CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. – The No. 7/8 Washington University in St. Louis football team defeated Wabash 27-17 on the road on Saturday afternoon. The Bears remain unbeaten at 7-0 with a 6-0 mark in NCAC play.
This marks the first time since the 1948 season that the Bears have begun the season with a 7-0 mark.
The Bears started the game with the ball, putting together a 15-play drive that culminated in a three-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback
Levi Moore to senior
Matthew Kinoshita. Junior
Matias Adrogue's kick attempt was blocked, putting the Bears ahead 6-0 with 6:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Wabash took the ball down to the 30 on its first drive of the game. Tyler Church lined up for a 47-yard field goal, which was blocked by Averay Lazard to keep the Little Giants off the board and give WashU the ball again.
After a seven-play drive, Moore connected with senior
Colin Donahue for an eight-yard touchdown pass. Adrogue's kick was good, extending WashU's lead to 13-0.
On Wabash's next possession, after reaching the 4-yard line, first-year
Trey Knox intercepted the ball, returning it for three yards.
The Bears punted on the ensuing drive and Wabash turned it over on downs to conclude the first half with WashU up 13-0.
After winning the pre-game toss and deferring in the first half, Wabash received to begin the second and went on to kick a 25-yard field goal. Church's kick was good for a 13-3 game.
On the third play of WashU's drive, Moore's pass was intercepted by Gage Gulley at the 48 and returned to the 13. Jackson Gilbert hit Domanic Barnett for a 13-yard touchdown pass and Church's extra-point attempt was good for a 13-10 WashU lead with 10:55 remaining in the third quarter.
On the Bears next drive, Moore's pass was intercepted again by Gulley who returned it to the 49. Wabash, however, was forced to punt on its ensuing drive. On the punt return, WashU fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Wabash, leading to another Little Giants' touchdown.
On the fifth play of the drive, Gilbert hit Cole Dickerson for a three-yard touchdown pass and Church's kick was good, putting Wabash ahead 17-13 with 2:48 remaining.
The Bears opened the fourth quarter with a five-play touchdown drive, ending with a six-yard pass from Moore to Donahue for his second touchdown of the day. Adrogue's kick was good, putting WashU back in the lead 20-17 with 12:12 remaining.
Wabash brought the ball down to the 38 and were forced to punt at fourth-and-13. Junior
Ethan Venable blocked the punt and the Bears began the drive at the 44.
On the third play of the drive, sophomore
Brayden Lewis unleashed for a 30-yard touchdown run and Adrogue's kick was good for a 27-17 Bears' lead.
The Bears had 321 yards of total offense (150 rushing, 171 passing) and Wabash had 307 total yards (74 rushing, 233 passing).
Moore was 14-for-22 with 171 yards and three passing touchdowns.
Lewis led the rushing game with 103 yards on 16 attempts with one touchdown. Senior
Makael Carter had 91 receiving yards on six catches and Donahue finished with 14 yards on two catches with two touchdowns.
Senior
Joy Chane had nine total tackles (2 solo, 7 assists) with 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. Senior
Brett Kersemeier also had nine total tackles (6 solo, 3 assists) with one interception and one pass breakup.
WashU returns home next weekend, Saturday, October 31 for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Denison. The game is part of Parent and Family weekend.
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