when Brody Hayes stepped in front of a pass and returned the interception 68 yards for a touchdown to make it 41-24 with 12:35 left in the third quarter. Later in the period, Keller Hurla capped an 11-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run before Jacoby Ogbonna electrified the Homecoming crowd with a 79-yard punt return touchdown, helping the Ichabods build a commanding 55-24 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Missouri Western scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but the Griffons could never fully erase the deficit.
The Ichabod offense churned out 519 total yards on only 56 plays. Madden completed 13 of 19 passes for 336 yards and four touchdown passes while also catching a touchdown reception. Calhoun had a monster afternoon, catching five for 180 yards and two touchdowns, while Lewis, Jr. caught four for 116 yards and two scores.
On the ground, Robinson led Washburn with 77 yards on only three carries, highlighted by his 71-yard burst in the first quarter. Quinton Renfro added 67 rushing yards and Hurla scored the team's lone rushing touchdown.
Defensively, the Ichabods bent but made game-changing plays throughout the afternoon. J.C. Heim led the defense with 17 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Hayes recorded 10 tackles along with his 68-yard interception return touchdown, while Keith Guidry added an interception return of 33 yards in the fourth quarter. Joshua Flash added six tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry, while Ozzy Poage recorded a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Washburn registered four sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Missouri Western finished with 534 total yards, including 418 through the air. Isaiah Tate completed 25 of 40 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game, while Skyler Cassel added 108 passing yards and two touchdowns in relief. Crew Myers led all Griffon receivers with 11 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, Peyton Hatfield caught six passes for 71 yards and Malik Moore finished with five receptions for 62 yards and a score. Rickie Dunn paced the Missouri Western rushing attack with 48 yards and a touchdown.
The Ichabods scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game for the first time in a single game since accomplishing the feat against Central Oklahoma on Oct. 23, 2021. Despite being outgained 534-519 and facing a Missouri Western offense that piled up 35 first downs, the Ichabods consistently came up with the biggest plays of the day, averaging 9.3 yards per play while scoring eight touchdowns.
The Griffons recorded 35 first downs compared to 18 for the Ichabods, including seven by penalty, with multiple pass interference calls against the Ichabods contributing to drive extensions throughout the afternoon. Missouri Western also controlled the ball for 34:49 compared to 25:11 for Washburn.
 
A WIN OVER THE HORNETS WOULD
• move the Ichabods' record to 7-2-1 on the season.
• move the Ichabods to 54-62-6 all-time against Emporia State snapping a five-game losing streak in the process.
• be the first win over the Hornets in Emporia since a 37-17 win on Nov. 2, 2019.
• give the Ichabods seven wins in a season for the first time since 2021.
 
 A LOSS TO THE HORNETS WOULD
• drop the Ichabods to 6-3-1 on the season and 5-3 in MIAA games.
• be the sixth loss in a row to the Hornets.
• drop the Ichabods to 53-63-6 all-time against the Hornets with the fourth loss in row in Emporia.
 
ICHABOD FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Washburn is 590-624-45 (.484) in the 136th 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 187 all-MIAA picks and 63 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 finish out the year on senior day hosting Missouri Southern at noon on Nov. 14 … it will be the final game in Yager Stadium for 15 seniors who will be honored in pregame festivities. Those seniors include Teondre Carter, Kale Hammerschmidt, Jaylen Johnson, Mason Levin, Justin Lewis, Nathan Lewis, Jr., Dwayne Moorehead, Andrew O'Doherty, Emeka Ogbonna, Lucas Oitker, JaMarcus Piper, Victor Pless, Caden Rhamy, Evian Thompson and Ty Weber.