By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University has shown signs of being a very good football team this fall, but the Ichabods have been derailed by a string of close losses.
Now the goal for WU is to close out 2024 with a bang, beginning with Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day contest against No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma.
Former Shawnee Heights standout Tyce Brown (17) is one of 19 Washburn seniors who will be honored on Saturday at Yager Stadium. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athleetics]
Washburn will take a 2-7 overall record and 2-6 MIAA mark into Saturday's game, but four of the Ichabods' losses have been one-score decisions, including three defeats by between one and three points and back-to-back losses the past two weeks by a total of four points.
The Ichabods dropped a 31-28 road game at Central Missouri two weeks ago before dropping a 14-13 home tilt against Nebraska-Kearney last Saturday.
"After '23 (a 2-9 injury-riddled season) our biggest goal in '24 was to close the gap and be competitive,'' Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. "We knew we were going to play some of the top teams and we're right there. Some of it is just not making the play when needed and that comes with experience.
"It's not a talent thing and I think with another year of physical strength and all those kind of things this team will make those plays and we'll reverse those scores.''
Obviously the close losses have been frustrating for everyone connected with the WU program, but Schurig said he's been very proud of how his Ichabod players have handled the situation.
"They've been awesome and it's like, 'Hey, let's win this week,' '' Schurig said. "We're playing UCO, which is a very good football team, and they're kind of where we want to be, and it's like, 'Let's see where we stack up against them.'
"I think our kids have confidence and know that we're close because you've got to get to this point before you can win those games. We're playing well, we play physical, we make plays. We just need to cut down on a couple of mistakes and get a break here or there and we win.''
Washburn senior defensive back Caeden Spencer said the Ichabods just want to do everything they can over the final two weeks to end the season on a positive note.
"These last two games we just want to come out strong and just play the way we know we can play,'' Spencer said.
Washburn will honor 19 seniors before Saturday's game -- Spencer, Tyler Bowden, DeAndre Washington, Andrew Pujado, Kamble Haverkamp, Jai Haynes, Kaleb White, Tyce Brown, Eli Garnett, Mason Capper, Brycen Labertew, C.J. Callaghan, Connor Searcy, Simeon Sullivan, Sam Underwood, Chase McCoy, Nicholas Orr, Justice Akinmoladun and Nate Harding.
McCoy leads the MIAA in sacks at 0.72 per game while Tre Richardson is 19th in the nation and second in the MIAA in all-purpose yards, averaging 135.2 yards per game. Richardson is 23rd in the nation in receiving yards with 738 and 23rd in receiving yards per game with 82.1.
Central Oklahoma (8-1, 6-1) picked up a 37-34 overtime win over Missouri Western last Saturday, scoring with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and kicking a 47-yard field goal in OT to win.
The Bronchos lead the all-time Washburn series 7-5 after breaking an Ichabod two-game winning streak last season with a 41-7 win in Edmond. The Ichabods are 3-3 in home games against UCO.
Central Oklahoma is the No. 1 total offense in the nation, averaging 541.7 yards per game, and ranks No. 2 in scoring offense, averaging 48.8 points per game.
Bronchos quarterback Jett Huff is ranked third in the nation in passing touchdowns (28), passing yards (2,876), passing yards per game (319.6) and second in total offense at 333.6 yards per game.
Wide receiver Terrill Davis is the nation's top receiver, leading the nation in receiving touchdowns (12), receiving yards (1,117) and yards per game (124.1).
UCO running back Jalen Cottrell leads the nation in yards per carry at 8.22 per attempt and is 14th in the nation in rushing yards per game at 103.2.
The Ichabods will wrap up the 2024 season on Nov. 16 at Northeastern State.
