Chicago, Ill., September 4, 2021 – The Washington University in St. Louis football team suffered a loss to open the season at the University of Chicago in the Founders Cup, 31-21, on Saturday afternoon.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Maroons scored on their first drive of the game. The drive spanned 15 plays and 75 yards, resulting in Chicago up 7-0.

Nick D'Ambrose carried the ball five times in the opening minutes for a total of 22 yards. Following back-to-back incomplete passes, quarterback Philip Martini hit a 13-yard, fourth-down pass to Matt Quaglia for another first down.

Ultimately, on third and eight, Martini completed a 20-yard pass to Gabe Solis for the first touchdown of the game at the 9:45 mark. Will Goodman's extra point attempt was good.

On the Bears first possession of the day, junior quarterback Matt Rush completed his first two passes to Treyton Lamphier and Sam Fenske, respectively. On a third and seven, Rush's pass was intercepted and returned for 20 yards by Mike Morrison, giving the Maroons the possession again.

Like the first, Chicago's next drive resulted in another touchdown on the board. This drive consisted of six plays for 65 yards.

D'Ambrose ran for one yard to open and Martini then hit Quaglia for an eight-yard pass. Martini ran the ball for two more yards on the next play, resulting in a first and 10.

On the next play, D'Ambrose ran for 47 yards and have the Maroons first and goal. Ultimately, Martini hit a six-yard pass to Zack Olson and Goodman's extra point attempt was good, to give Chicago a 14-0 lead with 5:36 left in the first.

The Bears put up seven points of their own on their next drive, to cut into Chicago's lead, 14-7. It was a six-play, 75 yard drive.

Rush completed a six-yard pass to Lamphier. Following a one-yard loss on the next play, Rush hit Cole Okmin for a six-yard pass, giving the Bears a first and 10.

On third and 10 at the WashU 36, Rush hurled a 64-yard touchdown pass to Collin Hoyhtya at the 2:49 mark, which marked Hoyhtya's first career touchdown. Chris Vartanian's extra point attempt was good, making the score Chicago 14, WashU 7.

The second quarter opened with WashU at second and five. Following a two-yard rush from Tennyson Holmes and a five-yard run from Rush, the Bears were at first and goal. After moving forward one yard on a Brendan Morrissey run, the possession abruptly ended as Chicago's Makai Robinson intercepted Rush's pass.

In the subsequent drive, however, the Bears returned the favor as TJ Perusek picked off a pass from Martini and returned it for nine yards.

The Bears, however, went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, resulting in the ball in the hands of the Maroons.

Chicago took advantage by pushing through a seven-play, 37-yard drive that resulted in its third touchdown of the day.

A six-yard pass from Martini to AJ Markett start things off, following by a Martini run for three yards. Following a time out on fourth and one, Martini hit Quaglia for a 16-yard pass. D'Ambrose then ran for two yards and caught an eight-yard pass to give the Maroons first and goal.

It was D'Ambrose that scored again for Chicago, running two yards into the endzone. Goodman's kick was good, giving the Maroons a 21-7 advantage with 6:26 remaining in the half.

WashU answered right back on the following drive, putting together a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

Emmanel Ebirim ran for back-to-back three yarders and Rush hit Okmin for a seven-yard pass to give the Bears first and 10. Two more Ebirim runs for four yards and one yard, respectively, followed by a Rush nine-yard pass to Hoyhtya resulted in another first down.

Holmes caught a 12-yard throw from Rush to put the Bears at first and 10 once more. WashU eventually scored on a 17-yard pass from Rush to Hoyhtya with 1:15 remaining. Vartanian's extra point attempt was good, cutting the Chicago lead to 21-14.

Chicago added a little bit of cushion heading into half time, adding a field goal to go up 24-14 as the clock ticked down to zero. It was a seven-play, 61-yard drive.

Following a WashU penalty that put the Maroons at first and 10, Martini hit Olson for a 23-yard pass and then ran for eight yards. Another long pass, this time a 26-yard completion to Caden Kalinowski resulted in first and 10 at the WashU 21. Goodman's 38-yard attempt was good.

