By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University and Colorado School of Mines were headed to overtime to settle a hard-fought non-conference contest Saturday before extreme heat conditions forced the game to be suspended, leaving the teams with a 16-16 tie.
Washburn's Nathan Lewis Jr. (4) scored both of the Ichabods' touchdowns in Saturday's 16-16 tie with Colorado School of Mines, including the game-tying score with 1:48 left in regulation. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The deadlock marked Washburn's first tie game since 1977 after a pair of delays, including the final stoppage that ended the contest before the start of the extra session.
"Coach Wat (Zach Watkins) just told us obviously we want to win, but we're still undefeated going up to Northwest (Missouri), which we know is going to be a very tough game at Northwest so we're on to the next one, on to the next week moving forward,'' said Washburn junior linebacker JC Heim, who was credited with 13 tackles.
Saturday's game was originally scheduled for 12 p.m. and switched to 7:05 because of weather concerns before Colorado School of Mines requested the 9:05 a.m. start, the earliest in Washburn program history.
Washburn sophomore quarterback Logan Madden passed for 268 yards and two TDs in Saturday's 16-16 tie with Colorado School of Mines. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn sophomore quarterback Logan Madden, who passed for 268 yards and both Ichabod TDs, agreed with Heim that Saturday was a frustrating day as both teams dealt with the uncertainty.
"It sucks for sure, but we battled all game and I'm proud of the guys for that,'' Madden said. "We just control the controllables. I wish we could have played at 7 p.m., it would have been nice, but I thought the guys did a good job of handling the heat and both sides are just mentally tough teams.''
Washburn, now 1-0-1, took the opening kickoff and put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass from Madden to Nathan Lewis Jr. (Aidan Battle kick) at the 11:40 mark of the first quarter.
Mines (0-1-1) answered with a 43-yard field goal from Preston Kyle on its ensuring possession.
Washburn extended its lead to 10-3 when Battle connected on a 26-yard field goal to end the first half following a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
Mines tied the game at 10 when Joseph Capra found Nick Stone for a 24-yard touchdown pass (Kyle kick) with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter and Kyle drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired in the quarter to give the Orediggers a 13-10 lead.
Kyle's third field goal of the game, a 29-yarder with 5:34 left in the fourth quarter, pushed the Mines' lead to 16-10.
After forcing a punt, Madden led an 82-yard scoring drive in just 1:12, highlighted by a 47-yard touchdown strike to Lewis with 1:48 remaining.
The extra-point attempt was blocked, leaving the score tied at 16-16.
Washburn defends Preston Kyle's 64-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation in Saturday's 16-16 tie in Yager Stadium. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]1
Mines drove into Washburn territory in the final minute and attempted a 64-yard Kyle field goal at the buzzer, but the kick fell short and to the left, sending the game to what would have been overtime before play was halted.
Prior to the start of overtime the wet globe temperature surpassed the safety zone and the teams were sent to the locker rooms and fans were asked to leave the stadium.
After nearly an hour delay, the game was called.
"I'm proud of our guys,'' Watkins said. "We had a lot of ups and downs in that game. I thought we played really well at times and played below average at times.
"Ending a game that's not a win or a loss is different and difficult, but it's also a non-conference game and we move on to the MIAA play starting next week.''
Madden finished 20 of 35 passing without an interception while Lewis turned in a career performance with six receptions for 141 yards and both Washburn TDs.
Washburn's JC Heim (left) and Daniel LaValley stop a Colorado School of Mines ball-carrier in Saturday's 16-16 tie. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Defensively, Brody Hayes and Heim led the Ichabods with 13 tackles apiece.
Mines held advantages in rushing yards (147-76) and total offense (361-344) as well as time of possession (36:06-23:54), while Washburn generated 268 passing yards and averaged 5.7 yards per play.
Saturday's tie was the first for Washburn since a 7-7 tie with Missouri Western on Oct. 7, 1977.
The Ichabods will open MIAA play next Saturday at Northwest Missouri.
COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES 16, WASHBURN 16 (End regulation)
Colorado School of Minutes (0-1-1) 3 0 10 3 -- 16
Washburn (1-0-1) 7 3 0 6 -- 16
First quarter
Washburn -- Nathan Lewis Jr. 28 pass from Logan Madden (Aidan Battle kick), 11:40.
Colorado Schools of Mines -- Preston Kyle 43 FG, 5:53.
Second quarter
Washburn -- Aidan Battle 26 FG, 0:00.
Third quarter
Colorado School of Mines -- Nick Stone 24 pass from Joseph Capra (Preston Kyle kick), 8:43.
Colorado School of Mines -- Preston Kyle 43 FG, 0:00.
Fourth quarter
Colorado School of Mines -- Preston Kyle 29 FG, 5:34.
Washburn -- Nathan Lewis Jr. 47 pass from Logan Madden (kick blocked), 1:48.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing -- Colorado School of Mines: Max Barnes 20-83, Joseph Capra 10-32, Braelon Tate 8-29, Connor Cade 1-3. Washburn: Cam Robinson 5-34, Logan Madden 9-31, Quinton Renfro 6-16, Keller Hurla 2-7.
Passing -- Colorado School of Mines: Joseph Capra 21-33-0, 214 yards; Team 0-1-0, 0. Washburn: Logan Madden 20-35-0, 268.
Receiving -- Colorado School of Mines: Nick Stone 9-125, Pierce Richards 5-43, Cayden Coffman 2-9, Blake Smotherman 2-1. Washburn: Nathan Lewis Jr. 6-141, Tre Calhoun 6-57, Julian Stratford 4-56, Cam Robinson 2-8.
Punting -- Colorado School of Mines: Lucas LeSieur 4-42.5. Washburn: Everett Grower 6-43.7; Logan Madden 1-40.0
Tackles -- Colorado School of Mines: Mo Russolillo 8 solo-3 assist-11 total. Washburn: Brody Hayes 8-5-13, JC Heim 5-8-13, Gage Depee 3-6-9.
Attendance: 4,785.
