WashU’s Collin Goldberg had 13 catches for 158 yards in the Bears’ win 44-20 win over Rhodes College on Saturday. (Photo courtesy: WashU Athletics)

NCAA Football1st2nd3rd4thFinal
WashU (1-0)37132144
Rhodes (0-1)760720

MEMPHIS, TN — The Washington University football team scored a combined five touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to turn a halftime deficit into a 44-20 win, Saturday evening, over Rhodes College in the 2024 NCAA Division III football season opener for both clubs.

Backup quarterback Levi Moore had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs sandwiched between a 69-yard blocked field goal return for a score that helped WashU flip a 13-10 deficit into a 30-13 lead.

Rhodes responded with a score to make it 30-20, but WashU answered with two more touchdowns — a scoring pass from starting quarterback Clark Stephens to Makael Carter and a 61-yard run by Caiden Hill — to put the game away.

Like Moore, Hill had two touchdowns in the game and led the Bears with 75 rushing yards. But his best play of the day might have been blocking the Rhodes field goal attempt that could have brought the Lynx to within a point.

Instead, Hill blocked the kick and teammate Henry Murr picked it up and raced 69 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bears a 23-13 lead.

The offensive stars of the game were WashU’s Stephens and wideout Collin Goldberg. Stephens completed 26-of-37 passes for 289 yards. His main target was Goldberg, who caught 13 passes for 158 yards, including several key first-down catches that kept WashU drives alive.

WashU QB Clark Stephens completed 26-of-39 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s win over Rhodes College. (Photo courtesy: WashU Athletics)

The Bears grabbed the first lead of the game, on a 31-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Ross Muchnik, midway through the first quarter. Rhodes answered with a 66-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Evan Reeder to receiver Brent Barlow to make the score 7-3 in favor of the home team.

Carter returned the ensuing kickoff to Rhodes’ 37-yard line to set up WashU’s next possession, which was capped by Hill’s first touchdown of the day to put the Bears up 10-7.

Reeder hit another quick strike pass for a touchdown on Rhodes’ next possession to put the Lynx back up 13-10. The score stayed that way until WashU took over in the second half.

The win gave WashU (1-0) the all-time lead in matchups against Rhodes (0-1). The Bears are 27-26-1 all-time against the Lynx.

WashU will enjoy next week off before returning to the field in two weeks for its own home opener on Saturday, September 21, against Carroll University. Kickoff at Francis Olympic Field is slated for 1 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

QtrTimeScoring PlayWashURhodes
1st07:28WashU – Muchnick, Ross 31 yd field goal 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 04:5230
1st02:16Rhodes – Barlow, Brent 66 yd pass from Reeder, (Ahern, Logan kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:1837
2nd13:38WashU – Hill, Caiden 3 yd run (Cueto, Bernie kick), 8 plays, 37 yards, TOP 03:37107
2nd09:05Rhodes – LeBlanc, Alex 26 yd pass from Reeder, Evan (PAT failed) 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:331013
3rd12:19WashU – Moore, Levi 1 yd run (Muchnick, Ross kick), 6 plays, 43 yards, TOP 02:301713
3rd08:36WashU – Murr, Henry 79 yd blocked field goal return (2-pt attempt failed)2313
4th14:18WashU – Moore, Levi 1 yd run (Muchnick, Ross kick), 5 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:083013
4th11:34Rhodes – Bane, Elijah 34 yd run (Ahern, Logan kick), 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 02:443020
4th08:18WashU – Carter, Makael 8 yd pass from Stephens, Clark (Muchnick, Ross kick) 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 03:083720
4th05:13WashU – Hill, Caiden 61 yd run (Muchnick, Ross kick), 2 plays, 65 yards, TOP 00:564420

2024 WashU Bears Football Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
September 21, 20241 p.m.HomeCarroll UniversityFrancis Olympic Field
September 28, 202412 p.m.AwayNorth Central CollegeNaperville, Ill. / Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
October 5, 20241 p.m.AwayIllinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, Ill. / Tucci Stadium
October 12, 20241 p.m.HomeCarthage CollegeFrancis Olympic Field
October 19, 20241 p.m.AwayElmhurst UniversityElmhurst, Ill. / Langhorst Field
October 26, 20241 p.m.HomeWheaton CollegeFrancis Olympic Field
November 2, 202412 p.m.HomeMillikin UniversityFrancis Olympic Field
November 9, 202412 p.m.AwayNorth Park UniversityChicago, Ill. / Holmgren Athletic Complex
November 16, 202412 p.m.HomeAugustana CollegeFrancis Olympic Field