Sept. 30 • Moore Bowl • Topeka, Kansas • 6 PM

The Game

Two teams looking to get back in the win column will battle tonight at Moore Bowl. Washburn is coming off its first loss of the season, a 42-10 defeat at the hands of Missouri Western State College, while Central Missouri State University will be looking for its first MIAA win after falling to Pittsburg State University 14-7.

Ichabods on Radio

The game will be broadcast in northeast Kansas on KDVV-FM 100.3 Topeka, Kansas, with Ron Simon calling the action, along with color man Steve Walter. Simon is in his 13th season as the play-by-play man for the Ichabods and Lady Blues. The Tony DeMeo Show, with head football coach Tony DeMeo and hosted by Ron Simon, can be heard on Wednesdays from 6-7 on KTOP (1490 AM) broadcasted live from Shooter’s Bar and Grill located on 21st just west of Gage Blvd.

The Coaches

Tony DeMeo is in his sixth season at the helm of the Ichabods’ program. He has compiled an 20-36 record at Washburn and a 83-66-4 overall record in his 16 seasons as a head coach.
DeMeo began his coaching career at Pace University (1973-74) before returning to his alma mater, Iona College, as head coach from 1975-78. Since then, he has started a university football program from scratch at NCAA Division III Mercyhurst (1981-87) and been an assistant at six NCAA Division I schools.
DeMeo is a dynamic speaker who toured the country as part of the Riddell-Ultra Power Football Coaches Clinics. He authored a book entitled Explosive Football with the Multi-Bone, an offense that he created and is used by many universities and high schools across the country as well as 101 Ways To Run the Option. He and his wife of 25 years, Joanne, are the parents of Sara, Annie, Mary Kate and Michelle.

Willie Fritz is in his third season as the Mules’ head coach. He is a 1983 graduate of Pittsburg State University and he has compiled a 15-11 CMSU record and the same overall record as a head coach.

Ichabods Notes

The Ichabods are looking to get back on the winning track after losing its first game of the season in a 42-10 loss to Missouri Western. In the MIAA rankings, Washburn is third in pass offense averaging 188.0 yards per game and first in pass defense giving up 89.5 yards per game in the air. The Ichabods’ 242.5 yards per game in total offense is fourth in the league. In pass defense efficiency with a rating of 91.1. The Washburn defense is first in the league in opponent first downs with 55. The offense is first in fourth-down conversions converting on seven-of-eleven attempts.
Ichabods also have individuals ranked in MIAA categories. Barry Galbraith is third in total offense with 207.5 yards per game. Galbraith is also third in pass efficiency with a 116.6 rating. Marc Nardella is third in receptions per game with six and he is also third in receiving yards per game with 80.8. Corey Crain leads the league in kickoff returns averaging 40 yards a return.

Ichabods Last Week

The Washburn Ichabods' hopes of going 4-0 for the first time since 1986 came crashing to a halt as the Missouri Western State College Griffons reeled off 35 unanswered points in a 42-10 win.
The Griffons (3-1, 2-0 MIAA) took the opening kickoff traveling 80 yards in eight plays capped by a Kasey Waterman to Jerris Evans 26-yard touchdown pass to take the early lead.
After trading punts, the Ichabods (3-1, 1-1 MIAA) put three points on the board with a Chad Todd 29-yard field goal.
The Ichabods would force a Griffon punt on their next drive and take the lead on a Corey Crain 5-yard rush. Todd would add the point after the put the Ichabods up 10-7 late in the first quarter.
Missouri Western would then take their following drive 54-yards in seven plays to go up 14-10 with 1:23 left in the first quarter and they would never look back.
Brandon Rainer led the Ichabods on the ground picking up 72 yards rushing while Barry Galbraith would throw for 161-yards on 14-of-28 passing with one interception. He was also sacked nine times. Marc Nardella had 87 yards receiving with six receptions. Corey Phipps led the defense with seven tackles including two for a loss.
CMSU is coming off a 14-7 loss to Pittsburg State University. The Mules are 2-2 and 0-2 in the MIAA.

Mules Notes

The Mules are looking to avoid its first 0-3 MIAA start since 1996 when they opened the conference 0-5 with losses to Pittsburg State, Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri, Washburn and Truman State before beating Missouri-Rolla.
On offense, the Mules are led by Dexter Ford who is picking up 85 yards per game. Quarterback John Holmes is 20-48-5 for 233 yards averaging 58.3 yards per game. Greg Schmidt is the leading receiver with seven receptions for 94 yards for an average of 23.5 yards per game.
The CMSU offense is averaging 27.3 points per game, which is fifth in the MIAA. The Mules are second in the MIAA in rush defense allowing 107.8 yards per game and first in total defense giving up 229.3 yards per game. The Mules are last in the MIAA in first downs totaling 45 in their four games. The CMSU defense is third in the MIAA in opponent first downs with 57. The defense is also first in the league in opponent fourth-down conversions allowing only one first down in five attempts.

Mules Last Week

The Mules fell to Pittsburg State 14-7 last Saturday in Warrensburg. It was the Gorillas 18th straight win over CMSU. The Mules’ lone score came on a 1-yd run by Jason Graham. CMSU gained only six first downs picking up 116 rushing yards and 48 yards in the air. Dexter Ford led the way for the Mules with 70 yards rushing while John Holmes was 5-of-12 with one interception for 48 yards. Greg Schmidt had two receptions for 48 yards.

Washburn vs CMSU Series

Washburn lead the series record 15-13-2. CMSU has won seven of the last 10 including a 37-0 win over the Ichabods last year in Topeka.

The Ichabods and Mules Last Year

The Ichabods mustered a sloppy performance in a downfall of showers in a 37-0 loss Nov. 7 in Moore Bowl. After rolling up impressive numbers in the previous two weeks of games against Emporia State and Missouri Southern, the Ichabod offense was held to 88 yards and turned the ball over four times.
The Ichabods’ passing attack, which was basically grounded in the monsoon, still managed 71 yards passing and 36 yards rushing. The Mules gained all of its offense on the ground, 289 yards. Dexter Ford rushed for 169 yards on eight carries including two touchdowns runs of 63 and 35 yards.