By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PITTSBURG – Washburn University football played No. 4-ranked Pittsburg State within six points through the first half Thursday night, but the Gorillas scored on three straight drives and added a defensive score as the Ichabods fell 34-7 in the season-opener.
Craig Schurig's Washburn football team will open its home season next Thursday after a season-opening 34-7 loss at Pittsburg State. [File photo/TSN]
Shawnee Heights product Tyce Brown caught six passes for 66 yards in Thursday's 34-7 Washburn University loss at No. 4-ranked Pittsburg State. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will return to Yager Stadium to open their home slate against Missouri Southern next Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Ichabods (0-1 overall, 0-1 MIAA) trailed at the half 6-0 after the Gorillas (1-0, 1-0) connected on a 45-yard field goal to end the second quarter.
In the opening half, the Ichabods were outgained 223 yards to 91, including a 142 to 29 advantage by the Gorillas in the second quarter.
The Ichabods took the second half kickoff, but an interception on the third play of the drive inside their own 20 returned to the ball back to the Gorillas and four plays later Pitt State pushed its lead to 13-0 on a 1-yard run with 12:09 to play in the third quarter.
Washburn would then go on a 14-play, 80-yard drive, taking 7:05 off the clock, cutting the Gorilla lead to 13-7 with 4:51 to play in the third quarter.
The drive was capped on a 1-yard pass from Kellen Simoncic to D.J. Bell for the first Ichabod points of the season. The Ichabods converted a fourth-down play on the drive on a 15-yard pass completion from Simoncic to Shawnee Heights product Tyce Brown.
Pittsburg State upped its lead to 20-7 on the first play of the fourth quarter and a 2-point conversion was picked off in the endzone by Jordan Finnesy The drive was a 12-play, 66-yard drive.
Washburn picked up a first down on its ensuing drive, but back-to-back holding calls stalled the drive and the Ichabods were forced to punt as the Gorillas regained possession. The Gorillas would then go on a 12-play, 69-yard drive to take a 27-7 lead after the 2-point conversion with 6:44 to go in the game.
On the Ichabods' next drive, a fumble on the second play of the drive by Washburn was picked up by Pitt State and returned 18 yards for a score, stretching thelead to 34-7 with 6:17 to play for the final score of the game.
Washburn was outgained 365 to 217 in the game including 220 to 55 on the ground.
Brown had six catches for 66 yards and Bell finished with six catches for 20 yards and a score in his first collegiate action.
Taylon Peters had 20 rushes for 56 yards and Simoncic finished 23 of 40 passing for 162 yards and a score.
Defensively, Finnesy led the Ichabods with nine tackles including six solo stops.
