Wash. U. QB Matt Rush had six touchdown passes in the Bears’ big win over Millikin on Saturday. (Photo: Nathan Assata)

SCORING1234FINAL
Wash. U. (5-2, 5-1)141420755
Millikin (2-5, 1-5)0130013

by DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

Quarterback Matt Rush threw six touchdown passes and receiver Cole Okmin caught four of them and ran for a score in Washington University’s 55-13 win over Millikin University, Saturday afternoon in Decatur, Ill.

The six touchdown tosses for Rush tied a Wash. U. school record set first in 1941 by Bud Schwenk and tied in 2016 by J.J. Tomlin. Okmin’s five total touchdowns was one shy of tying the school record of most by one player in a single game.

Wash. U. also forced five turnovers, four of which were interceptions, the other being a fumble by Millikin the Bears recovered in the end zone for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

The win lifted Wash. U.’s record to 5-2 on the season and moved its CCIW mark to 5-1. The Bears are currently tied for second in the CCIW with No. 3 Wheaton College, with both clubs one game behind No. 1-ranked and unbeaten North Central.

Wash. U. will play North Central in two weeks, on Saturday, November 6, in a game that could determine that league champion this season.

On Saturday, Wash. U. got off to a flying start, as it scored twice in the first quarter. The Bears and Big Blue traded scores in the second quarter, with Millikin twice pulling to within a touchdown, but Wash. U. answering back with a score to restore its two-score lead.

The third quarter is when Wash. U. completely took over the game. And they did it in a flash, with two quick strike touchdown tosses from Rush to Okmin.

The first was a 33-yarder that beat two defenders. Then, after a turnover, the junior QB and junior WR, hooked up again for a 20-yard score that suddenly put the Bears up 41-13.

Millikin drove the ball into Wash. U. territory on its next possession, but eventually turned the ball over again. And that led to a long drive for the Bears, which was capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Okmin — his fifth score of the day — that made it 48-13.

For the day, Rush finished with 224 passing yards and Okmin had six catches for 96 yards. The Bears outgained the Big Blue, 371 yards to 307, and had 29 first downs to Millikin’s 19.

The victory was Wash. U.’s third in a row since its home loss to Wheaton back on October 2. The Bears will go for their fourth straight win, next Saturday, October 30, when they’ll host Carroll College at Francis Olympic Field.

Opening kickoff next week is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Wash. U. vs. Millikin — Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
6:37 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Cole Okmin 4 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 7-0
:12 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Collin Hoyhtya 15 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 14-0
2nd Quarter
13:03 – MU – TOUCHDOWN – Colton Lockwood 8 yd pass from Cal Pohrte (Tyson Roedl PAT) — WashU 14-7
11:31 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Cole Okmin 13 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 21-7
6:36 – MU – TOUCHDOWN – Lontas McClinton 1 yd run (PAT failed) — MU 21-13
3:14 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Collin Goldberg 20 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 28-13
3rd Quarter
11:57 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Cole Okmin 33 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 35-13
11:06 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Cole Okmin 20 yd pass from Matt Rush (PAT failed) — WashU 41-13
4:57 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Cole Okmin 4 yd run (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 48-13
4th Quarter
7:13 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Gus Christensen fumble recovery in end zone (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 55-13
Wash. U. Bears Football Upcoming Schedule
Sat., October 30 — vs. Carroll — 1 pm
Sat., November 6 — vs. #1 North Central — 1 pm
Sat., November 13 — at Carthage — 12 pm
All Wash. U. home football games will be played at Francis Olympic Field