TOPEKA, KS -- What started good for the SBU Bearcats Saturday afternoon ended poorly, with the #20 Washburn Ichabods running away with a 56-23 victory. The Bearcats had the lead in the second quarter, but the Ichabods turned on the offense and pulled away through the second and third quarters. The teams combined for over 1000 yards in total offense; however 639 of those came from the Ichabods.
Washburn (4-1, 3-0) started the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Brandon Walker that capped the Ichabods' 49-yard opening drive. The Bearcats answered back on a 29-yard field goal by Ryan Smith. The Ichabods scored again on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Brill to Sam Sissom. With that touchdown catch, Sissom became the MIAA all-time leader in career touchdown receptions with 39, surpassing Jamaica Rector (NW Missouri State) of the Dallas Cowboys. The Bearcats cut the lead to 14-10 when Robert Woodson caught a 49-yard pass from John McCoy. It was Woodson's third TD catch this season.
Early in the second quarter, the 'Cats would take their only lead of the game at 17-14 when Nick Smart caught a 6-yard TD pass from Robert Clardy, which was also the third TD catch this season for Smart. Then, in a near mirror image of the 2005 contest between the two schools, Washburn would go on a big run, scoring 42 unanswered points over the next 2 ½ quarters. Two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter gave the Ichabods a 28-17 halftime lead. Turnovers and poor field position derailed the Bearcats in the third quarter, with Washburn scoring three times to push the lead out of reach by the end of the quarter. SBU scored their final touchdown with 3:13 remaining, on a 14-yard run by Clardy.
Robert Clardy and John McCoy again split quarterbacking duties, with Clardy going 12 of 20 for 127 yards, one touchdown and one interception. McCoy completed 10 of 20 passes for 180 yards, one touchdown and two picks. Clardy also rushed for 41 yards on 10 carries. Nick Smart caught a season-high nine balls for 111 yards and one score. Dontrallius Burrows and Lester Shelton led the 'Cats with eight tackles each, while Jarred Schumpert added seven stops and Terry Jones had six tackles. David Martin contributed two tackles for losses including a quarterback sack.
The Bearcats return home next week and look for their first win this season against another winless squad in the Fort Hays State Tigers. The matchup with the MIAA newcomer will be Homecoming and kicks off at 2 p.m. at Plaster Stadium.
