By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football will be looking to wrap up a 2024 campaign marked by a string of close losses with a win on Saturday in Tahlequah, Okla. as the Ichabods will face Northeastern State at 1 p.m.
Craig Schurig's Washburn football team will be looking to close out the 2024 season with a win Saturday at Northeastern State. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn (2-8) is coming off a 28-27 loss to No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma last time out on Senior Day in Yager Stadium, the Ichabods' second straight one-point loss and third straight defeat by a total of five points.
Veteran Washburn coach Craig Schurig said it would be a big boost to end the season, which includes five one-possession losses overall, on a positive note.
"To be honest, the way we've played, these guys are confident,'' Schurig said. "We've played really well. The Central Missouri game and the Central Oklahoma game, those games came down to one or two plays and you're playing teams that are best in the country.
"We feel pretty good about how we're playing. We've just got to finish and it would be great to play well and hopefully we do. We're on pace to play well down there.''
The 2-8 RiverHawks, who are playing this season as a non-MIAA opponent in football only, lost 35-7 at Mississippi College last Saturday.
The Ichabods are looking for their 12th win in a row over the RiverHawks as Washburn leads the all-time series 12-1 and they are averaging 38.5 points per game in the series.
Wahburn took a 45-14 win over Northeastern State in last season's finale at Yager Stadium.
WU's L.J. Minner Jr. is fifth in the nation and leads the MIAA in forced fumbles with 0.4 per game and his four total forced fumbles this season are tied for the Ichabod single-season record.
Highland Park product Tre Richardson is 11th in the nation and second in the MIAA in all-purpose yards, averaging 144.5 yards per game. He is also 13th nationally in receiving yards with 931 and 13th in receiving yards per game with 93.1. With 69 receiving yards he will become the first Ichabod to reach 1,000 yards receiving since James Letcher, Jr. had 1076 on 70 receptions in 2022.
Washburn quarterback Sam Van Dyne threw for 406 yards and four TDs in the Ichabods' 28-27 loss to Central Oklahoma last Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn sophomore Tre Richardson compiled 228 all-purpose yards in last week's 28-27 loss to No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn sophomore quarterback Sam Van Dyne passed for a career-high 406 yards passing yards with four touchdown passes against Central Oklahoma while Richardson had 193 yards receiving with 151 yards after the catch and finished with 228 all-purpose yards.
Minner led the Ichabods with 10 tackles with seven solo stops and a forced fumble against the Bronchos.
Ramon McKinney Jr. leads the RiverHawks in rushing, averaging 53.5 yards per game while adding a team-high six touchdowns.
Dereun Dortsch has passed for 15 touchdowns with eight interceptions, averaging 169.1 yards per game through the air. Deuce Roberson had a team-high 45 receptions for 557 yards and five scores.
Defensively Clavon Caine leads the team with 59 tackles including 10 tackles for loss and three sacks adding two forced fumbles.
The Ichabods will open the 2025 season hosting former MIAA foe Truman State on Aug. 30. The game will mark the first matchup with the Bulldogs since Oct. 13, 2012 before Truman left for the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
WU will open MIAA play on Sept. 6 against Northwest Missouri, hosting the Bearcats in Topeka for the third year in a row.
