By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's 2023 football season hasn't gone anywhere close to what the injury-ravaged Ichabods envisioned at the start of the year.
But the Ichabods will get the opportunity to send their 17 seniors out with a victory when 1-9 Washburn hosts 1-9 Northeastern State in Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day contest at Yager Stadium.
Offensive lineman Andrew Funk (72) is one of 17 Washburn seniors who will be honored Saturday on Senior Day at Yager Stadium. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The fact that 10 of Washburn's 17 seniors are sidelined with injuries says a lot about what the Ichabods have endured this fall, but WU coach Craig Schurig said it would be important to the program for WU to end the challenging season with a positive outcome.
"This year has been tough and they've hung in there,'' Schurig said of the senior class. "I feel bad for the ones that can't play. Some of their years were cut pretty short, but they've done a lot for this program and they've had really good careers, so you'd like to play well on Senior Day and give them something that they could be like, 'Hey, that was a fun game.' ''
Ichabod senior offensive lineman Andrew Funk agreed.
"It's very important to us,'' said the 6-foot-3, 298-pounder out of St. Charles, Mo. "Obviously, it's not the season we wanted but to end on a high note, not only for the seniors but to roll into next season with all these younger guys would be great.''
Washburn is coming off a 51-7 MIAA loss at Central Oklahoma while the RiverHawks dropped a 52-0 decision to Northwest Missouri their last time out. Both Washburn and Northeastern are looking to avoid a winless season in the conference.
Despite the Ichabods' struggles, Funk said the team has continued to have a positive attitude throughout the year.
"We have a lot of fun at practice, beforehand for sure,'' he said. "The O-line group is all seniors and we all have fun and I think that kind of spreads to the other position groups.
"We definitely still have a lot of fun. Everybody's had good energy and good speed throughout practice the entire year, so that's good to see.''
The Ichabods have played 15 true freshmen so far this season and have also played 27 redshirt freshmen.
Freshman D.J. Bell leads the team with 19 plays of more than 20 yards including 11 kickoff returns of more than 20 yards. Bell is second in the MIAA in all-purpose yards per game with 125.5, ranking 24th in the NCAA ranks.
The Ichabods have won the last 10 meetings against the RiverHawks, including a 21-17 win at Northeastern in the final game of the 2022 season.
Washburn has averaged 37.9 points in the 12 all-time meetings with Northeastern, including 35-0 and 58-14 wins in the last two games played in Topeka.
Washburn is 6-0 in games played against the RiverHawks in Topeka and improved to 5-1 in games played in Tahlequah, Okla. with the win last season. The lone loss in the series came on Sept. 27, 1988 in a 35-30 defeat.
WU freshman quarterback Sam Van Dyne was 17 of 33 passing for 187 yards against Central Oklahoma while Shawnee Heights product Tyce Brown had a career-high 69 receiving yards on four receptions. Van Dyne also scored his first career rushing touchdown.
NSU has been shut out in five games this season including its last two.
Blake May leads Northeastern State in rushing, averaging 51.3 yards per game and scoring two touchdowns.
Ben Ward has throw five touchdown passes, averaging 70.0 yards per game.
The Ichabods will open the 2024 season on Sept. 5 at Emporia State. The Ichabods will then face Colorado Mines in a non-conference game on Sept. 14 before returning to MIAA play, hosting Pittsburg State on Sept. 21.
