Costly mistakes

During fall practice, Missouri Western quarterback Drew Newhart said throwing fewer interceptions was one of his goals for his sophomore season.

Last year, Newhart threw for 2,089 yards and 21 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. With three picks Saturday in Western’s 21-17 loss to Washburn, Newhart already has matched that interception total from last year, and the Griffons still have six games remaining.

“I take it all on myself. I put the team in the position to win ball games, and I just don’t come up with big plays like we need,” Newhart said. “I don’t think anything has changed (from last season). I think it’s just me being an idiot. I don’t know what it is. I watched film and felt confident coming into this game.”

During Western’s four-game losing streak, Newhart has turned the ball over 13 times.

“We’re not going to win a ball game when your quarterback throws three interceptions,” he said.

Injury report

Western wide receiver Cedric Houston, who entered Saturday averaging an MIAA-leading 107.8 yards a game, didn’t play against Washburn because of an ankle injury suffered on the last drive against Pittsburg State last week. Coach Jerry Partridge said Houston should be ready to go next week against Fort Hays State.

The same cannot be said for right tackle Corey Halderman. The sophomore tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the second quarter and is done for the season. Offensive line depth was a concern entering this season and will only be magnified now. Sophomore and top backup Jeff Brock finally healed from a stress fracture, and junior Josh Clausen also will see plenty of playing time.

Running back Zach Walker rushed just two times for seven yards before injuring his knee. His status for next week is undetermined.

Three and out, finally

After not forcing a punt for more than nine quarters of football — a span of 137 minutes, 49 seconds — Western’s defense stopped Washburn on the game’s opening drive Saturday as the Ichabods went three-and-out. And after waiting three weeks to return a punt, the Griffons had to settle for a fair catch on Austin Hill’s first punt. Western did force seven punts Saturday — two more than the first four weeks of the season combined.

Perfect no more

Dustin Strickler entered Saturday’s 6-for-6 on field goal attempts. That perfect streak ended when Washburn’s Xavier Beckford blocked Strickler’s season-long 47-yard attempt on Western’s first drive of the game.

The century mark

An Ichabod hadn’t rushed for 100 yards in its past five games — a streak dating back to Nov. 10, 2007. Brandon Walker ended that streak with 106 yards Saturday — more than half of which came on a 56-yard run in the first quarter that set up Washburn’s first touchdown. The Ichabods lined up Walker at quarterback a few times Saturday, including on that big run.

Extra points

Freshman Justin Cooper’s touchdown which provided the winning margin, was his first collegiate score. … Western hasn’t been 1-4 since its first season at the Division II level in 1989. … The Griffons haven’t lost four in a row since a five-game slide in 1998. That last loss in that streak was a 35-27 defeat at Washburn.