LIONS FALL TO ICHABODS

Strong second half not enough, No. 6 Washburn defeats Missouri Southern 49-35 Complete game statistics located at: http://www.mssu.edu/athletics/football/2005/05fbms09.htm TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 6 Washburn University scored on five of its first six first-half possessions and withstood a strong second half by Missouri Southern, holding on for a 49-35 victory. Washburn (9-1, 7-0 MIAA) outgained the Lions 376-117 in the first half, including a 251-60 margin on the ground. Junior running back Trent Hearn had eight carries for 122 yards in the first half and scored on runs of 3, 24 and 4 yards. He broke three runs of 15 yards or more, including a 66-yard jaunt. The Ichabods also added scoring runs of 11 yards from Brandon Walker and 3 yards from Rashawn Bland, with the latter capping a nine-play, 95-yard drive. Missouri Southern (3-6, 2-5) didn`t run a play in the Ichabods end of the field until its final possession of the first half. The Lions` big second half started with the team driving 69 yards on its first series of the second half. The Lions drove to the Washburn 14 before a 3-yard pass on fourth and 4 halted the drive. After Washburn`s Curtis Massey uncorked an 85-yard punt for a touchback, the Lions needed only four plays to go 80 yards. A 63-yard catch and run from Adam Hinspeter to Dustin Bromley highlighted the series, which was capped by Dartangan Johnson`s 5-yard touchdown run. The Ichabods made it 42-7 following Jordan Brill-to-Jeff Scott 35-yard completion. Brill would hook up with A.J. Patterson on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Southern continued its offensive exploits in the third period. Hinspeter completed passes of 20 and 27 yards to Colin Bado and 18 yards to Johnson before a 7-yard touchdown pass to junior Jamison Hummel. Missouri Southern outgained the Ichabods 237-106 in the third quarter and 324-207 for the second half, while scoring on each of their last five possessions of the game. Hinspeter completed 14-of-18 second-half passes for 222 yards. Washburn went 68 yards, all on the ground, on its next series, which featured 46 rushing yards from Walker. Chris Brown capped things with a 6-yard scoring burst to open the fourth-quarter scoring. Freshman running back Ronnell Newman gained 60 yards, 42 on receptions, on the Lions` ensuing series and made it 49-21 with a 17-yard touchdown run. Newman ended the game with eight carries for 64 yards as the team`s leading rusher. Both Missouri Southern running backs, Newman and Johnson, gained over 100 total yards on the day. Newman had 121 total yards (57 receiving) and Johnson tallied 109 yards (53 rushing, 56 receiving). Southern chipped the lead to 49-27 after the first of two blocked punts by Jordan Chapman. The first one came at the Washburn 14 and was recovered by senior Joe Bettasso. A 14-yard pass from Nathan Emert to Tedaryl Mason just two plays later pulled MSSU within 22 after a failed kick attempt by Shane McBride. Chapman came up with another blocked kick deep in the Washburn end, and this one set the Lions up at the WU 2. Emert took it in himself and McBride, the MSSU kicker and formerly a prep 1,000-yard rusher, took in the two-point conversion to make it 49-25. Washburn, with nothing but running plays and aided by two fourth-down conversions, ate the final 5:17 off the clock. Hinspeter finished the game with 279 yards passing on 24-of-36 passing with one touchdown and two interceptions, both of which went to Washburn`s Fletcher Terrell. Sophomore Colin Bado caught seven balls for 71 yards. He now has 60 receptions on the season, which ties Rod Smith (1991) for third on the Lions` single-season list. Defensively, seniors Atiba Bradley and Matt Crane each had career-highs with 15 and 13 tackles, respectively. Crane added 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. Sophomore Billy Baska had a career-best seven tackles and sophomore B.J. Russow added three tackles for loss. Washburn had two 100-yard rushers in Hearn and Brown (17-129). Walker came up one yard short of making it three 100-yard runners, as he finished with 99 yards on 11 attempts. Brill completed 10-of-18 passes for 201 yards and a score. The two teams combined for 80 or more points for the third time in four years. The game also marked the second time in as many seasons that the two squads combined for more than 1000 yards of total offense. Last year`s game saw the Ichabods outscore the Lions 58-43 in a game that featured 1015 total yards of offense. This year`s contest featured 1024 total offensive yards and 84 points. Courtesy: MSSU Sports Information