MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The (RV) Washington University in St. Louis football team opened the 2024 season with a 44-20 win over Rhodes College. The Bears are 27-26-1 all-time against Rhodes on the football field.
 
The Bears reached the 17-yard line on their first drive and Ross Muchnick converted a 31-yard field goal to put WashU up 3-0 with 7:28 on the clock. The drive started with senior Kenneth Hamilton running for 21 yards, followed by a seven-yard pass from senior Clark Stephens to fifth-year Collin Hoyhtya.
 
Stephens then connected with senior Collin Goldberg for a six-yard pass and a first down at WashU's own 49. The air game continued as Stephens found graduate student Grant Hajicek for an 18-yard catch, followed by a 13-yard pass to Goldberg.
 
Hamilton picked up two yards and Stephens passed to Goldberg for one yard, leaving the Bears shy of a first down and resulting in the field goal.
 
The Bears defense forced a quick four-and-out for Rhodes on the Lynx' next possession, but WashU was also forced to punt on the next possession.
 
Rhodes went on to score on the next drive, starting with a two-yard gain from Robert Daniel and a 10-yard catch from quarterback Evan Reeder to Austin Smith. Reeder picked up three yards and then launched a 66-yard touchdown pass to Brent Barlow. Logan Ahern's kick was good, putting the Lynx up 7-3 with 2:16 remaining in the first.
 
WashU began it's next drive with a pass from Stephens to Goldberg for five yards, followed by passes for nine and seven yards, respectively. Stephens then connected with Hajicek for six yards and a first down at the 10, which was the final play of the first quarter. Senior Kenvorris Campbell ran for four yards to begin the second quarter and followed it for three yards before running for a three-yard touchdown. Bernie Cueto hit the extra-point attempt for a 10-7 Bears' lead.
 
Rhodes answered with another touchdown on the ensuing drive. Smith rushed for 22 yards and a first down at the 43. Elijah Bane ran for one yard and Reeder ran for three yards. Reeder then hit Barlow for an 11-yard first down at the 28. Bane ran for two more yards before Reeder hit Alex LeBlanc for a 26-yard touchdown. Ahern missed the extra-point attempt, putting the Lynx up 13-10.
 
After the Bears' next drive ended with an interception, Rhodes was forced to punt. On WashU's next drive, the Bears were fourth and one but lost a yard and turned it over on downs.
 
The Bears scored on the first drive of the third quarter, starting with a pass from Stephens to Goldberg for 30 yards to the 13. The duo connected again for eight yards and Hamilton ran for four and a first down at the one-yard line. Sophomore quarterback Levi Moore ran the final yard in for a touchdown and Muchnick hit the extra point for a 17-13 lead.
 
With 8:36 on the clock, the Bears blocked a field goal attempt by Ahern. Sophomore Henry Murr recovered the ball and ran it in for a touchdown to take a 23-13 lead and score his first-career touchdown.
 
As the clock ticked down in the third quarter, the Bears began another scoring drive. Hamilton picked up a yard and Stephens found Goldberg for a 13-yard pass for a first down at the 26.
 
Stephens connected with senior Zachary Ginsburg for a 25-yard pass to the one-yard line to begin the fourth quarter and Moore ran in his second one-yard touchdown of the game. Muchnick's kick was good, putting the Bears ahead 30-13.
 
The Lynx scored on their next drive, beginning at their own 35. Bane ran for 22 yards and a first down, followed by a four-yard rush up the middle by TexJioh Konx. Bane picked up two yards followed by three from Reeder. Bane then ran it in for a 34-yard touchdown. Ahern's kick was good, making it 30-20 with 11:34 remaining.
 
WashU answered with another scoring play on the ensuing drive, starting with a 16-yard pass from Stephens to Ginsburg. Clark and Goldberg then connected with 36 yards and a first down at the 12. Junior Fred Ware picked up five yards to move the Bears to the seven. Clark hit sophomore Makael Carter for an eight-yard touchdown pass and Muchnick's kick was good for a 37-20 Bears' lead.
 
The Bears forced a Rhodes' punt on the next drive before securing one more touchdown. Starting at the 35, Campbell rushed for four yards and then unleashed for a 61-yard touchdown. Muchnick converted the extra-point, boosting the Bears' lead to 44-20.
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WashU had 431 yards of total offense (289 passing, 142 rushing) while Rhodes had 349 (216 passing, 133 rushing).
 
Stephens went 26-for-37 for 289 yards and threw one touchdown pass.
 
Campbell led the running game with 75 yards on five attempts and two touchdowns while Hamilton had 62 yards on 13 attempts.
 
Goldberg led all receivers with 158 yards on 13 catches. Ginsburg finished with 45 yards on three catches and Hajicek had 29 yards on three catches.
 
Defensively, Kellen Fraile recorded six total tackles including four solo with 0.5 tackles for loss (TFL). Grant Purdy had six total tackles with five solo while Joy Chane recorded three solo and two assists to go with 1.0 TFL. First-year Quinten Bennett had three total tackles, 0.5 TFL and one pass breakup.
 
Carter had three returns for the Bears, totaling 127 yards.
 
The Bears have a bye week next Saturday before returning home on Sept. 21 for a game against Carroll at 1 p.m.