Mineral Water Bowl

December 4th, 2004	1	2	3	4	Final	Records
Northern State	0	3	16	16	33	6-5, 5-2 NSIC
Washburn University	7	13	0	16	36	8-4, 6-3 MIAA

Wolves Rebound from 16 Down; Fall on Last Second Field Goal

Excelsior Springs, MO –Washburn University (8-4, 6-3 MIAA) kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired to defeat Northern State, 36-33 in the 2004 Mineral Water Bowl. The Wolves were down 16 in the fourth quarter, but scored twice 1:04 apart to knot the game at 33 in front of a record crowd of 3,674 fans at Tiger Stadium. Washburn, with 1:41 left on the clock, drove 65 yards on nine plays to set up the game winning kick.

The Wolves found themselves down 7-0 after the first quarter. Washburn score on an 11-yard touchdown pass at 8:28 of the first quarter.

The Wolves first possession in the second quarter halted as they settled for a 25 yard Clinton Arial-Ryan field goal with 14:06 to go in the half.

The Bods fumbled on their next possession and Keri Niumata hopped on the loose ball at the Ichabod 31 yard line. The Wolves went for the quick score but Toby Korrodi was picked off on the Bods ten-yard line and had it returned 38 yards to the Washburn 48.

The Ichabods took advantage of the turnover as they went 52 yards on three plays with 11:38 left in the half. The Bods were charged with a personal foul following the touchdown and missed the 35 yard extra point to make it 13-3.

Washburn scored 13 points off three Northern State turnovers.

The Wolves were driving on their next possession but an illegal procedure penalty stalled the drive and forced the punt.

The Ichabods marched 80 yards down the field on 11 plays taking 4:59 off the clock, as they scored from 19 yards out, putting them up 20-3 with 2:34 left.

The Wolves again were able to move the ball as they drove 68 yards on 8 plays, but were unable to cash in as they missed a 34 yard field goal with under minute to go, sending them to the half down 17.

Both teams were unable to get any sort of rushing attack going in the first half. Both teams had negative yards rushing until 5:00 minutes left in the half. The Wolves had 10 yards on 11 rushes at the half, while Washburn had 24 yards on 20 carries.

The Wolves came out rejuvenated in the second half as they took their opening possession 69 yards on three plays for the score. Korrodi connected with ChuckDriscoll from 42 yards out as the fullback rumbled and stumbled his way to pay dirt, and narrowed the margin 20-10. Driscoll had a career day as he hauled in 5 catches for 73 yards and the score. Prior to the MWB, Driscoll had only five catches for 62 yards on the season.

After a pair of long Washburn possessions that end in punts the Wolves got the ball back with four minutes to go in the third. The Wolves aerial attack lead the way as they drove 80 yards on eleven plays (nine passes), capped off by a two yard Rudy Jones touchdown run making it 20-17 with 1:31 left in the third. The score remained 20-17 at the end of the third.

The Ichabods were not ready to give up their 17 point lead, as they rallied 94 yards on 9 plays, capped off on a one yard touchdown run to put them back up ten, 27-17.

Things began to look bleak for the Wolves as Korrodi was picked off again on the Washburn five-yard line. The Bods again took advantage of the turnover as they rambled 95 yards in 3:44 to put them up 33-17 with 7:29 to go.

The Wolves next possession again was discouraging as Korrodi was picked off for the third time, this one ricocheting off a receiver’s hands, off a defender’s hands and into the arms of another Washburn defender.

Korrodi did complete 33 of 51 passes for 422 yards and three touchdowns. His 33 completions and 422 yards were both Mineral Water Bowl records.

The Wolves defense stepped up after the turnover and gave the ball back to the offense with 4:39 left in the fourth, down 16.

Korrodi led the Wolves 76 yards on nine passes, capped off by an eight yard Josh Martin touchdown with 2:43 left in the game. Korrodi then used his feet to scramble three yards for the two-point conversion making it an eight-point game 33-25. Washburn was called for a personal foul (late hit) on the play so the Wolves were able to attempt an onside kick from the 50-yard line.

Washburn was penalized 12 times for 105 yards, while the Wolves had eight for 54 yards.

The Wolves on side kick failed, but Steve Espinoza had one of his game high 14 tackles as the Wolves forced the three and out that only took 27 seconds off the clock.

With 2:16 left in the game the Wolves began their game tying drive. Korrodi hit Martin for 12 yards, and then Rudy Jones galloped to the Washburn 49. Jones finished the day with 67 yards on 14 carries, leaving him just ten yards shy of 1,000 on the season.

Korrodi hit one of favorite targets, Matt “Turbo” Pinto racing down the sidelines for the tying score. The play was 49 yards, and the drive took only 35 seconds, leaving 1:41 left on the clock. Korrodi hit Travis Heitmann on a crossing pattern a half-yard deep in the end zone for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 33. Pinto finished the game with 6 catches for 119 yards.

Washburn, as they have done multiple times this season, began their game winning drive with 1:41 left on the clock. The Bods were able to nickel and dime their way down the field capped off by a 12 yard reception with four seconds left that got them down to the Wolves 15 yards line. With the back up holder in, and a kicker that had been replaced on the last three extra points, the Bods capped off the drive as Connor Sabel hit the 32 yard game winner as time expired, giving Washburn the 36-33 win.

 

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