Washburn Defense Keys Win Over Fort Valley State

FORT VALLY STATE WILDCATS AT #13 WASHBURN UNIVERSITY
(COURTESY: WASHBURN ATHLETICS)

TOPEKA, Kansas -- The No. 13 Washburn Ichabods held the visiting Fort Valley State Wildcats to 26 rushing yards and 141 total yards in a 41-0 win as they improved to 7-0 on the season Thursday night in Yager Stadium. Washburn will return to action on Oct. 26 when they will face Lindenwood in MIAA action at 1 p.m. for Washburn's homecoming festivities.

Washburn jumped on the board first after taking advantage of the Wildcats' (2-5) on special teams when Jeremy Carlisle blocked a punt which Ryan Macken recovered at the Fort Valley 2-yard line. Washburn needed only one play as Vershon Moore picked up the first score of the game putting the Ichabods up 7-0.

After the teams traded punts, Washburn again took advantage of a miscue on a punt when the snapped was fumbled and Washburn took over at the Wildcat 18. Washburn could not convert the drive in to a touchdown, but Justin Linn hit a 37-yard field goal staking the Ichabods to a 10-0 with 3:46 left to play in the first quarter.

Washburn scored on the first play of the second quarter when Mitch Buhler connected with Mark Kolmer for a 27-yard touchdown pass.

Washburn stretched the lead to 20-0 when Linn hit his second 50-yard field goal of the season with 9:20 left in the first half to end the scoring in the first half.

The Ichabods took the second half kickoff and marched 75 yards on six plays as Buhler hit Matt Kobbeman on a 34-yard touchdown pass putting the Ichabods up 27-0. Neither team would score again until Cody Heiman rushed for the first of his two touchdowns on the ground with 3:16 left in the third quarter.

After a fumble by the Wildcats on their next drive, Heiman scored from 12 yards out with 1:29 remaining putting Washburn up 41-0 to finish out the scoring as neither team would put any points on the board in the fourth quarter.

The shutout for the Ichabods was the first since topping Emporia State 42-0 on Nov. 6, 2010 - a streak of 31 games.

The defense held the Wildcats to 141 total yards overall with 115 passing and 26 on the ground. Fort Valley State averaged 0.7 yards per carry on 38 attempts.

Bryce Atagi led the Ichabod defense with eight tackles including three solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss for 25 yards adding a sack for 14 yards with an interception, two pass break ups and a fumble recovery playing early into the fourth quarter. Isaac Wright had seven tackles and Akhmad Abdul-Razzaq had seven as well. Willie Williams added an interception as well.

Offensively Washburn had 115 yards on the ground with Moore finishing with 49 yards on 16 carries and Heiman had 38 yards on eight carries and the two scores. Mitch Buhler finished 13 of 25 with two touchdowns and 190 passing yards ending play at the end of the third quarter. Kobbeman had five catches for 87 yards and a score.

Box Score

FROM WASHBURN UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE