Fort Hays State (4-4, 3-3 MIAA) at
Washburn (2-5, 1-4 MIAA)
Saturday, October 25 – 1 p.m.
Topeka, Kan. – Yager Stadium
 
Fort Hays State Football hits the road once again this weekend as they head east down I-70 to Topeka for a meeting with Washburn. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Yager Stadium. The Tigers are looking to snap a two-game losing skid, now at 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA, while the Ichabods enter at 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the MIAA.
 
Fort Hays State looks to bounce back from a tough performance at Northwest Missouri State last week. The Tigers fell 52-3 to the nationally ranked Bearcats and the three points tied their fewest in a game under head coach Chris Brown. The Tigers seek a better offensive performance this week after a season-low 131 yards of total offense at NWMSU last week.
 
Washburn is coming off its first conference win of the season, knocking off Central Missouri 37-17 in Topeka. The 37 points was the most in a game for the Ichabods this season, the first time they scored at least 30 in a game. The Ichabods are under the guidance of first-year head coach Zach Watkins, a former FHSU assistant under Chris Brown who also played at Washburn when Brown was an assistant coach for the Ichabods.
 
Fort Hays State has won six of the last nine meetings with Washburn. However, the Ichabods own a mark of 11-7 against the Tigers in MIAA play. FHSU has won the last two meetings, which included a 38-7 win in Hays last year and a 31-28 win in Topeka in 2023. Three of the last five meetings with Washburn in Topeka have gone to overtime, with Washburn winning two of those three.
 
This matchup pits the two best teams in the MIAA at forcing fumbles this season. FHSU leads the MIAA with 10, while Washburn is second with eight. Both teams have struggled offensively at times this year. Washburn is ninth in the MIAA in scoring at 21.9 points per game, while FHSU is 10^th at 20.1 points per game. Fort Hays State ranks ninth in total offense at 318.4 yards per game, while Washburn is 10^th at 266.7 yards per game.
 
The Tigers have won their last six against the Ichabods when scoring at least 30 points in a game. However, Washburn has won the last nine when FHSU fell short of 30 points.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, John Johnson continues to post a strong season at linebacker leading the Tigers in tackles with 83. He now has 313 for his career. Gaven Haselhorst leads FHSU in sacks with four, while Michael Chavez and Michael Polley each have two interceptions.
 
Caleb Heavner leads the Tiger offense with 1,321 passing yards and 310 rushing yards. He has had a hand in 10 touchdowns this season (8 passing, 2 rushing). Ryan Allen is the top receiver with 245 yards, while Cale Cormaney is right behind with 240.
 
The Ichabods have the national leader in tackles for NCAA Division II in J.C. Heim. He has 95 for the season. Logan Madden has been the quarterback for WU for two straight games. He completes just a little over 59 percent of his passes. Chase Allen-Jackman is the top target for Ichabod quarterbacks with 467 receiving yards for the season. Cam Robinson leads WU in rushing at 160 yards for the season.