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

TOPEKA — Washburn is ready for his or her first highway 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 house. It was a troublesome defeat for the Ichabods, who had been using 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 operating the ball. Washburn has not earned a primary down this season from a operating play. First-year head coach Zach Watkins is attempting to repair this drawback getting into Saturday’s recreation. 
“The primary two groups had been actually good up entrance, and so they did some issues that we weren’t ready for,” Watkins stated. “We’ve actually addressed that this week in follow, and we have to attempt to get the suitable guys going. We’ve extraordinarily good operating backs and a particularly good scheme; we simply must get them going up entrance. I feel this might be a very good week for that.”
Of their first recreation of the season, Colorado Faculty of Mines defeated West Texas A&M 33-31 on the highway on Thursday, Sept. 4. Neither group led by greater than a possession within the recreation. 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 yr, Washburn got here near defeating Mines as they misplaced 31-28. Washburn missed a 44-yard discipline aim to tie the sport within the remaining seconds. The Ichabods went 0-for-2 from discipline targets within the recreation, 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 in opposition to Washburn in 2024. Final week, he scampered for 148 yards on 30 carries.
“He’s similar to Truman State’s operating again. He’s massive and bodily. He’s not a small operating again; he’s a giant dude. So we have now to sort out nicely,” Watkins stated. “He’s received the velocity and the skillset to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s a very proficient again, among the finest that we’re going to see.”
It will likely be a troublesome battle for the Ichabods on Saturday in opposition to a traditionally nice Orediggers program. Colorado Faculty of Mines reached the NCAA Division II Nationwide Championship recreation in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023. This journey will present Washburn an opportunity to go on the highway for the primary time and battle collectively. 
“You spend numerous time collectively on the two-day highway journey,” Watkins stated. “There’s numerous time collectively within the resort, lot of excellent meals collectively and numerous good train time as nicely.”
Watkins shared that Washburn will go away Thursday after follow 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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