By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A determined fourth-quarter comeback gave Washburn University a late lead, but Missouri Western delivered the final blow as the Ichabods dropped a 27–24 MIAA road decision on Saturday.
Sophomore linebacker JC Heim registered 15 tackles in Saturday's 27-24 Washburn MIAA loss at Missouri Western. [File photo/TSN]
After the Griffons took a 27-24 lead with 1:44 to go, 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 on second down forced a 10-second runoff as the Ichabods were without any more time outs, ending the game with a three-point loss for the second week in a row.
Missouri Western controlled the opening quarter and was first on the board when Brandon Hall capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run at the 6:28 mark.
Washburn responded with a drive of its own, as Aidan Battle drilled a 28-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter.
The Ichabods then grabbed their first lead in the second quarter thanks to a defensive spark.
After Jordan Finnesy forced a fumble that Kamble Haverkamp recovered at the Griffon 27, quarterback Logan Madden connected with Weston Ropp on a 13-yard touchdown strike for a 10–7 advantage with 5:24 left before halftime.
Missouri Western answered just before the break with a 33-yard Latrell Armstrong field goal to send the game tied 10–10 into the locker room.
Missouri Western pushed back in front in the third quarter behind Armstrong's 44-yard field goal and Hall's second rushing touchdown, a 33-yard burst that extended the lead to 20-10 heading to the fourth. Hall finished with 130 rushing yards as part of the Griffons' 215-yard team ground effort.
Keller Hurla entered at quarterback and engineered a 75-yard scoring drive early in the fourth stanza, finding Henry Mohrmann for a 10-yard touchdown to pull the game back within 20-17.
On the next possession, Finnesy swung momentum again with a 43-yard interception return to set up Hurla's one-yard keeper that put Washburn back on top 24–20 with 10:55 remaining.
Hurla finished with a touchdown pass and the short rushing score in the final quarter, helping the Ichabods convert two red-zone chances into touchdowns. Battle remained perfect on special teams, hitting all three PATs.
Madden led Washburn through the air completing 21 of 38 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by seven receptions for 72 yards to Tre Calhoun and 49 receiving yards from Aden Canty.
Cam Robinson totaled 66 all-purpose yards with 20 on the ground and 29 receiving. However, the Griffon defensive front limited Washburn to just 39 rushing yards on 24 attempts in the game.
Defensively, JC Heim posted a game-high 15 tackles, including 11 solo stops, while L.J. Minner Jr. had 12 tackles and Haverkamp totaled eight tackles with three sacks and the fumble recovery. The unit forced two takeaways and limited the Griffons to just 4-of-15 on third-down attempts.
The decisive drive came from the Griffons in the final minutes. Missouri Western marched 41 yards on 11 plays, and quarterback Kane Donovan powered in from two yards out with 1:44 remaining to reclaim the lead for good.
Washburn falls to 2-7 on the season (1–6 MIAA) and will return home to Yager Stadium next Saturday, wrapping up the home slate with Emporia State at 1 p.m.