The Bears had a tough start to the third quarter, as Rush was sacked on back-to-back plays, for losses of eight yards and one yard, respectively.

After a handful of unsuccessful drives, the Bears broke through again late in the third quarter to cut Chicago's lead to 24-21.

Rush started off with a three-yard pass to Okmin and Morrissey ran for four yards to put the Bears at third and three. Rush then ran for three yards and a Chicago personal foul moved WashU to the 36.

The Bears took a chance on a fourth and 10, as Rush launched a 16-yard pass to Hoyhtya. Rush then completed a seven-yard pass to Michael Allison, setting up second and 13 situation.

Rush continued to hit big throws, this time connecting on a 23-yard pass to Jack Jopes for a touchdown with 2:03 left in the quarter. Vartanian followed with a successful extra point attempt.

The Bears started the fourth quarter at third and five on the WashU 48. After inching closer to the end zone, WashU had to settle for a field goal attempt, but Vartanian's 50-yard try was blocked by Chicago's Aden Nava and recovered by the Maroons.

Chicago capitalized, putting together a three-play, 67-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown and a 31-21 lead.

Following a holding call on the Maroons, they faced first and 25. Martini started with a three-yard run followed by a 21-yard pass to Olson for third and one.

D'Ambrose scored his third touchdown of the day on a 58-yard run with 9:38 left on the clock. Goodman's extra point attempt was good.

WashU's ensuing drives were enough to get into the red zone, but they could not cut into the deficit any further, ending things with a 31-21 Chicago victory.

Statistically, WashU had 396 yards of total offense while Chicago finished with 410 yards. The Bears averaged 4.8 yards per play while the Maroons averaged 6.3.

Rushing, WashU tallied 68 yards while Chicago recorded 191 yards. Passing, the Bears totaled 328 yards while Chicago had 219.

Hoyhtya led the Bears with six catches for 127 yards, plus two touchdowns, averaging 21.2 yards per catch. Okmin had eight catches for 63 yards.

Rush went 32-for-47 for 328 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. His longest throw of the day was 64 yards.

Defensively, Connor Burke had a team-high eight tackles, including four solo. Langston Laramore-Josey had seven tackles and four solo. Noah Bryson finished with five total tackles and we as a sack and a tackle-for-loss.

Following a bye week on Sept. 11, the Bears return to action on Sept. 18 for their home opener and first CCIW match up against North Park. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. at Francis Olympic Field.

Founders Cup

The 2021 Founders Cup game between Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago Maroons marks the last of the series.

The Founders Cup was introduced in 1987 to commemorate the first football game played between the two University Athletic Association schools. WashU leads the Founders Cup series, 25-9 and the all-time series 25-14.

All-time Founders Cup Results:

1987 – WashU, 17, Chicago 15

1988 – WashU 27, Chicago 24

1989 – WashU 25, Chicago 14

1990 – WashU 27, Chicago 7

1991 – WashU 25, Chicago 7

1992 – Chicago 24, WashU 23

1993 – Chicago 20, WashU 17

1994 – WashU 13, Chicago 7

1995 – WashU 29, Chicago 7

1996 – WashU 41, Chicago 0

1997 – WashU 55, Chicago 26

1998 – Chicago 16, WashU 6

1999 – WashU 20, Chicago 3

2000 – Chicago 12, WashU 9

2001 – WashU 21, Chicago 7

2002 – WashU 38, Chicago 17

2003 – WashU 28, Chicago 0

2004 – WashU 24, Chicago 16

2005 – Chicago 27, WashU 0

2006 – WashU 27, Chicago 6

2007 – WashU 31, Chicago 10

2008 – Chicago 17, WashU 14

2009 – WashU 44, Chicago 37

2010 – Chicago 13, WashU 10

2011 – WashU 38, WashU 20

2012 – WashU 23, Chicago 7

2013 – WashU 17, Chicago 7

2014 – Chicago 44, WashU 23

2015 – WashU 37, Chicago 23

2016 – WashU 43, Chicago 34

2017 – WashU 28, Chicago 12

2018 – WashU 24, Chicago 17

2019 – WashU 43, Chicago 7

2020 – Did not play

2021 – Chicago 31, WashU 21