FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2007

Lions falter late and fall 26-20 at Washburn

Box Score

Topeka, Kan. - The Missouri Southern football team had the ball on the Washburn 15 yard line, threatening with 2:23 left in the fourth quarter, but an interception by Washburn's Cary Williams in the end zone helped seal a 26-20 Washburn win today in Topeka.

Southern (4-2, 2-2 MIAA) started its last drive with 6:26 left in the game at their own 49 yard line when Jordan Patton blocked a Washburn punt. Alley Broussard had four runs for 29 yards, before a two yard rush from Renard Johnson put the ball at the Washburn 15. Adam Hinspeter took the snap and rolled left, but his pass was picked by Williams at the goal line and returned 36 yards to stop the Southern drive.

Washburn (4-2, 3-1 MIAA) took the ball and had a fourth and three from the Southern 33, but Brandon Walker reeled off a 17 yard run to the Southern 16 to seal the win for the Ichabods.

WU started their scoring early when Ra'Shawn Mosely ran for a three yard score, capping off an 11 play, 71 yard drive that took up the first 3:42 of the game. After a Southern punt, Washburn quarterback Jordan Brill hooked up with Williams for a 68 yard touchdown pass to put the Ichabods up 14-0.

The Lions got on the board with 1:45 left in the first quarter when Hinspeter hit Brandon McLaurin for a 16 yard touchdown catch. Hinspeter completed passes of 22 and 33 yards to Colin Bado and Isaac Norman, respectively in the drive.

The Ichabods picked up a 31 yard field goal before the Lions answered with an eight yard touchdown reception to Norman. Southern had started the drive at the Washburn 27 yard line after Kellen Anderson picked up a fumble on a punt return, forced by Johnny Johnson.

Coming out of the half, the Lions defense came alive again when BJ Russow blocked a 28 yard field goal attempt that went into the end zone to give the Lions the ball back at the Southern 20. Broussard had five rushes for 39 yards on the drive, before he scampered in from the one yard line to put the Lions up 20-17 with

Washburn answered right back when after a 70 yard Brian Malette kickoff into the Washburn end zone, Williams again showed up big and returned the kick 100 yards to put the Ichabods up 24-20. Washburn would add a late safety to make the final score 26-20.

Broussard rushed for 98 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown. Hinspeter had two TD's on 21-35 and 191 yards. Colin Bado had six receptions for 65 yards in the game and now has 198 receptions in his career. Brian Malette had six kickoffs for 395 yards and an average of 65.8 per kick with two touchbacks.

Williams had a banner day for the Ichabods. The senior transfer from Fordham University had a touchdown reception for 68 yards, a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a game-saving interception return for 36 yards on Southern's final drive. He ended the game with 226 of all-purpose yardage.

The Lions will now re-group and prepare for Homecoming next week as Southern plays host to Fort Hays State. The Tigers lost 37-9 to Missouri Western today, and move their record to 3-3 and 1-3 in the MIAA. Kick off is slated for 2 pm at Hughes Stadium.