By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabods rallied to take a 30-29 lead with 24 seconds to play but No. 16-ranked Northwest Missouri moved the ball 43 yards in three plays after a 38-yard kickoff return to kick a 36-yard field goal and escape with a 32-30 MIAA win Saturday in Maryville, Mo.
The Ichabods (4-3) took the one-point lead on a 10-yard run by sophomore quarterback Kellen Simoncic with 24 seconds to play on a 4th-and-goal situation. However, a big kickoff return by the Bearcats put Northwest (5-2) in position and pass plays of 20 yards and 23 yards to the Ichabod 19 set up the game-winning field goal.
James Letcher Jr. became Washburn's all-time receptions leader in Saturday's 32-30 MIAA loss at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn led 24-23 with 7:15 to go in the game when Simoncic hit Peter Afful on a 28-yard touchdown pass, finishing off a 78-yard, five-play drive. However, Northwest came back on an 11-play, 70-yard drive to take a 29-24 lead after the two-point conversion pass failed.
With 11:52 to go in the game, Simconcic hit former Shawnee Heights standout Tyce Brown for the first touchdown reception of his college career as the Ichabods cut the Bearcat lead to 23-17 after neither team scored in the third quarter.
The Ichabods were down 2-0 when Northwest recorded a safety against the Ichabods and then the Bearcats would go up 9-0 on a touchdown pass with 3:49 to play in the opening quarter. Washburn got on the board on a 33-yard field goal by Kameron Lake with 14:12 to play in the first half.
On the following drive, the Bearcats had a 75-yard drive, going up 16-3 with 11:58 to play in the half.
The Ichabods scored their first touchdown of the game on a 30-yard strike from Simoncic to Afful with 32 seconds to go, but the Bearcats scored right before the half on a 63-yard, three-play drive to go up 23-10 as time expired in the first half.
Simoncic finished 26 of 40 passing for 314 yards and three touchdowns, completing 14-straight passes at one point, but was sacked seven times.
Washburn Rural product Hunter Browning rushed for 52 yards and 11 attempts while James Letcher Jr., who became Washburn's all-time leader in receptions, had eight catches for 129 yards. Afful had five catches for 78 yards and two scores.
Letcher raised his career total to 197 receptions, passing Ichabod Hall of Famer Sam Sissom, who had 191 in his Washburn career.
Letcher also passed the 5,000-yard mark in all-purpose yards at Washburn, moving his total to 5,023 yards, and now trails Washburn's all-time leader, Hall of Famer Troy Slusser, who had 5,210 yards.
Grant Bruner, the nation's leading tackler, had 14 tackles, including 12 solo stops.
Both teams had 25 first downs as the Bearcats outgained the Ichabods 439 to 357. Washburn was 8 of 15 on third downs holding the Bearcats to 5 of 11 conversion attempts.
Washburn, now 4-3 on the season, will be back at Yager Stadium next Saturday, hosting Central Oklahoma in its Homecoming game.
-
Footer
