Ichabod falls short in comeback against Tigers

Damion Butler

The Ichabods’ fourth quarter comeback back fell short in a 35-30 loss Saturday against Fort Hays State, stopping the Ichabods seven game winning streak over the Tigers.Washburn will return to the field on Saturday in the MIAA TV Game of the Week when they play host to Central Missouri on Hall of Fame Day in Yager Stadium.

With the Ichabods down by 13 in the fourth quarter, Hayden Groves scored on a 3-yard run reducing the score 24-35 with 8:05 remaining to play.

Washburn would play good defense forcing the Tigers to punt, the Ichabods scored on another 3-yard rush by Mickeel Stewart that would cut the game close 30-35 with 5:22 left to play.

The Washburn defensive held the Tigers to a punt taking over at Hays 20 yard line, and driving up the field to their own 41, after three attempts to score Derek McGinnis’s pass was incomplete to Jordan Hart on fourth and 1 for turnover on downs giving the Tigers a win.

The Tigers started strong and drove nine plays for 82 yards being first on the board 7-0. The Ichabods 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 yards 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 led the defense with eight tackles. Alec Stueber had seven tackles, five solo stops and two interceptions.