By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A layoff of 656 days will end Thursday night for Washburn University's football team, with the Ichadods traveling to Jefferson City, Mo. to face Lincoln in WU's 2021 MIAA season-opener (6 p.m. kickoff).
Washburn has been idle since ending the '19 season with a 57-41 win over Nebraska-Kearney.
Prior to the 2020 season being canceled due to the COVID pandemic, 1895 was the last time the Ichabod football team had a season in which no games counted toward its record.
And although the Ichabods have continued to practice off and on over the last year-plus, Washburn coach Craig Schurig said it's way past time to play a game.
"If you look at all the practices we've had, it was around 25 in the fall, 25 or so in the spring plus the 20-plus we've had now, so that's about 75 practices without a game,'' Schurig said. "That's a lot of practice, so even the coaches are like, 'Yeah, we're ready to play.'
"Usually coaches are like, 'We could use another week,' but we're ready.''
Schurig said he feels like his team is coming off a very productive fall camp.
"We feel like our practices went well,'' Schurig said. "We have a pretty veteran group, so it was pretty smooth. We just feel like we're prepared and hopefully we play well.''
James Letcher Jr. is top returner for Washburn's football team, earning honorable mention All-America honors in 2019 for the 6-5 Ichabods. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn is 78-46-6 all-time in season openers, winning the 2019 season opener over Lincoln 49-27, and the Ichabods have won seven straight games against Lincoln. The Ichabods have won their last four season-openers.
Washburn is coming off a 6-5 season and will take a three-game win streak into Thursday night's game.
The Ichabods will have 73 returning lettermen with a balanced group of 36 on offense, 34 on defense and three on special teams.
Washburn returns seven starters on offense, eight on defense and six on special teams with kickers and returners.
Junior wide receiver and kickoff return specialist James Letcher Jr. was an honorable mention All-America selection in 2019 and a second team All-MIAA pick as a wide receiver and a third team all-conference pick as a returner.
Letcher was fifth in the MIAA in receiving yards per game with 74.9 and his 5.8 receptions per game ranked second in the league. Overall, Letcher had 64 receptions for 824 yards adding seven touchdowns.
Letcher recorded 27 kickoff returns for 734 yards averaging 27.2 per return including a 100-yard return against Fort Hays State. He was second in the MIAA in kickoff return average and was eighth in the nation.
Senior punter Lane Spiker was a second team All-MIAA pick and had 36 punts for 1,469 yards and had nine punts of more than 50 yards, averaging 40.8 yards per punt.
Senior defensive back K.J. Turner was a third-team All-MIAA selection in '19, ranking third on the Ichabods in tackles with 59 total stops (35 solo) tackles with an interception and a forced fumble.
Senior quarterback Mitch Schurig received All-MIAA honorable mention after passing for 2,319 yards and 21 touchdowns and completing 187 of 283 passes while setting a school record with his 66.1 completion percentage. He was fourth in the MIAA in passing yards per game and his 2,319 passing yards rank ninth on the Ichabod single-season chart and his 21 touchdowns were ninth.
Junior linebacker Grant Bruner received honorable mention on defense after leading the Ichabods with 73 tackles and recording 8.5 tackles for loss.
Lincoln was tabbed 12th in the MIAA preseason coaches poll and preseason media poll.
Leading the Lincoln offense is Malik Franklin, who led the MIAA in rushing in 2019 with 1,359 yards on 226 carries for an average of 6.0 yards per attempt.
