By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Coaches and athletes in all sports have had to deal with tough defeats, something Zach Watkins' 2025 Washburn University football team is very familiar with after suffering four one-possession losses, including back-to-back three-point decisions, one coming in overtime.
Centralia product Kamble Haverkamp is one of 15 seniors who will be recognized Saturday before Washburn's Senior Day game against Emporia State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But last week's 27-24 MIAA road loss at Missouri Western was probably the toughest to take due to the way it ended.
After taking a 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter Washburn fell behind 27-24 after a Missouri Western touchdown with 1:44 remaining, but the Ichabods took over at their own 20 and converted four third-down conversions to reach the Griffon 13 with 14 seconds left.
But an incomplete pass on first down and an intentional grounding penalty on second down forced a 10-second runoff as the Ichabods were without any more timeouts, ending the game without Washburn getting the opportunity to force overtime with a relatively short field goal attempt.
"It was definitely one of the more heartbreaking losses I've been a part of,'' Washburn senior safety Kamble Haverkamp said. "It's unfortunate. Nobody wants to lose and to lose that way was pretty tough. Everybody sees the way it ends and thinks, 'Aw, we lost because of that,' but there's a lot of plays up to that point that a lot of people don't see -- long punt returns, the defense had a 4th and 5 we didn't stop and then a 4th and 2 on the 2-yard-line. If we just get a stop we kneel it out and it doesn't matter.
"One play doesn't define the game. There's a lot of plays in there you wish you could have back, but that's the game that we play.''
And by early this week all of the Ichabods' focus was on Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day game in Yager Stadium against rival Emporia State.
Jake Zeller is fifth on the D-II active punting average chart at 41.92 and he is seventh in total punt yards (6,791). Zeller is second in the MIAA and 11th in the national rankings in punting average at 42.8. Zeller is second on the Ichabod all-time punting average chart at 41.92 and ninth in total yards at 6,791.
The Hornets lead the all-time series 61-53-6, winning the last four in the series and 10 of the last 12 overall.
Diego Cearns leads Emporia State in rushing yards per game with 67.3 per contest and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
The Ichabods will end the season on the road at Missouri Southern on Nov. 15 in Joplin.
