Wash. U. lineman Alex Vogel (64) celebrates with teammate Collin Goldberg (1), following Goldberg’s touchdown in the Bears’ 56-17 win over North Park, Saturday afternoon in Chicago. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wash. U. (4-0) | 28 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
| North Park (0-4) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Torrance Terrell
Staff Writer
CHICAGO, IL — The Washington University football team delivered its fourth straight dominance performance to begin to 2022 season on Saturday. This time, the Bears went on the road and mauled CCIW league foe North Park, 56-21, in a game at the Holmgren Athletic Complex.
Senior quarterback Matt Rush threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns, and sophomore tailback Kenneth Hamilton rushed for 165 yards and three scores of his own, as Wash. U. jumped out to a 28-7 first quarter lead, and then led 35-14 at halftime, in a game where it would top 50 points for the third time this season.
It’s the first time in Wash. U. program history that its team has scored 50 points or more in three of its first four games of the season.
Overall, the Bears outgained the Vikings, 505 yards to 276, had 19 first downs, and averaged 9.0 yards per play. North Park had 15 first downs, but could only manage 56 rushing yards against Wash. U.’s CCIW league-leading defense.
The game began with a lot of excitement, as Wash. U. went right down the field and scored on its first drive, and scored on a 7-yard touchdown run by Hamilton. North Park answered right back though, as dynamic return man Juan Nieves ran the ensuing kickoff back 99 yards for a score that tied the game.
But that’s when Rush and the Bears took over.
First, the Wash. U. signal-caller hit Collin Goldberg for a 28-yard touchdown. Then, after forcing a quick punt, Rus found Cole Okmin for a 34-yard score that put the Bears up 21-7.
The big play of the quarter though, came on North Park’s next drive, when Wash. U. safety Kieran Conjar intercepted a pass at the North Park 42-yard line. Then four plays later, Hamilton broke free for a 24-yard touchdown scamper that made it 28-7.
The Bears added another score in the half, on a 25-yard toss from Rush to Collin Hoyhtya, and the rout was officially on.
Hamilton closed out his day with a 59-yard touchdown run in fourth quarter, and Rush did the same with a 23-yard scoring toss to Treyton Lamphier.
Defensively, Matthew Schmal led the way with eight tackles (six solo), while teammates Gus Christensen and Dalton Bingman had six tackles and five tackles, respectively. And on special teams, kicker Chris Vartanian was eight-for-eight on point-after attempts.
Wash. U. (4-0) will look to push its win streak to five in a row, next Saturday, October 8, when it will be back home to play Illinois Wesleyan. Kickoff for that game at Francis Olympic Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
| Qtr | Time | Scoring Play | WASH. U. | NPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11:11 | WASH. U. – Hamilton, Kenneth 7 yd run (Vartanian, Chris kick), 4 plays, 40 yards, TOP 2:08 | 7 | 0 |
| 1st | 10:56 | NPU – Nieves, Juan 99 yd kickoff return (Messersmith, Mike kick) | 7 | 7 |
| 1st | 08:00 | WASH. U. – Goldberg, Collin 28 yd pass from Rush, Matt (Vartanian, Chris kick) 4 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:40 | 14 | 7 |
| 1st | 04:53 | WASH. U. – Okmin, Cole 34 yd pass from Rush, Matt (Vartanian, Chris kick) 3 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:22 | 21 | 7 |
| 1st | 01:32 | WASH. U. – Hamilton, Kenneth 24 yd run (Vartanian, Chris kick), 4 plays, 42 yards, TOP 1:05 | 28 | 7 |
| 2nd | 06:03 | WASH. U. – Hoyhtya, Collin 25 yd pass from Rush, Matt (Vartanian, Chris kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:10 | 35 | 7 |
| 2nd | 00:18 | NPU – Kalas, Joseph 6 yd pass from Eck, Matt (Messersmith, Mike kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:43 | 35 | 14 |
| 3rd | 07:04 | WASH. U. – Ware, Fred 10 yd run (Vartanian, Chris kick), 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 2:42 | 42 | 14 |
| 3rd | 00:34 | NPU – Gibson, Hunter 57 yd pass from Eck, Matt (Messersmith, Mike kick) 5 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:35 | 42 | 21 |
| 4th | 14:10 | WASH. U. – Hamilton, Kenneth 59 yd run (Vartanian, Chris kick), 3 plays, 59 yards, TOP 1:16 | 49 | 21 |
| 4th | 05:07 | WASH. U. – Lamphier, Treyton 23 yd pass from Rush, Matt (Vartanian, Chris kick) 7 plays, 50 yards, TOP 3:08 | 56 | 21 |
| Washington University Bears Upcoming 2022 Football Schedule |
| Sat., October 8 — vs. Illinois Wesleyan* — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 15 — at Augustana* — 3 pm |
| Sat., October 22 — vs. #1 North Central* — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 29 — at Elmhurst* — 1 pm |
| Sat., November 5 — vs. #11 Wheaton* — 1 pm |
| Sat., November 12 — at Carroll* — 12 pm |
| * – denotes CCIW Conference Game |
| All Wash. U. home football games will be played at Francis Olympic Field. |