Teammates celebrate with Kenvorris Campbell, following his 80-yard touchdown run in WashU’s win over Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday. (Photo courtesy: IWU Athletics)

NCAA Football1st2nd3rd4thFinal
WashU (3-1, 2-1)7197033
Illinois Wesleyan (2-2, 1-2)0815023

BLOOMINGTON, IL — The Washington University football team got its quarterback back on Saturday and its offense looked in sync again.

WashU went on the road and put up nearly 400 yards of total offense and scored five touchdowns against a stout Illinois Wesleyan defense, in what proved to be a 33-23 win for the Bears.

Senior Clark Stephens was one of the leading passers in the CCIW after two games, but had to miss last week’s game against No. 1-ranked North Central. This week, Stephens was back and completed 22-of-38 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns to lead the WashU offense.

Senior running back Kenvorris Campbell also had a huge day. The 5-10, 225-pounder from Eudora, Ark., rushed for a career-high 145 yards, including a career-long 80-yard dash through the heart of the IWU defense for a score, that helped give the Bears an early two-touchdown lead.

Fellow ball carrier Fred Ware had run for a 21-yard touchdown earlier for the first score of the game. IWU blocked the point-after attempt following the Campbell touchdown and returned it for a two-point score. WashU led 13-2 early in the second quarter.

From that point on, Stephens took control. He hit three separate receivers for touchdowns that helped the Bears build a 33-8 lead midway through the third.

IWU ran back the kickoff following Stephens’ third touchdown toss and added a field goal late in the third to get within 10 points, but that’s as close as the Titans would get, as WashU’s defense held firm and kept IWU off the scoreboard the rest of the game.

Several players on the WashU defense had big games as well. Safety Ryan Schmadtke led the Bears with 10 tackles (nine solo), while linebackers Salomon Dessalines and Joy Chane both had nine tackles.

Safety Joseph Norris had two interceptions and defensive lineman Jack Middleton had four tackles, including his third quarterback sack of the season. Middleton also forced a fumble. WashU forced four turnovers in the game.

WashU WR Collin Goldberg gets tackled after making a catch during the third quarter of Saturday’s NCAA Division III football game against Illinois Wesleyan. (Photo courtesy: IWU Athletics)

Other offensive standouts included receiver Collin Goldberg, the CCIW leader in receptions, who had seven catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, and Makael Carter, who had five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.

The Bears, who are now 3-1 on the season, will be back home next week, when they’ll host Carthage at Francis Olympic Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

QtrTimeScoring PlayWASHUIWU
1st00:09WASHU – Ware,Fred 21 yd run (Muchnick,Ross kick), 3 plays, 51 yards, TOP 00:4270
2nd10:10WASHU – Campbell,Kenvorris 80 yd run (kick blocked), 2 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:17130
2nd10:10IWU – Roti,Frank 0 yd PAT return132
2nd07:10WASHU – Carter,Makael 6 yd pass from Stephens,Clark (Muchnick,Ross kick) 5 plays, 40 yards, TOP 01:55202
2nd02:13IWU – Kee,Myles 10 yd pass from Smyth,Dermot (2-pt attempt failed) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:57208
2nd00:09WASHU – Hoyhtya,Collin 3 yd pass from Stephens,Clark (2-pt attempt failed) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:04268
3rd05:52WASHU – Goldberg,Collin 2 yd pass from Stephens,Clark (Muchnick,Ross kick) 10 plays, 84 yards, TOP 03:55338
3rd05:39IWU – Scott,Jahari 88 yd kickoff return (Junge,Kaden kick)3315
3rd02:19IWU – Smyth,Dermot 1 yd run (Moore,Tre pass), 7 plays, 28 yards, TOP 03:153323

2024 WashU Bears Football Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
October 12, 20241 p.m.HomeCarthage CollegeFrancis Olympic Field
October 19, 20241 p.m.AwayElmhurst UniversityElmhurst, Ill. / Langhorst Field
October 26, 20241 p.m.Home#24 Wheaton 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