First and 10

• The No. 23-ranked Washburn Ichabods will wrap up the regular season in the 110th meeting between the schools.

• The series is the most-played rivalry in NCAA Division II which began Nov. 4, 1899.

• Washburn is coming off a 34-31 loss to then No. 22-ranked Missouri Western.

• The Hornets fell 48-21 to No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri.

• The Ichabods have the No. 4 scoring offense in the MIAA at 42.7 ppg while the Hornets are ranked third at 44.3 ppg.

• On the defensive side of the ball, the Ichabods are third in the MIAA allowing 20.1 ppg while the Hornets are seventh giving up 25.1 ppg.

• The Hornets lead the all-time series 52-51-6 after snapping a Washburn eight-game winning streak last season.

• The Ichabods have won eight of the last 10 overall.

• The Ichabods have won the last four games played in Emporia.

• The Ichabods are 22-26-2 in games played in Emporia all-time against the Hornets.

• The Ichabods need a win to have any chance at any type of postseason berth.

• The Ichabods are ranked ninth in the latest NCAA Super Region Three poll while the Hornets are ranked sixth.

• The top six teams in the region will start the NCAA playoffs on Nov. 23 with the top two teams in the region receiving byes.

Numbers to know

• 23-20 - Washburn's record under head coach Craig Schurig when coming off a loss.

• 17 - The number of interceptions the Ichabods have this season which is third the NCAA Division II rankings.

• 23 - The Washburn single-season record for interceptions.

• 31 - The number of Ichabod scoring drives this season which have been under five plays.

• 64 - The number of Ichabod scoring drives this season.

• 404:27 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 600:00 the Ichabods have been in the lead in games this season -- 67 percent.

• 76:46 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 600:00 the Ichabods have been tied in games this season -- 12 percent.

• 121:47 - The amount of time in minutes and seconds of 600:00 the Ichabods have trailed in games this season -- 21 percent.

• 328.8 - The number of yards the Ichabods are giving up this season, which is third in the MIAA.

• 113.5 - The number of rushing yards the Ichabods are giving up per game, which is second in the MIAA.

• 28 - The number of takeaways the Ichabods have recorded this season which leads the MIAA and is one ahead of Emporia State with 27 … the Hornets lead the league in turnover margin at 2.11 per game.

• 82-35 - The points the Ichabods have scored compared to their opponents in the first quarter.

• 205-100 - The points the Ichabods have been scored compared to their opponents in the first half.

• 79-5 - Washburn's record under head coach Craig Schurig when leading after three quarters.

• 15-0 - Washburn's record under head coach Craig Schurig when the Ichabods score at least 50 points.

Coaches

Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig . . .

• was named head coach of the Ichabod football program Dec. 28, 2001. 

• is 87-50 (.602) in his 12th season as the Ichabod head coach. 

• is 69-40 (.630) against the MIAA. 

• has led the Ichabods to three NCAA Playoff appearances and two bowl appearance championships.

• led the Ichabods to the 2005 MIAA regular season outright championship. 

• has recorded ten-straight winning seasons for the first time in the program's history. 

• led the Ichabods to the program's first 10-win season and their first NCAA or NAIA playoff game victory in school history with a win over Abilene Christian during the 2011 season.

• is Washburn's all-time winningest coach with 87 wins.

• is 9-2 against Emporia State.

Hornets head coach Garin Higgins . . . 

• Garin Higgins has compiled a career record of 88-48 in his 12th season as a head coach.

• he led the Hornets to ten wins for just the second time in school history last year. 

• he is 37-39 in his seventh season at his alma mater and is 28-15 over the last three seasons.

• he had a 51-9 career record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma, including two trips to the national championship game

• Higgins was a quarterback for Emporia State from 1987-90 and was on the 1989 national runners-up team. 

• he is 1-5 against Washburn.

On offense

• Senior tight end Tore' Hurst has started the last 36 games playing in 45 games and he leads the team this season with 38 catches and 527 receiving yards … he ranks fourth all-time at Washburn with 24 touchdown receptions while he is ninth in receiving yards with 1,820 and fifth in receptions with 129 on the Ichabod career chart … his 24 touchdown receptions is the most in school history by a tight end.

