The Washu Bears are 3-0 and will host the North Park Vikings, Saturday afternoon at Francis Olympic Field. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
WashU Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 4 – North Park Vikings (2-1) at WashU Bears (3-0)
Date/Time – September 30, 2023 – 1 pm
Location – Francis Olympic Field — Clayton, MO
Broadcast – WashU Sports Network
Live Stats – WashU Live Stats
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
CLAYTON, MO — The unbeaten Washington University Bears will host a key CCIW football game against the North Park Vikings, Saturday afternoon at Francis Olympic Field.
WashU (3-0) is one of the four remaining teams in the conference that has yet to lose a game this season. And the Bears will look to keep it that way when the Vikings come to town on Saturday.
North Park (2-1) is coming off its most impressive win of the season, a 38-0 drubbing of Millikin last week. The Vikings racked up 460 total yards and held Millikin to just 100 yards on the day.
WashU looked equally as good in its 38-7 win over Carthage. The Bears never trailed and put up 500 yards (353 passing, 147 rushing) in the win.
Players to Watch: Both teams’ offenses are led by prolific passers. WashU grad student senior Matt Rush has thrown for 741 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Both of those totals are fourth best in the CCIW.
North Park QB Matt Eck is third in the league in passing, with 806 yards and eight touchdowns. Last week, he threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns to lead a Viking offense that has scored at least 27 points in each of its three games.
WashU’s other weapons include RBs Kenneth Hamilton and Kenvorris Campbell, and WR Collin Goldberg, who ranks second in the league in receiving yards with 336 and leads the conference in receiving touchdowns with six.
North Park likes to feature its potent receiving trio of AJ Harris, Marcel Love, and Jakob Dreksler. All three have more than 140 yards receiving. Dreksler has three touchdowns.
On defense, WashU is led by sophomore LB Salomon Dessalines, who has 17 tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception. DBs Ryan Schmadtke and Bradley Hamilton have been standouts as well. Schmadtke has 16 tackles and an interception, and Hamilton has 15 tackles and three pass breakups.
North Park’s defense is led by junior LB Jaydin Miller, the current CCIW Defensive Player of the Week. Last week, he had 11 tackles, three quarterback sacks, and an interception in the Vikings’ shutout of Millikin.
The Vikings are second in the CCIW in team quarterback sacks with nine.
Up Next: WashU will be back on the road next week, when it travels to Bloomington, Ill., to play Illinois Wesleyan. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Bears will be back home in two week, when it hosts Augustana College.
2023 WashU Bears Football Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2023 | 1 p.m. | Home | North Park University | Francis Olympic Field |
| October 7, 2023 | 1 p.m. | Away | Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, Ill. |
| October 14, 2023 | 1 p.m. | Home | Augustana College | Francis Olympic Field |
| October 21, 2023 | 1 p.m. | Away | North Central College | Naperville, Ill. |
| October 28, 2023 | 1 p.m. | Home | Elmhurst University | Francis Olympic Field |
| November 4, 2023 | 1 p.m. | Away | Wheaton College | Wheaton, Ill. |
| November 11, 2023 | 12 p.m. | Home | Carroll University | Francis Olympic Field |