By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University football proved again on Saturday that it can compete with the top teams in the nation.
But the end result was another heartbreaking loss on Senior Day at Yager Stadium, with the No. 8-ranked Bronchos escaping with a 28-27 win to clinch at least a share of the MIAA championship.
Tre Richardson (6) had 228 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in Washburn's 28-27 loss to Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn quarterback Sam Van Dyne threw for 406 yards and four TDs in the Ichabods' 28-27 loss to Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The loss was the second straight one-point loss for the Ichabods and the third straight by a total of five points.
Washburn, which fell to 2-8 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA, has now dropped five one-possession games on the year.
"I'm really proud of the guys, they played hard,'' Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. "It was a very good football game. UCO's one of the top teams in the conference and we played really good. I thought that was our best defensive game we've had by far and offensively we did a lot of good things and gave ourselves a shot.
"We went toe to toe with one of the top teams in the country and it was anyone's game. We had a touchdown taken off the board and that's tough but the guys played hard and it was a good game.''
Getting another outstanding day from Highland Park product Tre Richardson, Washburn rallied from an early 6-0 deficit and a 13-7 deficit at the half to take 21-13 lead at the 12:27 mark of the third quarter after back-to-back touhdowns from Richardson, a sophomore receiver.
Richardson scored on 80 and 48-yard touchdown passes from sophomore Sam Van Dyne to give the Ichabods their eight-point lead and had another long TD run wiped out by a WU holding penalty that would have given the Ichabods a two-possession lead.
Richardson caught eight passes for 193 yards on the day and added 35 rushing yards on five attempts, while Van Dyne completed 26 of 43 passes for 406 yards and all four Washburn touchdowns.
Central Oklahoma (9-1, 7-1) tied the game with 12:47 left on a 19-yard TD pass from Dawson Herl to Ashton Schumann and a two-point conversion pass from Herl to Jacob Delso.
The Bronchos took a 28-21 lead with 6:17 remaining of a 15-yard pass from Herl to Terrill Davis (Nicky Quevedo kick) but the Ichabods answered with a 3-yard TD pass from Van Dyne to Connor Searcy at the 3:00-minute mark. Trenton Brehm's extra-point try was ruled wide, allowing UCO to maintain the lead.
After forcing a Central Oklahoma punt, Washburn drove quickly downfield but Brehm's 43-yard field goal attempt was blocked, the Bronchos' second block of the day.
Washburn will close out its season at Northeastern State next Saturday.
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 28, WASHBURN 27
Central Oklahoma (9-1, 7-1) 6 7 0 15 -- 28
Washburn (2-8, 2-7) 0 7 14 6 -- 27
First quarter
Central Oklahoma -- Davis 47 pass from Huff (run failed), 5:23
Second quarter
Washburn -- Sullivan 15 pass from Van Dyne (Brehm kick), 12:54
Central Oklahoma -- Cottrell 15 pass from Huff (Quevedo kick), 9:39
Third quarter
Washburn -- Richardson 80 pass from Van Dyne (Brehm kick), 14:16
Washburn -- Richardson 48 pass from Van Dyne (Brehm kick), 12:27
Fourth quarter
Central Oklahoma -- Schumann 19 pass from Herl (Delso pass from Herl), 12:47
Central Oklaoma -- Davis 15 pass from Herl (Quevedo kick), 6:17
Washburn -- Searcy 3 pass from Van Dyne (kick failed), 3:00
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- Central Oklahoma: Mason 10-104, Herl 6-62, Cottrell 10-28, Carney 1-5, Team 1-(minus)-3. Washburn: Bowden 17-80, Richardson 5-35, Hurla 2-12, Robinson 3-9, Van Dyne 3-7, Sullivan 1-(minus)-3, Oitker 1-(minus)-4, Harmison 1-(minus)-5.
Passing -- Central Oklahoma: Huff 19-28-1, 195 yards; Herl 7-8-0, 73. Washburn: Van Dyne 26-43-1, 406; Wilhelm 1-1-0, 10; Team 0-2-0, 0.
Receiving -- Central Oklahoma: Schumann 6-49, Delso 5-56, Davis 4-77, Cottrell 3-25, Romero 3-14, Dunn 2-23, Grey 2-15, Mason 1-9. Washburn: Richardson 8-193, Sullivan 7-120, Searcy 4-28, Brown 3-38, Keller 2-31, Bowden 2-10, Van Dyne 1-(minus)-4.
Punting -- Central Oklahoma: Miller 5-34.4. Washburn: Wilhelm 1-62.0; Zeller 3-43.0.
Tackles -- Central Oklahoma: Bucheit 4 solo-4 assists-8 total. Washburn: Minner Jr. 7-3-10; White 6-1-7; Finnesy 6-1-7.
Attendance -- 3,975.