• Junior quarterback Mitch Buhler has made 19 starts at Washburn passing for 4,165  career yards and 40 touchdowns … his 40 TD passes are fourth all-time at Washburn and his 290 career completions are seventh … he is ranked 12th in the nation in passing yards per completion after 15.9 yards per Washburn catch … he is questionable this week.

• Sophomore running back Sean McPherson has rushed for 921 yards in his career and has 185 yards rushing this season and two scores on the ground … he returned against Northwest making five carries for 17 yards in his first action since the Northeastern State game … he is questionable this week.

• Junior DaJuan Beard has 35 catches for 452 yards and three scores playing in only six games this season … against Missouri Western he tied a school record with 13 receptions gaining a career-high 182 yards …  he became the 12th Ichabod to catch at least 100 passes as he now has 123 which is eighth all-time at Washburn … his 1,855 yards is eighth all-time at well at Washburn.

• Senior center Kyle Duncan has started the last 34 games for the Ichabods on the offensive line while playing in 41 overall.

• Senior Matt Kobbeman became the 12th Ichabod to go over 100 receptions in his career … his 126 receptions is seventh all-time at Washburn … his 1,682 career receiving yards is 12th all-time for the Ichabods.

• Junior Vershon Moore went over the 2,000-yard mark for his career as he now has 2,323 rushing yards in 27 games … the yardage total is fifth all-time at Washburn … his 111.4 all-purpose yards per game is second in school history.

• Junior Dylan Ready has played in 31 games on the offensive line and has started at left tackle, left guard and right tackle on the offensive line.

• Junior wide receiver Tyrell Brown had a career-high game against Central Oklahoma … he had four catches for 117 yards and his first career touchdown at Washburn … for his career he has 11 catches for 250 yards and 25 rushes for 148 yards … he is questionable this week after suffering an injury at Southwest Baptist.

On defense

• Senior inside linebacker Bryce Atagi has started 36 career games playing in 46 overall … he is fourth all-time at Washburn with 346 total tackles … his 173 assisted tackles is fourth all-time and his 35.5 career tackles for loss is third all-time at Washburn … his 122 yards from tackles for loss is third … his two interception returns for touchdown is tied for second all-time at Washburn … he is 13th in the MIAA in tackles this season, 10th in tackles for loss and leads the league with five interceptions.

• Senior linebacker Willie Williams has started the last 33 games appearing in 45 overall and has recorded 207 tackles with 97 solo stops … he is tied for second in the MIAA with four interceptions this season.

• Senior defensive end Adebayo Oladapo has started the last 21 games appearing in 38 overall recording 78 tackles with 15 for loss and nine sacks while picking off three passes.

• Senior linebacker Ryan Macken has played in 34 games making 13 starts tallying 143 tackles with 78 solo stops and 14.5 tackles for loss.

• Junior safety Calvin Kenney has played in 34 games making 29 starts tallying 147 tackles with 88 solo stops with three interceptions.

• Senior Jake Cervantes has started 20 games on the defensive line and has recorded 83 tackles with 10.0 tackles for loss with four sacks for 25 yards … he also has one interception against Central Missouri as a sophomore.

• Senior Cameron Jackson has started 22 games on the defensive line and has 22 tackles for loss and 69 career tackles adding 10.5 sacks.

• Senior cornerback Devon Connors has 87 career tackles with 64 solo stops and five career interceptions … also has averaged 27.9 yards per kickoff return … has a interception return for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown.

On special teams

• Redshirt freshman Justin Linn was named the MIAA special teams player of the week after the Nebraska-Kearney game after connecting on three field goals in three attempts including a 51-yard connection … the kick was one yard shy of the Washburn record … he is 13 of 18 on field goals this season hitting 5 of 6 beyond 40 yards … his 13 field goals are fourth on the single season chart.

• Junior Aaron Hummert has 128 punts for 5,241 yards averaging 40.9 yards per punt playing in 34 career games … his 40.95 career punting average is the best in school history … his career 40.95 yards per punt is third among active punters in the NCAA … he completed his first career pass at Washburn against Southwest Baptist for 32 yards and a first down on a fake punt to Willie Williams.

• Sophomore returner Jaime Myers returned a punt for a touchdown against Northeastern State … against Northwest Missouri he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score… for his career he has 43 punt returns for 327 yards and one touchdown averaging 9.2 yards per return this season and 7.6 per return for his career … he leads the MIAA this season in punt return average … he is averaging 30.9 yards per kickoff return this season (and 30.1 for his career) with 18 returns for 556 yards and the lone score.

