The Washington University football team picked up its fourth win of the season Saturday afternoon, in a 31-7 victory over Augustana College. (Photo: Nathan Assata)

SCORING1234FINAL
Wash. U. (4-2, 4-1)71410031
Augustana (2-4, 1-4)70007

DeMarcus Dixon
Staff Writer

The Washington University football team shook off a slow start and a lackluster first quarter, to score 31 unanswered points, on its way to a convincing 31-7 road win over Augustana College at that school’s Austin E. Knowlton Complex in Rock Island, Ill.

The Bears got touchdown runs by Cole Okmin (two) and Tennyson Holmes, a touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Rush, and a field goal by kicker Chris Vartanian to roar back after falling behind the Vikings, who scored a touchdown on their first drive of the game.

Augustana got the ball on Wash. U.’s 32-yard line, following a shanked punt, and drove the ball down the field on seven plays to score. The Vikings got all 32 yards on run plays, including a 2-yard plunge by running back Mike DiGioia that made it 7-0.

After forcing a Wash. U. three-and-out, Augustana got the ball back and even moved it into Bears’ territory, but eventually had to punt. And that was when Wash. U. got going.

The Bears drove 68 yards on nine plays, capped by a 6-yard run by Okmin that tied the score at 7.

Wash. U. then forced a turnover on Augustana’s next possession — a fumble forced by linebacker Alex Harvey and recovered by fellow linebacker John Christensen — that led to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rush to tight end Sam Fenske that gave the Bears the lead early in the second quarter.

The Bears got the ball back again, and again drove the length of the field — this time, 80 yards on nine plays — capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by Tennyson Holmes and the rout was on.

Vartanian kicked a 38-yard field early in the third quarter and Okmin added his second touchdown run later in the third to give Wash. U. an edge it would not relinquish.

The win lifted Wash. U.’s overall record to 4-2 and its CCIW conference record to 4-1. No. 1 ranked North Central College is ahead of Wash. U. with a 5-0 conference record, as is No. 4 Wheaton College, which handed Wash. U. its only conference loss two weeks ago.

The Bears will look to improve those marks next week, when they go back out on the road to face Millikin University next Saturday.

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

Washington University at Augustana College — Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
10:05 – Aug – TOUCHDOWN – Mike DiGioia 2 yd run (Sidney Maroon PAT) — Aug 0-7
1:33 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Cole Okmin 6 yd run (Chris Vartanian PAT) — Tied 7-7
2nd Quarter
12:50 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Sam Fenske 11 yd pass from Matt Rush (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 14-7
4:36 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Tennyson Holmes 6 yd run (Chris Vartanian PAT) — WashU 21-7
3rd Quarter
6:45 – WashU – FIELD GOAL – Chris Vartanian 38 yd field goal – WashU 24-7
1:03 – WashU – TOUCHDOWN – Cole Okmin 3 yd run (Chris Vartanian PAT) – WashU 31-7
4th Quarter
No scoring.
Wash. U. Bears Football Upcoming Schedule
Sat., October 23 — at Millikin — 6 pm
Sat., October 30 — vs. Carroll — 1 pm
Sat., November 6 — vs. #1 North Central — 12 pm
Sat., November 13 — at Carthage — 12 pm
All Wash. U. home football games will be played at Francis Olympic Field