Wash. U. quarterback Matt Rush looks for someone to throw to during Saturday’s CCIW football matchup against Illinois Wesleyan, Saturday afternoon at Francis Olympic Field in St. Louis (Photo: Cedric Williams)
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Wesleyan | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Washington University | 21 | 21 | 0 | 17 | 59 |
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS, MO — It’s been a historic first half of the 2022 football season for the Washington University Bears. No team in program history has scored points like this year’s team has.
Wash. U. came into its fifth game of the season, averaging 51.8 points per game and having scored 50 points or more in three of them. Both of those totals had never been accomplished by the Bears.
On Saturday though, in what most believed would be a competitive CCIW showdown at Francis Olympic Field, Wash. U. topped those totals, by scoring a season-high 59 points, in a 59-14 dismantling of visiting Illinois Wesleyan.
The Bears, who narrowly missed being ranked in the NCAA Division III Top 25 this past week, will almost certainly be in the rankings next week, following the absolute beatdown they laid on the Titans.
Wash. U. scored touchdowns on each of its six first-half possessions and led 42-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Matt Rush led the Bears offense, by accounting for four touchdowns in that first half. The senior from Hinsdale, Ill., completed 20-of-31 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score, as the Bears capitalized on every opportunity Illinois Wesleyan gave them.
Wash. U.’s running backs Kenneth Hamilton and Fred Ware also did major damage for the Bears. Both rushed for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown. Hamilton had 117 yards on 12 carries, and Ware had a game-high 142 yards on 15 carries.
Sophomore Collin Goldberg led Wash. U.’s receivers with five catches for 82 yards and a score, while senior teammate Cole Okmin scored two touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving.
Illinois Wesleyan tried to keep pace with Wash. U., but its offense sputtered at the outset and had three-and-outs on each of its first three possessions. By the time the Titans got the ball back the fourth time, they were already down 21-0.
On that fourth possession, Illinois Wesleyan did move the ball some. The Titans picked up four first downs and moved into Wash. U. territory. But the Bear defense forced a fumble, which it recovered. And that allowed the offense to drive down the field and score again.
Overall, Wash. U. finished the day with 620 yards of total offense and held Illinois Wesleyan to just 278 yards, including a mere 23 yards rushing.
After halftime, the only question was would Wash. U. reach 50 points again. The home team pulled its starters midway through the third quarter, which saw Illinois Wesleyan score two touchdowns and pull within 42-14.
But the Bears backups went to work and scored two touchdowns, and added a field goal, to go over the half a hundred mark again, and finish with its highest point total of the season.
Saturday’s win marks the fourth time this year Wash. U. has topped 50 points. That’s the first time in school history that’s ever happened.
The victory lifted Wash. U.’s season record to 5-0 and raised their conference mark to 4-0. Illinois Wesleyan fell to 3-2 and 2-2.
The Bears will be back in action, next Saturday, October 15, when they’ll travel to Rock Island, Ill., to play another CCIW contest against Augustana College.
Wash. U.’s next home game will be the following week, when the Bears will host No. 1-ranked North Central University. That contest will be the highlight of Parent and Family Weekend, and is scheduled to kickoff on October 22 at 1 p.m.
| Qtr | Time | Scoring Play | IWU | WASH. U. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11:38 | WASH. U. – Cole Okmin 15 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:22 | 0 | 7 |
| 1st | 09:03 | WASH. U. – Collin Goldberg 25 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian kick) 4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:08 | 0 | 14 |
| 1st | 03:59 | WASH. U. – Kenneth Hamilton 28 yd run (Chris Vartanian kick), 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:38 | 0 | 21 |
| 2nd | 14:05 | WASH. U. – Cole Okmin 15 yd run (Chris Vartanian kick), 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:48 | 0 | 28 |
| 2nd | 07:20 | WASH. U. – Matt Rush 6 yd run (Chris Vartanian kick), 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:29 | 0 | 35 |
| 2nd | 00:56 | WASH. U. – Collin Hoyhtya 13 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian kick) 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:23 | 0 | 42 |
| 3rd | 08:12 | IWU – Hamilton,C. 10 yd pass from Lemenager, Jay (Stange,Andrew kick) 9 plays, 56 yards, TOP 4:18 | 7 | 42 |
| 3rd | 01:58 | IWU – Kee, Myles 79 yd pass from Lemenager, Jay (Stange,Andrew kick) 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:41 | 14 | 42 |
| 4th | 14:55 | WASH. U. – Fred Ware 8 yd run (Bernie Cueto kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:03 | 14 | 49 |
| 4th | 10:48 | WASH. U. – Gabriel Sirek 23 yd pass from Clark Stephens (Bernie Cueto kick) 5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:48 | 14 | 56 |
| 4th | 05:33 | WASH. U. – Bernie Cueto 20 yd field goal 10 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:15 | 14 | 59 |
| Washington University Bears Upcoming 2022 Football Schedule |
| 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. |