Bods and ends and leftovers . . . Missouri Western edition

The 13 receptions by DaJuan Beard tied the school record set by Joe Hastings at Colorado Mines on Aug. 28, 2010 and Ron Hamilton vs Wayne State on Oct. 11, 1980 … the 182 receiving yards and the long reception of 63 were also single-game highs for Beard … Tyler Ewy had a career-high six tackles against the Griffons … the blocked field goal was the first for Cameron Jackson … Dwayne Joseph had a career-high seven tackles against Missouri Western … Ryan Macken recorded his first career sack and tied a career-high with two tackles for loss against MWSU … Joel Piper had career highs in passing attempts (39), completions (26), yards (343) passing touchdowns (4) … Shay Wooten had a career-high 12 tackles against the Griffons. 

Know the foe

• The Hornets lead the nation in turnover margin and red zone offense and are ranked in the top ten nationally in scoring offense, total offense, passing efficiency and interceptions. 

• Brent Wilson is fifth in the nation in passing efficiency and touchdown passes. 

• Ray Ray Davis is sixth in the nation in touchdown receptions.

• The Hornets are ranked No. 6 in the latest NCAA Super Region 3 rankings with an 8-1 record.

?Series history with Emporia State

Series Record: ESU leads 52-51-6

Streak: ESU won the last one

First Meeting: ESU 11-0 (11/4/1899) in Topeka

Last Meeting: ESU 55-23 (11/10/2012) in Topeka

Last WU win: 31-17 (10/1/2011) in Emporia

Last ESU win: 55-23 (11/10/2012) in Topeka

Largest WU win: 42-0 (11/6/2010) in Topeka

Largest ESU win: 45-6 (11/2/1928) in Emporia     

?Series Notes with Emporia State

• Washburn has won eight of the last nine games.

• The series is the most-played in NCAA Division II.

• Washburn is 22-26-2 all-time in games played in Emporia.

Last Meeting with Emporia State (11/10/12)

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Ichabods fell 55-23 to Emporia State in the 109th meeting of the Turnpike Tussle dropping Washburn to 7-4 in the MIAA and overall in the season finale.

The Ichabods took advantage of an Emporia State turnover on its first possession and Hayden Groves scored from 3-yards out with 11:58 to play in the first quarter staking Washburn to a 6-0 lead after the point after attempt was missed.

The Hornets scored on their next possession going up 7-6 when Ray Ray Davis scored from 17-yards out on a pass reception from Tyler Eckenrode with 7:07 to play in the game.

Jeremy Linn put the Ichabods back in front on a 30-yard field goal with 3:55 remaining in the game first quarter, but the Hornets would score the next 41 points of the game during the second, third and fourth quarters to take a 48-9 lead with 6:20 to play in the game.

Washburn scored on a 22-yard pass reception from Joel Piper to Ryan Mertz with 4:45 to play in the game, but the Hornets scored again on their next play from scrimmage to stretch the lead back to 55-16.

Washburn wrapped up the scoring with 3:14 to play when Piper and Mertz again hooked up for an 8-yard pass play to wrap up the scoring.

Groves finished with 108 yards on the ground on 26 carries while Piper was 16 of 33 with two touchdowns passes. Mertz wrapped up his career at Washburn with seven catches for 86 yards and the two scores.

Defensively, the Ichabods were led by Bryce Atagi who had 13 tackles with nine solo stops and two tackles for loss. Corey Walker had two sacks in the game to lead the Ichabods finishing with six solo tackles.

Eckenrode finished 26 of 30 for 364 yards and four touchdowns hitting Adam Schiltz for eight receptions for 150 yards.

The Ichabods had 337 yards of offense compared to 595 for the Hornets, including 408 through the air.

Last time out for emporia State vs Northwest Missouri (11/2/13)

The #10 Emporia State football team gave up seven sacks and had two punts blocked in a 48-21 loss to #2 Northwest Missouri on Saturday afternoon in Welch Stadium. The loss snapped a ten game winning streak for the Hornets dating back to last season. Kavaski Ervin had five catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Hornet quarterbacks combined to go 14 of 25 for 209 yards and two touchdowns with Wilson going 12 of 23 for 131 yards and Jones hitting both of his passes for 78 yards. Antonio Brown had 68 yards on 13 carries. Jordan Sanders had 11 tackles with a forced fumble and recovery while Ashton Reichmann had ten stops.

