The Ichabod football team had an ideal start to their season when they defeated the Lindenwood Tigers 27-14, earning their first league win of the year last Thursday.

Going into their season opener, the football team was voted by both the MIAA coaches and the media preseason polls to finish seventh this season after finishing last year with a 7-5 record, while the Lindenwood Lions were projected to be ninth by the media poll and eighth by the coaches poll.

The captains for this year’s team are senior linebacker Derrick McGreevy, senior linebacker Austin Tillman, senior defensive back Corey Ballentine, junior quarterback Blake Peterson and junior offensive lineman Kyle Hinton.

The Bods have won the previous two games and are currently winning the all-time series against Lindenwood 5-2.

Near the end of the first quarter, Blake Peterson hit wide-receiver James Brania-Hopp for a huge 41-yard pass to set up a Peterson 3-yard touchdown run. They would add the extra point after Perry Schmiedeler drilled it through the uprights. The defense would hold the Lions scoreless through one quarter.

In the second quarter, both offenses would find a groove. The Lions scored on back-to-back drives and took the lead 14-7. The Ichabods would find a way to score twice in the final six minutes after a Curtis Whitten touchdown run, and a 19-yard field goal by Schmiedeler. The Bods headed into the locker room with a 17-14 lead.

Then the Lindenwood offense lost their rhythm, with Washburn holding them scoreless in the second half.

After a great defensive stand from the Ichabods, Ichabod punt returner, James Letcher. Jr. took the ensuing punt 51 yards, putting Washburn in the red-zone. The following offensive drive resulted in a 9-yard touchdown run by Peterson. Schmiedeler would convert on his PAT and the Ichabods would take a 24-14 lead. At the end of the third quarter, the Ichabods would tack on another three points following a 45-yard field goal from Schmiedeler.

The fourth quarter was all about defense on both sides of the field. Both teams combined for six punts in the quarter. The Ichabods would hold on and take the opening game of the season 27-14.

“The defense dominated the second half. They set us up to do really well,” Head Coach Craig Schurig said.

Peterson went 14-29 on passing, going for 209 yards with two interceptions, and he rushed for 45 yards on 12 attempts with two touchdowns. Whitten had 49 rushing yards on 12 rushes. Brania-Hopp led all receivers with four catches for 89 yards. Schmiedeler went 2-3 on field goals and converted both of his PATs.

This Thursday, the Ichabods will play their home opener against Northwest Missouri State. They will look to get revenge on the Bearcats this year after falling to the Bearcats with a final score of 20-14 last season. 

“The game will be a good one. Let’s pack the house with 10,000 fans and show them what we got,” Schurig said.