Ichabods earn MIAA Player of the Week honors

For immediate release - Nov. 9, 2004
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics announced Tuesday that Washburn senior quarterback Tyler Schuerman and junior wide receiver/punt returner Sam Sissom were named Wilson/MIAA Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week respectively.

The duo helped the Ichabods to a 58-43 win over Missouri Southern to help Washburn finish the regular season 7-4 and earn a postseason appearance for the first time since 1988. Washburn will face Northern (S.D.) State in the Mineral Water Bowl after finishing third in the MIAA with a 6-3 conference record. Washburn's conference mark and finish were each best in school history.

Schuerman, a 6-3, 225-pound senior from Riverview, Fla., threw five
touchdown passes in the win at Missouri Southern. He was 13-of-20 for 257 yards and the career-high five TDs with no interceptions. Schuerman also added 53 yards on 11 rushing attempts.

He threw four of his scoring passes in the first half, as the Ichabods built a 34-17 halftime lead. The last one came in the fourth quarter, after Southern had rallied to within eight points, to put the game away in the final 5:48.

He is a graduate of East Bay High School.

Sissom, a 6-foot-0, 195-pound junior from Kansas City, Mo., averaged 129 yards on three punt returns, including a 66-yard touchdown return in the win.

After logging 21 yards on his first return of the day, Sissom broke loose for a 42-yard jaunt to the Lions 7, which set up the Ichabods for their fourth TD of the day and a 27-6 lead near the halfway mark of the second quarter.

His scoring return, a first for WU since Oct. 7, 1995, put the ‘Bods ahead, 51-29, with 1:50 to go in the third.

Sissom, who also caught five passes for 94 yards and a TD, is a graduate of Winnetonka High School.