Last time out for Washburn vs Missouri Western (11/2/2013)

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 15-ranked Washburn Ichabods scored 21 points in the final two minutes of the game but it wasn't enough as the No. 22-ranked Missouri Western Griffons held on for a 34-31 win. 

Washburn trailed 27-10 with 4:19 to play in the game after a John Schmiemeir 36-yard field goal, but needed only eight plays and 2:15 off the clock as the Ichabods cut the lead to 27-17 after Joel Piper hit Tore' Hurst for a 5-yard score with two minutes to play in the game.

After an Ichabod onside kick failed, Missouri Western's Raphael Spencer scored on a 47-yard run putting the Griffons back in front 34-17 with 1:51 to play. Washburn cut the lead back to 10 when Piper connected with DaJuan Beard on his second touchdown pass of the day with 1:27 left cutting the lead back to 10 at 34-24. Beard finished with a school-record-tying 13 catches for 182 yards - both career-highs for Beard.

Again Washburn was unsuccessful on the onside kick attempt, but they held the Griffons to punt. The Ichabods then marched 80 yards in seven plays using 36 seconds off the clock when Piper connected with Mark Fancher for his fourth touchdown pass of the day with 28 seconds to play. 

The Griffons recovered the ensuing onsides kick and took a knee to wrap up the game and the 34-31 win.

The Griffons took the early lead with 2:50 to play in the first quarter taking a 7-0 lead, but the Ichabods came right back on the next drive tying the game when Beard pulled down a 18-yard touchdown pass. The Griffons took a 17-7 lead into the break, but it could have been more except Cameron Jackson blocked a Western field goal attempt right before the half.

Piper finished with career-highs of 26 completions, 39 attempts, four touchdown passes and 343 yards. Beard finished with the 13 catches for 182 yards and two scores. Cody Heiman had 52 yards on the ground on nine carries. Defensively Shay Wooten had 12 tackles with nine solo stops and Bryce Atagi had 10 tackles with seven solo stops.

Washburn finished with 416 total yards and 343 passing yards total.

?Washburn football history

Washburn is 525-556-44 (.480) in the 123rd year of Ichabod football. 

A win for Washburn over Emporia State would . . .

• lift the Ichabods to 526-556-44 in their football history.

• be the second time in the last three seasons the Ichabods have recorded at least nine wins (2011 and 2013).

• move the Ichabods to 9-2 in MIAA play for the first time in school history giving the Ichabods the most conference wins during an MIAA season.

• be the fifth-straight win in Emporia over the Hornets.

• even the all-time series with the Hornets at 52-52-6.

A loss for Washburn to Emporia State would . . .

• drop the Ichabods to 525-557-44 in their football history.

• drop the Ichabods to 54-52-6 all-time to the Hornets.

• be the Hornets' first two-game winning streak over the Ichabods since the 1991 to 2001 seasons when they won 11 straight over Washburn.

Ichabods in the national polls

WACO, Texas -- The Washburn Ichabod football team fell from No. 15 to No. 23 in the latest American Football Coaches Association top 25 poll which was released on Monday. 

The Ichabods' comeback against Missouri Western came up short in a 34-31 loss last time out while the Hornets lost to Northwest Missouri 48-21 in their last game. 

Under head coach Craig Schurig, the Ichabods have been ranked or have received votes in the AFCA poll 51 times and have been ranked in the top 10 15 times.

Ichabods in the Regional polls

The Washburn Ichabods remained fell from eighth to ninth in the latest NCAA Super Region Three poll which was announced on Monday. The top six teams will make the NCAA Postseason with the top two teams receiving a bye in the first round.

1 Northwest Missouri State 10-0 10-0 

2 Minnesota State-Mankato 10-0 10-0 

3 Henderson State 10-0 10-0 

4 Minnesota-Duluth 9-1 9-1 

5 Pittsburg State 8-1 9-1 

6 Emporia State 8-1 8-1 

7 St. Cloud State 9-1 9-1 

8 Missouri Western State 8-2 8-2 

9 Washburn 8-2 8-2 

10 Harding 7-2 7-2 

Up next

Time will tell … the Ichabods need a win to basically have any chance at a postseason game.