EDMOND, Oklahoma — The Washburn Ichabods started off with a 10-0 lead at Central Oklahoma, but could not hold the lead as they struggled in the redzone with a 35-26 loss to the Bronchos. Washburn returns to action on Saturday, they will host Emporia State at 1 p.m. in Yager Stadium.

The Ichabods jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a 20-yard field goal by Justin Linn, the first of his single-game tying record of four on the afternoon, on Washburn’s first drive of the game. Washburn stretched the lead to 10-0 when Zeke Palmer hit Jordan Hart on a 29-yard touchdown pass with 2:40 remaining in the first quarter.

UCO got on the board on its next possession after the Ichabods recovered an onsides kick, but were whistled for offsides. UCO took advantage and scored three plays later on a 19-yard run by Jake Gandara with 1:51 to play in the first quarter.

The Bronchos (6-2, 6-2 MIAA) took the lead for good with a 90-yard drive on an 11-yard rush by Clay McKenzie. The Ichabods drove down to the UCO eight on their next drive, but settled for a 25-yard field goal by Linn with 7:39 to play in the first half.

UCO pushed its lead out to eight on a 10-yard touchdown run by Gandara with 3:35 to play in the half. On the Ichabods (2-6, 2-6 MIAA) next drive down to the UCO 11, Linn hit a 28-yard field goal cutting the UCO lead to 21-16 before the half.

The Ichabods’ blocked a UCO field goal attempt by Calvin Kenney on the Bronchos first drive of the half and the Ichabods drove down to the UCO 6-yard line, but settled for a 23-yard field goal by Linn tying the Washburn single-game record.

UCO came back on its next drive and went down to the Ichabod 5-yard line, but they missed a field goal which was partially blocked by Kenney. The Ichabods drove to the UCO 41 and the drive stalled after a fake punt came up short and UCO scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass taking a 28-19 lead with 9:33 to play in the game.

Washburn came back with a 6-play, 77 yard drive when Zeke Palmer hit Connor Crimmins on a 4-yard touchdown pass with 6:56 to play.

However UCO returned serve with a 60-yd touchdown run by Chas Stallard pushing the UCO lead to 35- 26 with 3:40 remaining in the game.

The Ichabods tied a pair of long field goals of 41- and 52-yards needing two scores but came up short on both as UCO would run on the clock after the final one picking up the 25-26 win.

V e r s h o n Moore led the Ichabods with 154 yards rushing as Washburn rushed for 244 overall. Palmer finished 24 of 40 with two touchdowns and 249 yards and rushed for 44 more on seven carries.

Moore also had six catches for 34 yards and Hart had five catches for 89 yards and one touchdown.

tallard had 158 yards rushing and added 112 through the air to lead UCO.

Defensively Kenney had eight tackles to lead Washburn and Peter Pfannenstiel had seven tackles with six solo stops and Shay Wooten had seven tackles.

Washburn had 28 first downs in the game finishing with 493 yards of total offense while the Bronchos has 22 first downs and 450 yards of offense.