The Wash. U. Bears will be back at Francis Olympic Field on Saturday, with a matchup against Illinois Wesleyan. (Photo: Nathan Assata)

by DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

The Washington University football team suffered a tough loss last week at the hands of No. 5 Wheaton College. The Bears lost 40-10, in a game where almost nothing went right for the home club.

This week, 2-2 Wash. U. will be back at Francis Olympic Field looking to regain its winning touch, with a matchup against Illinois Wesleyan, which comes to town with a 1-3 record. The Titans began the year by losing their first three, but picked up their first win of the year last week, in a 52-3 blowout over Elmhurst.

Players to Watch: Wash. U. quarterback Matt Rush has passed for 1,028 yards and 10 touchdowns, which both rank fourth in the CCIW this season. Rush was leading the conference in those categories, as well as completions, until last week’s rough performance against Wheaton.

Another big reason why the Bears struggled last week, was they just couldn’t get any running game going. Their three primary ball carriers combined for just 23 rushing yards on 15 carries. This week, that group of Tennyson Holmes, Emmanuel Ebirim, and Kenvorris Campbell will have to find a way to move the ball on the ground and help open space for Wash. U.’s talented receiving corps.

Illinois Wesleyan has had a bit more success with its running game this year. Titans senior tailback Hamid Bullie is second in the CCIW with 454 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Coming into Saturday’s contest, Bullie is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and 113.5 yards per game.

The Titans also have a talented young quarterback in sophomore Sage Shindler, who ranks just behind Wash. U.’s Rush, with 1,021 passing yards and 10 touchdowns this season. His primary receiver has been junior Charlie Hamilton, who is fifth in the conference with 401 yards, but tied for second overall with six touchdowns.

Up Next: After hosting two games in a row at home, the Bears will be on the road the next two weeks, with games at Augustana and at Millikin. Illinois Wesleyan will play Millikin next week in a home game in Bloomington, Ill.

Wash. U.’s next home game will be in three weeks, on Saturday, October 30, when the Bears will host Carroll College at Francis Olympic Field. Kickoff that day is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Probable Starters
Wash. U. Offense                              Wash. U. Defense
QB – 17 Matt Rush – Jr.                   DL – 40 Noah Bryson – Sr.
RB – 5 Tennyson Holmes – Sr.          DL – 54 Jackson Wilson – Sr.
WR – 4 Collin Hoyhtya – So.             DL – 97 Jack Schumacher – Sr.
WR – 14 Cole Okmin – Jr.                 LB – 10 Alex Harvey – Sr.
WR – 86 Treyton Lamphier – Sr.       LB – 47 John Christensen – Sr.
OL – 55 Tom Peters – So.                  LB – 49 Zane Ahlfinger – Sr.
OL – 56 Andrew Silver – Sr.              LB – 99 Anthony Brown – Sr.
OL – 62 Matt Spichiger – Jr.             DB – 22 T.J. Perusek – Sr.
OL – 64 Alex Vogel – Jr.                    DB – 30 J.T. Streepy – Sr.
OL – 65 Jarrett Dykema – Sr.           DB – 48 Andrew Whitaker – Sr.
TE – 85 Sam Fenske – Sr.                 DB – 44 Langston Laramore-Josey – Sr.
PK – 3 Chris Vartanian – Jr.             P – 6 Tomas Quiroz – Fr.

Illinois Wesleyan Offense                  Illinois Wesleyan Defense
QB – 9 Sage Shindler – So.               DE – 94 Josh Hlavacek – Fr.
RB – 1 Hamid Bullie – Sr.                 DT – 55 Conor Murphy – Jr.
RB – 20 Seth Albin – So.                   DT – 78 Nick Deaner – Jr.
WR – 80 Wes Watson – Sr.                DE – 10 Nick DeGregorio – Sr.
WR – 11 Charlie Hamilton – Jr.         LB – 33 Daniel Gibbons – Sr.
LT – 56 Jake Tencza – Sr.                 LB – 57 Skyler Metzger – Sr.
LG – 64 Jacob Tinfer – Sr.                LB – 4 Frank Roti – Fr.
C – 65 Jake Buhe – Sr.                     CB – 30 Tyler Maple – Sr.
RG – 67 Nick Cyze – Sr.                    FS – 27 Sam Schott – Fr.
RT – 75 A.J. Lust – Sr.                      SS – 21 Connor Nigro – So.
TE – 82 Zack Tencza – Sr.                 CB – 19 Michael Alvardo – Fr.
PK – 37 Andrew Stange – Jr.             P – 36 Jonathan Rukujzo – Jr.