Blake Peterson has carved out a role as a dynamic quarterback.

As a former wide receiver for the Ichabods, Peterson has proved himself an indispensable asset to the WU football team when he stepped up to fill the role of quarterback following Logan Twehous’ recent injury. As a quarterback with an ability to take off for rushing yards, Peterson is a double threat with his ground game and his air attack on offense.

Peterson first started out as a quarterback for Washburn Rural High School, where he accumulated 1,853 yards of total offense, including 1,542 passing yards in his senior season and 1,500 total yards of offense as a junior. He was awarded Honorable Mention all-Centennial League honors as a senior per wusports.com.

Peterson was also ranked among the top 10 city leaders in both passing and rushing along, was awarded Honorable Mention Class 6A All-State in 2013 and 2014 and has been named the Topeka City Prep Star of the Week and Wendy’s Student Athlete of the Week.

When he wasn’t playing football in high school, Peterson also spent time in high school as a pitcher on the baseball team and a forward on the basketball team, lettering in both per wusports.

Peterson began his college career at San Marcos, Texas as a redshirt quarterback for Texas State University. Peterson transferred to Washburn University after his first year and began training under Craig Schurig, head football coach.

“Coach Schurig is awesome,” Peterson said. “He recruited me out of high school. I went to Texas State my first year, then came here and he welcomed me with open arms. He is just a great leader for all of us.”

In his first season as an Ichabod, Peterson took to the field as a wide receiver for his first seven games, earning two receptions for 35 yards along with a 25 yard reception at Northwest Missouri State.

For his 2017 season, Peterson has had a major breakthrough at quarterback for the Ichabods. So far, Peterson has totaled at 466 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, a 54.6 percent completion rate and 126 rushing yards.

“With Logan getting hurt, I am pushing for more leadership,” Peterson said. “I’m just trying to do my best to be the best leader I can on and off the field. I lead by example, especially in the classroom, in the weights room and at practice.”

Peterson proved himself a great playmaker to have at the helm of the offense Sept. 23 when the Ichabods defeated the University of Nebraska at Kearney Lopers in a home game. Peterson put up 219 yards throwing the ball, two touchdowns and six rushing yards.

Peterson also proved to be a major threat in the ground game. In his huge rushing performance at Lindenwood University, Peterson launched ahead for 73 rushing yards.

“We have a good team, we are 3-1 now,” Peterson said. “We have a lot of games we can win left on the schedule, so I am really excited to see how much better we can be.”

This confidence is shared by the entire personnel in light of their recent victory against Northwest Missouri State, the defending national champions. Their victory came from a 10 point upset in the second half, the final score being 26-16.

With a Mineral Bowl appearance last year, Schurig has Blake and the rest of his team already thinking postseason as well.

Beyond his playmaking abilities on the field, Peterson is focusing on pursuing a business degree through Washburn. In his first year at Washburn, Peterson quickly gained academic recognition by being included on the MIAA Academic Honor.

“I like to keep a pretty high GPA,” Peterson said. “Hopefully that ends up with me graduating and getting my degree at Washburn.”

Moving forward, Peterson is currently preparing to shoulder a heavy workload as the starting quarterback at Pittsburg State University. Hopefully getting Washburn to 4-1 and breaking the top 25 to get closer and closer to the end goal of winning the conference.

“Definitely looking for that conference championship as our number one goal for the season,” Peterson said.