Wash. U. quarterback Matt Rush is back to lead the Bears, after passing for 2,289 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Wash. U. Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 1 – Hendrix (1-0) at Washington University (0-0)
Date/Time – Saturday, September 10 – 1 pm
Location – Francis Olympic Field – St. Louis, MO
Broadcast – Wash. U. Sports Network
Live Stats – Presto Sports
Torrance Terrell
Staff Writer
Football is back and the Washington University Bears are all set to host their 2022 home opener, Saturday afternoon at Francis Olympic Field. Wash. U. will be taking on Hendrix College, a team that won its first game of the season, last week against Austin College.
The Bears will be led by senior quarterback Matt Rush. The returning starter had a fantastic 2021 campaign, as he led Wash. U. to a 7-4 record, with the four defeats coming against teams that had a combined 41-6 record last season.
It was Rush’s first season as Wash. U.’s starting QB, and he completed 226 of 351 passes (64%) for 2,289 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Rush threw for at least one touchdown in every game, and had a season-best six TDs in a 55-13 victory at Millikin.
The Bears will also bring back their top three receivers from last year, in senior Cole Okmin (49 catches, 575 yards, 8 TDs), sophomore Collin Goldberg (574 yards, 4 TDs) and junior Collin Hoyhtya (35 catches, 536 yards, 6 TDs). Sophomore Kenvorris Campbell is back at tailback, while senior center Alex Vogel anchors a veteran offensive line.
Defensively, Wash. U. will be looking to rebuild its unit, now that two-time All-American safety Andrew Whitaker has graduated.
“With the start of every season, there’s a new challenge,” Wash. U. head coach Aaron Keen said. “There are 24 national championship banners hanging at Washington University, and my goal is for our team to be the one to hang one for football. We’ve gone 7-2, 6-3 and 7-2 and finished third in three seasons since joining the (College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin), so we know there’s work to do. But I’m excited about this group.”
Hendrix delivered a stellar defensive performance in its season opener, as the Warriors shut out Austin 20-0. Linebacker Mitchell Johnson had a game-high 10 tackles and teammate Riley McMurren forced two fumbles, as Hendrix held Austin to just 114 total yards.
On offense, the Warriors got efficient production from its two primary ballcarriers, Jaxon Cobern and Auvic White. Cobern, a sophomore, had a game-high 82 yards on 21 carries, while White, a freshman, scored all three touchdowns in his collegiate debut.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on washubears.com.
| Washington University Bears 2022 Football Schedule |
| Sat., September 10 — vs. Hendrix — 1 pm |
| Sat., September 17 — vs. Millikin* — 1 pm |
| Sat., September 24 — at Carthage* — 12 pm |
| Sat., October 1 — at North Park* — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 8 — vs. Illinois Wesleyan* — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 15 — at Augustana* — 3 pm |
| Sat., October 22 — vs. North Central* — 1 pm |
| Sat., October 29 — at Elmhurst* — 1 pm |
| Sat., November 5 — vs. 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. |