Missouri Southern football defeats Washburn 30-23

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Topeka, Kan. - The Lions traveled out west for their first road competition of the 2023 season Thursday, taking on the Washburn Ichabods who were picked fourth in both MIAA preseason polls. 

After nearly upsetting the #5 team in the nation last week, MSSU handed Washburn a 30-23 loss this week to improve to 1-1 (1-1 MIAA) on the year. Southern last defeated Washburn in 2014, but their last victory in Topeka was in 1997.

It was the Lions getting on the board first, as Akeem Gilmore took a sneak on third and short from the 21-yard line to the house. The Ichabods responded in the first and used the second quarter to take a 13-7 lead into the half.

Right out of the break, Luke Sampson threw a beautiful pass to Ezekiel Lang for a 21-yard touchdown, giving the Lions a 14-13 lead. Not long after, Sampson tossed another touchdown pass, this one going to Jaedon Stoshak for 44 yards. Drake Reese went on to nail a 49-yard field goal to push Southern's lead to 23-13, but Washburn scored before the end of the third to make it 23-20 MSSU heading into the final frame.

With 4:07 left in the game, Luke Sampson gave the ball to JarMichael Cooper at the 10-yard line and he did the rest. That touchdown would go on to be the final score of the game. Washburn made a late push, but Zach Bergmann tipped the Ichabod pass in the air and Halid Djibril hauled it in for the interception in the end zone to seal the victory for the Lions, 30-23.

Luke Sampson recorded his second three touchdown game of the season, completing 14-23 passes for 235 yards. He targeted Jaedon Stoshak and Ezekiel Lang four times each, going for 93 and 77 yards respectively. Anthodius Ashley was the team's leading rusher, going for 45 yards on 9 carries.

Defensively, Colton Winder led the team again with 14 tackles, six solo, and one for loss. Zach Bergmann was also in the double digits for tackles with 12, and had an important hand in the game sealing interception. Coming down with the interception was Halid Djibril, who also recorded 10 tackles, 2.0 for loss, and another pass break up. Solomona Fetuao recorded the team's lone sack, going for a loss of seven yards.

The team continues play on the road for next week's competition, heading to Kearney, Nebraska to take on the Lopers. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM on Saturday, September 16.