By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
A team effort in all three phases of the game gave Washburn University football its second MIAA victory of the season, a 42-21 win over Missouri Southern at Yager Stadium Saturday.
Washburn senior defensive lineman Chase McCoy celebrates after picking off a pass and returning it 20 yards for a touchdown in Saturday's 42-21 MIAA win over Missouri Southern. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Six different Ichabods scored, including a defensive lineman who said he blacked out and didn’t know how he wound up in the end zone.
Washburn sophomore Tre Richardson (6) scored the first touchdown of the game in Saturday's 42-21 MIAA win over Missouri Southern. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn started fast, with several big plays by Highland Park graduate Tre Richardson providing the spark. With the defense locked in, they jumped on the visiting Lions 21-0 in the first period.
“We started out hot and then kept the pressure on,” Washburn coach Craig Schurig said. “Defense did a really good job getting the ball back. Our run game was on point. That opens up a lot of things.
“I’m really proud of our guys for playing fast and not hesitant at all. We still had some mistakes and Southern kind of clawed back in it a little bit. But I’m proud of the way we responded.”
Richardson put the Ichabods up early when he hauled in a swing pass from Keller Hurla and took it 29 yards for a touchdown.
A fumble by Missouri Southern put the Ichabods right back in business. A reverse to Richardson produced a 41-yard run to set up a second Washburn touchdown – a 4-yard run by Lucas Oitker.
Washburn sophomore quarterback Sam Van Dyne (middle) ran for a touchdown and threw for a TD in Saturday's 42-21 MIAA win over Missouri Southern. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn quarterback Sam Van Dyne was next to find the end zone. His 7-yard run put the Ichabods up 21-0 at the close of the first period.
The Lions got on the board with a short run early in the second period when an interception set them up on the Ichabod 5-yard line.
Washburn responded with a 20-yard scoring run from Tylan Crochett and went to intermission with a 28-7 lead.
The Lions opened the second half with a score to close to 28-14. But Washburn’s Maury Sullivan took a Van Dyne pass to the end zone for a 9-yard TD on the ensuing drive.
The Ichabods pinned Missouri Southern deep with the kickoff, setting up the play of the game.
Sniffing out a middle screen, 290-pound defensive lineman Chase McCoy tipped, then reeled in, a pass and rumbled 20 yards for touchdown, the first of his career at any level.
“I got the ball and just kind of blacked out,” McCoy said. “I gave a stiff arm, got a little shifty out there and ended up in the end zone. Don’t know how that happened. The goal was just to not fall down.”
“Defensive touchdown, that just sends shock waves through everybody,” Schurig said. “(McCoy) looked good running the ball. We may have to put him at fullback. He wasn’t going to go down.”
McCoy’s touchdown highlighted a solid defensive effort by the Ichabods.
Defensively, the Ichabods were led by Jordan Finney's seven tackles and a breakup, while five other Ichabods had at least five stops. Washburn had two sacks for 15 yards and six tackles for a loss for 21 yards, adding five pass breakups.
“As a defense, this week we locked in and knew what we had to do to win this game,” said Washburn Rural graduate J.C. Heim, who recorded five tackles, including three for loss. “I think people see when we get on a roll, we can get hot. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing in practice and take it to the next level.”
With four games remaining in the season, Washburn will look to build on the victory next Saturday at Central Missouri.
“We wanted to play well at home. We got off to a great start and the crowd got into it,” Schurig said. “I’m really proud of the guys. The practices have been good. Their effort, enthusiasm … we compete in practice and they go at it hard. It’s great to see them get reward for that.
“As a coach, you like seeing your guys happy at the end of the game. That’s part of the joy of coaching.”
WASHBURN 42, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 21
Missouri Southern (1-7, 0-5) 0 7 7 7 -- 21
Washburn (2-5, 2-4) 21 7 14 0 -- 42
Washburn – Richardson 29 pass from Hurla (Brehm kick)
Washburn – Oitker 4 run (Brehm kick)
Washburn – Van Dyne 7 run (Brehm kick)
Missouri Southern – Sampson 3 run (Reese kick)
Washburn – Crochett 20 run (Brehm kick)
Missouri Southern – Willhite 20 pass from Sampson (Reese kick)
Washburn – Sullivan 9 pass from Van Dyne (Brehm kick)
Washburn – McCoy 20 interception return (Brehm kick)
Missouri Southern – Chionuma 1 run (Reese kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing – Missouri Southern: Chionuma 14-87, Dowden 12-42, Willhite 1-(minus)1, Sampson 4-(minus 8). Washburn: Richardson 4-78, Bowden 13-57, Carter 5-29, Hurla 4-29, Alejos 2-26, Crochett 1-20, Oitker 3-13, Robinson 3-9, Searcey 1-3, Van Dyne 3-7.
Passing – Missouri Southern: Sampson 27-36-1 247 yards. Washburn: Van Dyne 9-10-0 133 yards, Sprouse 2-3-0 16 yards, Hurla 1-2-1 29 yards, Clark 0-1-0 0 yards.
Receiving – Missouri Southern: Parker 8-69, Herl 3-41, Green 3-41, Willhite 2-24, Robins 2-22, Martini 2-17, Padello 2-16, Rotich 1-9, Holloway 1-4, Chionuma 1-2, Bethune 1-1, Dowden 1-1. Washburn: Sullivan 4-60, Brown 1-45, Richardson 2-37, Harmison 4-30, Weber 1-6.
Punting – Missouri Southern: Cory 4-32.0. Washburn: Zeller 1-39.0.
