The Ichabods fell short in this week’s match up against the (4-1 MIAA) Fort Hays State Tigers (4-1 MIAA). The Ichabod managed to tally up over 400 yards of offense, but that wasn’t enough to take home a win in a hostile environment.

With the Ichabods trailing 18 points in the fourth quarter, the team needed a spark that would reduce the lead for a hope of winning. Hayden Groves scored on a 3 yard rushing touchdown that cut the lead by 11 on a 13 play 80 yard drive with a little under 8:05 left to play in the fourth. With the Ichabods playing shutdown defense and forcing the Tigers to a three-and-out, they would have 7:06 seconds to come back and score.

The Ichabods took over at their own 43 yard line, gaining yards with a run-and-pass combination. Hayden Groves contributed by rushing with three carries for 20 yards and then a big-time play from Derek McGinnis connecting with Bryce Chavis for a 27 yard passing completion placing the Ichabods on Hays three yard line, after the completion the Ichabods scored with another 3-yard rushing touchdown from Iowa western transfer Mickeel Stewart. The drive went for 7 plays for 57 yards and it only took the Ichabods 1:44 to get on the board reducing the cap to 35-30 with 5:22 left in possession.

The Ichabods will display more solid defense forcing the tigers to punt once again, taking over at their own 20 yard line with 2:24 seconds left on the clock the Ichabods converted on a fourth and 12 pass from Derek McGinnis to Bryce Chavis for fresh pair of downs giving life to a hope to be touchdown drive, which ended in a fourth and 1 pass that was intended to Jordan Hart that discontinued the Ichabods seven game winning streak against the Tigers.

“You don’t get pass the losses. You use them as motivation. The feeling of being a loser doesn’t sit well with people, that feeling is used to prepare to not be beat by the next opponent,” said Jaime Myers, senior defensive back.

The First score came from a 42-yard interception touchdown by Alec Stueber, which tied the game 7-7. The Tigers scored 21 points before the half increasing the lead 28-7. After a 35-yard field goal by Perry Schmiedeler that gave the Ichabods 28-10 score with 5:16 left to play.

After a Tigers punt, Derek McGinnis connected with Hayden Groves for 38-yard touchdown connection, reducing the cap 28-17 with 22 seconds left on the clock.

Both teams totaled 921 with the Ichabods finishing with 455 and the Tigers ended with 466.

Hayden Groves had an outstanding game with 267 all-purpose yards with 17 carries for 87 yards, seven catches for 72 yards and 108 kickoff returns.

Shay Wooten lead the defense with eight tackles and Alec Stueber had seven tackles five solo stops and two interceptions.

The Ichabods have not been able to score in the third quarter two games in a row, but they also know what they have to do to polish up on the third quarter scoring issues.

“We just have focus more on our assignments on both sides of the ball,” said Alec Stueber, senior linebacker. “Defensively, we have to hit our gaps and every man has to do their job weather it’s contain the quarterback or slant to their gap. The team energy is good and we are just taking it one day at a time to focus on our upcoming home game against Central Missouri.”