By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
On a day when the Washburn University defense came through time after time, it was fitting that it was a defensive play that provided the game-clincher in Saturday's 14-10 MIAA victory over Central Oklahoma in Yager Stadium.
JC Heim clinched Washburn's 14-10 win over Central Oklahoma with an interception in the final minute. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With Central Oklahoma trying to pull out a late victory in the final minute, Washburn junior star linebacker JC Heim picked off a pass and the Ichabods were able to close out their first MIAA win of the season while improving to 2-1-1 on the season overall and 1-1 in the MIAA.
The defense shined throughout Saturday's game, forcing three turnovers and coming up with a big second quarter goal-line stand against the Bronchos, who fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
"Our coaches do a great job of getting us prepared,'' said Heim, a former Washburn Rural star. "We knew we had to go back out there when the offense was down and we had to step up and take the team to another level and that's what we did defensively today, staying disciplined and just playing how we play.
"I'm really proud of the D-line, the safeties. Everybody overall played a really good game and I'm just happy to come out with a win.''
Despite being outgained 359-202 in total offense, Washburn came up with the biggest plays of the day.
The Ichabod defense held the Bronchos, who were picked third in the MIAA preseason coaches and media polls, to just 88 rushing yards on 36 attempts while recording three sacks.
"We tell our guys every game we play is going to be close, the MIAA is just like that,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "Hopefully we're winning these close games, but these are the ones we lost last year.
"That's kind of the step of Year 2 in the program, you've got to win those close games.''
After a scoreless opening quarter, Washburn capitalized on a pair of miscues by the Bronchos early in the second stanza to take the lead.
First Reece Watkins forced a fumble on a catch by Andrew Carney that was recovered by Jayson Green.
Quin Renfro reacts after scoring Washburn's first touchdown in Saturday's 14-10 MIAA win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn was forced to punt, but the Bronchos muffed the punt and Keith Guidry recovered the ball at the UCO 16-yard-line, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run from Quin Renfro with 11:57 remaining in the second quarter.
The Ichabods came up with a big defensive stand late in the half when Central Oklahoma mounted a drive deep into Washburn territory.
Following a 24-yard run by Jadaniel Nettles, the Bronchos had a 1st-and-goal situation at the Washburn 1-yard-line.
Washburn stopped four consecutive rushing attempts from the 1, getting tackles from Heim, Brody Hayes, Jayson Green and Al-Mani Jimerson.
A chop-block penalty pushed UCO backward and the Bronchos settled for a 30-yard field goal from Bradley Thao, leaving Washburn with a 7-3 halftime lead.
The Ichabods delivered their best offensive possession of the day to open the second half, marching 75 yards in nine plays.
Sophomore quarterback Logan Madden connected with Tre Calhoun for 8 yards, scrambled for 9 more, found Dwayne Moorehead for a 25-yard gain and then capped the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Lewis Jr. to give Washburn a 14-3 advantage.
Central Oklahoma cut the margin to four points later in the third quarter, but the Ichabod defense again delivered a momentum-changing play.
After the Bronchos reached the Washburn 24-yard-line, Heim recorded a 14-yard sack of quarterback Jett Huff, forcing a fumble that Guidry recovered.
The takeaway helped Washburn maintain control and the fourth quarter featured more defensive heroics.
"Takeaway, takeaway, big stops,'' Watkins said. "Coach (Kaleb) Koch and the defense preach taking the ball away and for JC to end it like that was pretty exhilirating.
‘’Hopefully we put the game away before that, but the defense stepped up all day and I'm proud of those guys.''
JC Heim (9) and Brody Hayes (7) combined for 23 tackles in Saturday's 14-10 MIAA win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Heim was everywhere for the Washburn defense, finishing with 12 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and the game-sealing interception.
Hayes added 11 tackles, while Green recorded six stops and recovered a fumble. Watkins forced a fumble, Guidry had the two fumble recoveries, Daniel LaValley and Elijah Clark-Boyd combined for a sack and Green added another sack as Washburn totaled three sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Offensively, Cam Robinson led the Ichabods with 41 rushing yards on 14 carries while Renfro finished with 22 rushing yards.
Tight end Ty Weber delivered a key 21-yard fourth-down run late in the third quarter on a fake punt.
Madden completed 11 of 25 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Lewis caught two passes for 24 yards and the decisive touchdown, while Calhoun led the receiving corps with three receptions for 33 yards. Moorehead added a 25-yard reception and Aden Canty caught two passes for 24 yards.
For Central Oklahoma, Huff completed 27 of 42 passes for 271 yards and rushed for the Bronchos' lone touchdown.
Nettles finished with 33 rushing yards and five catches for 29 yards, while Tahkari Bethel recorded seven catches for 99 yards.
Washburn continues MIAA play next Saturday at Nebraska-Kearney.
WASHBURN 14, CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 10
Central Oklahomas (1-2, 0-1) 0 3 7 0 -- 10
Washburn (2-1-1, 1-1-0) 0 7 7 0 -- 14
Second quarter
Washburn -- Quin Renfro 2 run (Aidan Battle kick, 11:57.
Central Oklahoma -- Bradley Thao 30 FG, 2:29.
Third quarter
Washburn -- Nathan Lewis Jr. 22 pass from Logan Madden (Aidan Battle kick), 8:43.
Central Oklahoma -- Jett Huff 9 run (Bradley Thao kick), 2:04.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing -- Central Oklahoma: Jett Huff 14-46, Jadaniel Nettles 8-33, Dev Mathews 8-11, Tahkari Bethel 1-7, Andrew Carney 1-0, Rodgerick Sloan 3-(minus)-4, Clayton Creasey 1-(minus)-5. Washburn: Cam Robinson 14-41, Quin Renfro 9-22, Ty Weber 1-21, Keller Hurla 5-11, Donovan George 4-9, Nathan Lewis Jr. 1-1, Team 1-0, Logan Madden 5-(minus)-4.
Passing -- Central Oklahoma: Jett Huff 27-42-1, 271 yards. Washburn: Logan Madden 11-25-1, 101.
Receiving -- Central Oklahoma: Tahkari Bethel 7-99, Makel Paiva 5-56, Jadaniel Nettles 5-29, Zayden Martinez 3-47, Zane Zielny 2-11, Andrew Carney 1-11, Dev Mathews 1-7, C.J. Williams 1-7, Darren Nickerson 1-5, Rodgerick Sloan 1-(minus)-1. Washburn: Tre Calhoun 3-33, Aden Canty 2-24, Nathan Lewis Jr. 2-24, Cam Robinson 2-(minus)-9, Dwayne Moorehead 1-25, Jayden Norman 1-4.
Punting -- Central Oklahoma: Cade Dowd 4-33.5. Washburn: Everett Grower 6-41.0.
Tackles -- Central Oklahoma: Reese Roller 8 solo-6 assist-14 total, Christian Cooper 3-5-8. Washburn: JC Heim 7-5-12, Brody Hayes 8-3-11.
Attendance: 3,750.
