A winning season will have to wait for Missouri Southern, after the team lost its final game of the season to Washburn University 58-43 on Nov. 6.

Southern finished the season 5-6 overall and 4-5 in the MIAA. The win by WU (7-4, 6-3) earned the team a spot in the Mineral Water Bowl, a postseason game that Southern had been in contention for until ending the season with two straight losses to WU and Emporia State University.

Southern head coach John Ware said the team’s four turnovers and failure to force a WU turnover is what tipped the scales in the Ichabods’ direction.

“Those turnovers changed the momentum of the game,”Ware said. “That was a valuable lesson and, hopefully, it will pay dividends down the road.”

The teams’ combined 101 points was a Southern school record. Despite the turnovers, the Southern offense once again put up big numbers, rolling up 529 total yards to Washburn’s 490.

Quarterback Nathan Emert completed 30 of 49 passes for 404 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 25 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, while tight end Cody Hilburn, competing in his last collegiate game, caught eight passes for 106 yards and two scores.

Senior running back Nate Proctor led the Lions ground attack with 58 yards on nine carries.

Procter also had two catches for 36 yards.

Sophomore running back Wentric Williams gathered 43 yards on 17 carries.

Other Lions with touches include senior wide receiver Craig Winfrey (seven catches for 84 yards), senior wideout DeMarcus Mathes (five for 118), receiver Dustin Bromley (four for 42 and a touchdown), wideout Colin Bado (two for 14 and one 5-yard run) and receiver Tedaryl Mason (one 5-yard catch and one four-yard run).

Free safety Blake Martin led the defense with 12 tackles, 2-1/2 of which was for a loss.

Linebacker Atiba Bradley had nine tackles, including one for a loss. Linebacker T.M. Bryant, defensive tackle Kyle Mayden, defensive end Lucas Williamson and linebacker Jerrod Murphy each had one tackle for a loss.