Washburn (Kan.) University turned a 7-0 halftime lead into a 27-7 victory over Colorado Mines in the season-opener for both teams at Brooks Field in Golden.
The Ichabods forced five Orediggers turnovers, including four interceptions.
Washburn broke a 0-0 tie with 1:06 remaining in the first half on Brandon Walker’s 6-yard touchdown catch from Jordan Brill. Mines tied the score 7-7 after Derek Dykstra caught a 47-yard pass from David Pesek for a touchdown with 8:46 remaining in the third quarter.
But Washburn then scored three unanswered touchdowns, including two rushing scores by Ra’Shawn Mosley and a 32-yard interception return from Adam Ewy.
The game was largely a passing affair, as the Ichabods outgained the Orediggers 124-55 on the ground.
Mines’ Pesek completed 32-of-45 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions. Mosley led Washburn with 95 yards rushing on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
EMPORIA STATE (KAN.) 7, WESTERN STATE 3
Gunnison – Emporia State held off a long, late drive by Western State as quarterback Cameron Merrill’s pass with time running out went incomplete.
The Mountaineers (0-2) took over on their own 25-yard line trailing 7-3 with 50 seconds remaining. Merrill threw to Casey Adragna for 26 yards and Dusten Copeland for 34 yards and got a pass interference call that put the ball on Emporia’s 5-yard line with seven seconds to play.
Merrill left the game injured after a hard hit and junior backup Tyler Robertson took the final snap. Robertson’s pass to Nathan Acrey with time expiring went incomplete.
Merrill led the Mountaineers with 238 yards on 20-of-37 passing.
Justin Wieser’s 186 yards rushing lead the Hornets.
CHADRON STATE (NEB.) 55, WAYNE STATE (NEB.) 14
Chadron, Neb. – Danny Woodhead rushed for 104 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Eagles (2-0) routed the visiting Wildcats (0-1) at Elliott Field.
Woodhead, who sat for most of the second half, is now 595 yards shy of breaking the NCAA’s all-time rushing record. He rushed for 290 yards and four touchdowns in Chadron’s season-opener last week against Washburn.
