Members of the WashU offense celebrate with backup QB Levi Moore (6), after he scored a touchdown in Saturday’s win over Elmhurst. (Photo: Cedric Williams)
| NCAA Football – Oct. 28, 2023 | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmhurst (2-6, 1-6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WashU (6-2, 5-2) | 14 | 28 | 17 | 7 | 66 |
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
CLAYTON, MO — Coming off a pair of rough losses in a row, the Washington University football team bounced back in a big way on Saturday, when it defeated Elmhurst, 66-0, in a CCIW game at Francis Olympic Field.
The 66 points was the second-most scored in a single game by a Washington University team in program history. The record is 88 points scored in a game in 1938.
WashU put up 411 yards of total offense (281 rushing, 130 passing), while holding Elmhurst to just 119 yards of total offense. The Bear defense also sacked Elmhurst’s quarterback four times and forced five turnovers, including a pair of interceptions that were both returned for touchdowns by linebacker Ryan Schmadtke.
The Bears got a particularly strong performance from its running backs, who combined for 281 rushing yards. Sophomore Artrell Miller led the way with 15 carries for 91 yards.
Starting RB duo Fred Ware and Kenneth Hamilton rushed for 62 and 60 yards, respectively, and both players also scored two touchdowns. Kenvorris Campbell and Cal Newell also had touchdown runs for WashU.
WashU took control of the game early, when after a bobbled snap on a punt by Elmhurst, the Bears took possession at the Elmhurst 27-yard line. Hamilton scored his first touchdown on the next play — a 27-yard run — to put WashU on the board.
Elmhurst shanked a punt on its next possession and that led to a 12-yard scoring run by Ware that put the Bears up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, WashU scored four rushing touchdowns and led 42-0 at halftime.
The third quarter was when Schmadtke made the two pick-6’s. The first one was from his own 40 and went for a 60-yard score. Then, on Elmhurst’s next possession, Schmadtke picked off a pass at their 40 and returned that one for a touchdown too.
That made the score 56-0. The Bears added a field goal and another touchdown, before the final whistle to secure the team’s biggest win by point-differential in nearly a century.
WashU will now look forward to another tough CCIW game next week, when they’ll travel to the Chicago-area to play their final road game of the season at Wheaton College on November 4.
The Bears will close out the regular season in two weeks, when they’ll host Carroll University. That contest, on November 11, will kick off at 12 p.m.
Scoring Summary
| Qtr | Time | Scoring Play | ELM | WASHU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12:55 | WASHU – Hamilton,Kenneth 27 yd run (Vartanian,Chris kick), 1 plays, 27 yards, TOP 00:07 | 0 | 7 |
| 1st | 09:27 | WASHU – Ware,Fred 12 yd run (Vartanian,Chris kick), 3 plays, 18 yards, TOP 01:20 | 0 | 14 |
| 2nd | 12:09 | WASHU – Moore,Levi 1 yd run (Vartanian,Chris kick), 10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 03:48 | 0 | 21 |
| 2nd | 08:46 | WASHU – Hamilton,Kenneth 7 yd run (Vartanian,Chris kick), 5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 02:19 | 0 | 28 |
| 2nd | 04:17 | WASHU – Ware,Fred 13 yd run (Vartanian,Chris kick), 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:48 | 0 | 35 |
| 2nd | 00:28 | WASHU – Campbell,Kenvorris 4 yd run (Vartanian,Chris kick), 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 01:29 | 0 | 42 |
| 3rd | 10:18 | WASHU – Schmadtke,Ryan 60 yd interception (Cueto,Bernie kick) | 0 | 49 |
| 3rd | 08:30 | WASHU – Schmadtke,Ryan 40 yd interception (Cueto,Bernie kick) | 0 | 56 |
| 3rd | 03:07 | WASHU – Vartanian,Chris 33 yd field goal 8 plays, 44 yards, TOP 03:46 | 0 | 59 |
| 4th | 08:26 | WASHU – Newell,Cal 26 yd run (Cueto,Bernie kick), 1 plays, 21 yards, TOP 00:08 | 0 | 66 |
2023 WashU Bears Remaining Football Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2023 | 1 p.m. | Away | #13 Wheaton College | Wheaton, Ill. |
| November 11, 2023 | 12 p.m. | Home | Carroll University | Francis Olympic Field |