The WashU defense lines up against the Illinois Wesleyan offense during Saturday’s D3 football game at Francis Olympic Field. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

NCAA Football	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Illinois Wesleyan (2-2, 2-1)	13	0	6	21	40
WashU (2-1, 2-1)	7	7	14	14	42

CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University football team piled up more than 500 yards of total offense and scored touchdowns on six of its first seven possessions, then had to hold on late to earn a 42-40 victory over Illinois Wesleyan in a CCIW league game, Saturday evening at Francis Olympic Field.

The Bears controlled the game by running the ball to the tune of 421 total rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns to build a 42-25 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

WashU running backs Matthew Kinoshita and Fred Ware posted 167 yards and 159 yards, respectively. Kinoshita also scored a touchdown, while Ware scored two.

Quarterback Levi Moore rushed for 95 yards as well, and scored a touchdown of his own.

WashU RB Fred Ware rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ win over Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday. (Photo: Micah Manuel)

Illinois Wesleyan didn’t give up. The Titans scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the final 3:24, and then nearly got the ball back again. But WashU converted a key third down and was able to run out the clock to close out the game.

IWU quarterback Dermot Smyth threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 81 yards and scored two touchdowns of his own.

The Titans led 6-0, but WashU answered when Moore hit receiver Makael Carter for a 31-yard touchdown pass that put the Bears up 7-6.

IWU answered on its next drive to go up 13-7. But the Bears answered again, when Ware scored on an 8-yard run that put WashU up 14-13 just before halftime.

The WashU defense brings down an IWU ballcarrier during Saturday’s D3 football game at Francis Olympic Field. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

The Bears took control of the game in the third quarter, when it got a touchdown pass from Moore to Drew Bomar and a 30-yard touchdown run by Kinoshita to go ahead 28-13.

IWU’s Danny Kent returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown that brought the Titans back to within one score, but WashU answered with a drive that concluded with Moore’s 10-yard touchdown run on the second play of the fourth quarter that put the Bears up 35-19.

The Titans continued to battle and scored again just minutes later to get back to within 10 points. But once again, WashU responded, when Ware broke loose for a 53-yard score that put the Bears up by 17.

After scoring touchdowns on six of its first seven possessions, WashU didn’t score again. But the lead it had proved to be enough as the Bears earned a solid win at home.

WashU is now 3-1 on the season and 2-1 in the CCIW, while IWU fell to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

The WashU Bears are 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the CCIW this season. (Photo: Cedric Williams)

The Bears will be on the road next week, with a game in Kenosha, Wis., against Carthage College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

WashU’s next home game will be on October 18, when the Bears will host Elmhurst. Kickoff at Francis Olympic Field is set for 1 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

Qtr	Time	Scoring Play	IWU	WASHU
1st	12:07	IWU – Barnes Jr., Michael 41 yd pass from Smyth, Dermot (PAT no good), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:53	6	0
1st	08:45	WASHU – Carter, Makael 31 yd pass from Moore, Levi (Adrogue, Matias kick), 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 03:17	6	7
1st	02:55	IWU – Smyth, Dermot 3 yd run (Vavrik, AJ kick), 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 05:45	13	7
2nd	00:26	WASHU – Ware, Fred 8 yd run (Adrogue, Matias kick), 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:21	13	14
3rd	11:49	WASHU – Bomar, Drew 17 yd pass from Moore, Levi (Adrogue, Matias kick) 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 03:00	13	21
3rd	08:02	WASHU – Kinoshita, Matthew 30 yd run (Adrogue, Matias kick), 6 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:46	13	28
3rd	07:47	IWU – Kent,Danny 80 yd kickoff return (2-pt attempt no good)	19	28
4th	14:10	WASHU – Moore, Levi 10 yd run (Adrogue, Matias kick), 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 02:44	19	35
4th	09:35	IWU – Nazha, Will 10 yd pass from Smyth,Dermot (PAT no good) 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:55	25	35
4th	07:53	WASHU – Ware, Fred 53 yd run (Adrogue, Matias kick), 3 plays, 61 yards, TOP 01:34	25	42
4th	03:24	IWU – Gray, Malik 1 yd run (Smyth, Dermot rush), 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 04:29	33	42
4th	01:03	IWU – Smyth, Dermot 2 yd run (Vavrik, AJ kick), 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 02:20	40	42

WASHU BEARS 2025 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Time	At	Opponent	Location	Results
September 6	7 pm	Home	Rhodes College	Francis Olympic Field	W, 49-0 (1-0)
September 20	1 pm	Away	Carroll University	Waukesha, Wis. / Schneider Stadium	W, 41-29 (2-0)
September 27	1 pm	Home	#1 North Central	Francis Olympic Field	L, 44-14 (2-1)
October 4	6 pm	Home	Illinois Wesleyan	Francis Olympic Field	W. 42-40 (3-1)
October 11	1 pm	Away	Carthage	Kenosha, Wis. / Keller Field
October 18	1 pm	Home	Elmhurst	Francis Olympic Field
October 25	1 pm	Away	Wheaton	Wheaton, Ill. / McCully Stadium
November 1	1 p.m.	Away	Millikin	Decatur, Ill. / Lindsay Field
November 8	12 pm	Home	North Park	Francis Olympic Field
November 15	12 p.m.	Away	Augustana	Rock Island, Ill. / Lindberg Stadium