Washburn soccer vs Colorado Faculty of Mines preview: Ichabods first street journey of 2025 – The Topeka Capital-Journal

TOPEKA — Washburn is ready for his or her first street journey of the season this weekend. The Ichabods (1-1, 0-1 in MIAA) will face nationwide energy Colorado Faculty of Mines (1-0) on Saturday, Sept. 13. 
Final week, Washburn suffered a 34-7 loss to MIAA foe Northwest Missouri State at residence. It was a tricky defeat for the Ichabods, who have been driving excessive from their Week 1 win over Truman State. 
The Bearcats took it to the Ichabods, having the lead wire-to-wire. It was one other robust week for Washburn’s dashing assault. They ended with -19 dashing yards, which marked back-to-back weeks the place Washburn didn’t internet constructive yards in working the ball. Washburn has not earned a primary down this season from a working play. First-year head coach Zach Watkins is making an attempt to repair this downside coming into Saturday’s sport. 
“The primary two groups have been actually good up entrance, they usually did some issues that we weren’t ready for,” Watkins stated. “We’ve actually addressed that this week in observe, and we have to attempt to get the best guys going. We have now extraordinarily good working backs and a particularly good scheme; we simply must get them going up entrance. I feel this shall be an excellent week for that.”
Of their first sport of the season, Colorado Faculty of Mines defeated West Texas A&M 33-31 on the street on Thursday, Sept. 4. Neither staff led by greater than a possession within the sport. The distinction got here with 14:08 left within the fourth quarter when Mines scored off a security. The sport would finish with a Mines punt and a West Texas A&M turnover on downs. The Orediggers would shut the sport on a 5:27 drive the place their dashing assault feasted. 
Final 12 months, Washburn got here near defeating Mines as they misplaced 31-28. Washburn missed a 44-yard subject purpose to tie the sport within the last seconds. The Ichabods went 0-for-2 from subject objectives within the sport, which proved to be decisive within the loss. 
This week, Washburn will face a brand new quarterback in Joseph Capra. He threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns within the win over West Texas A&M. Working again Landon Walker returns for Mines. He rushed for 142 yards and 4 touchdowns towards Washburn in 2024. Final week, he scampered for 148 yards on 30 carries.
“He’s similar to Truman State’s working again. He’s huge and bodily. He’s not a small working again; he’s a giant dude. So we’ve to deal with nicely,” Watkins stated. “He’s received the pace and the skillset to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s a very proficient again, top-of-the-line that we’re going to see.”
It is going to be a tricky battle for the Ichabods on Saturday towards a traditionally nice Orediggers program. Colorado Faculty of Mines reached the NCAA Division II Nationwide Championship sport in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023. This journey will present Washburn an opportunity to go on the street for the primary time and battle collectively. 
“You spend a number of time collectively on the two-day street journey,” Watkins stated. “There’s a number of time collectively within the resort, lot of fine meals collectively and a number of good educate time as nicely.”
Watkins shared that Washburn will depart Thursday after observe to allow them to spend as a lot time in Colorado adjusting to the altitude. 
Liam Keating covers highschool sports activities for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Ship stats or data to him at Lkeating@gannett.com

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