Ichabods finish 2004 with 1st 8-win season since 1986

For immediate release - Dec. 4, 2004
Box Score | Final Season Stats | Updated Career Stats | Photogallery coming soon!

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. - The Washburn Ichabods won their first postseason game against collegiate competition since 1976 completing a stellar 8-4 season winning the 2004 Mineral Water Bowl 36-33 over Northern State.

After the Wolves scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 33, the Ichabods drove 65 yards in nine plays in 1:41 to set up Connor Sabel's game-winning field goal of 32 yards. Senior quarterback Tyler Schuerman completed 3-of-6 passes for 46 yards and scampered for 13 more to set up the game-winning field goal.

The Ichabods jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on a Schuerman to Sam Sissom touchdown pass on the opening drive of the game. Sissom would set a new Mineral Water Bowl record with 216 yards receiving and tied another Mineral Water Bowl record with 11 receptions. Sissom was also named the Offensive Player of the Game.

Northern State would cut the lead to 7-3 on a 25-yard field goal. On the ensuing drive, Schuerman hooked up with Mike Odupitan for a 53-yard touchdown strike that would push the Ichabods' lead to 13-3. Odupitan finished the game also over the century mark in receiving yards with 119 yards receiving on eight receptions. The lead was pushed to 20-3 on Jarod Tetuan's 19-yard pass reeception from Schuerman.

After halftime, the Wolves scored 14 points in the second quarter as they cut the Ichabod lead to 20-17.

In the fourth quarter, Trent Hearn scored on a 1-yard touchdown dive capping a 93-yard scoring drive for the Ichabods and pushing the Washburn lead to 27-17. The Ichabods would add to that after Calvin Stuckey's second interception of the game gave the Ichabods possession at their own 5-yard line as the Wolves were preparing to score. Stuckey was named the Mineral Water Bowl's Defensive Most Valuable Player.

The Ichabods recorded their longest scoring drive of the season on a 95-yard drive in nine plays as Jeff Scott caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Schuerman to put the Ichabods up 33-17.

The Wolves tied the score at 33 on scoring drives of 1:54 (9 plays, 76 yards) and 0:35 (3 plays 71 yards) setting up the Ichabods game-winning drive.

Schuerman tied a Mineral Water Bowl record with his four touchdown passes. Two others had set the Mineral Water Bowl record of four, both were set by junior colleges, the Division II record was three. Schuerman also finished with a career-high 400 yards passing completing 23 of 38 passes. His 400 yards passing would have been a new bowl record except for Toby Korrodi of Northern State passed for 422.

Other notes on the game - the win:
•lifted the Ichabods to 459-530-44 in its football history
•was the first win over Northern State in the series
•was give the Ichabods a 8-4 overall record
•gave the Ichabods their first eight-win season since 1986 when the team finished the season 8-3 — in addition, there have only been eight wins in a season six teams (1906, 1907, 1964, 1974, 1983 and 1986)
•was the Ichabods first postseason win since a 27-8 victory in the Aztec Bowl over the Mexican All-Stars on Nov. 29, 1986 (the win does not count in the overall record from that season - because the game was not against collegiate competion)
•was the first win against collegiate competition since a 21-7 win over Millikin (Mich.) in the Boot Hill Bowl on Nov. 23, 1974