ST. LOUIS, Mo. – For the first time in program history, the No. 7/8 Washington University in St. Louis football team is 8-0 on the season. The Bears secured a 37-14 win over Denison on Saturday afternoon in front of a lively crowd at Francis Olympic Field.
The Bears are 8-0 overall with a 7-0 mark in NCAC play as they enter the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Bears scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, starting with one on their first drive. A three-play drive culminated in a three-yard touchdown from senior quarterback
Levi Moore and junior
Matias Adrogue's extra-point kick was good for a 7-0 lead.
After WashU forced a Denison punt, the Bears put together a seven-play drive with Moore scoring another three-yard touchdown and Adrogue's kick was good, putting WashU ahead 14-0.
With six seconds left in the first half, the Big Red had a seven-play scoring drive, ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Rager to Kade Koroneos. Sean Brechbill's kick was good for a 14-7 game at the half.
After winning the toss pregame and electing to defer, the Bears received to open the second half and went on a three-play scoring drive. Moore connected with senior receiver
Makael Carter for a 47-yard touchdown with 12:44 on the clock. Adrogue hit the extra-point kick for a 21-7 Bears' lead.
The Big Red went on to punt on the next drive, but the snap was bobbled and first-year
Gavin Conjar tackled the kicker at the 3-yard line to set the Bears up in great field position. Moore ran the ball in for three yards and his third rushing touchdown of the game. Adrogue's kick was good, extending WashU's advantage to 28-7.
Denison answered with a seven-play touchdown drive with Rager finding Luke Reed for an eight-yard pass. Brechbill's kick was good to make it a 28-14 game with 6:19 remaining in the third quarter.
On the following drive, WashU had a five-play scoring drive. Sophomore
Karsten Cornell ran for a 25-yard touchdown with 3:20 remaining for his third touchdown of the season. WashU's extra-point attempt was no good, making it a 34-14 game.
WashU scored again to open the fourth quarter, putting together a 10-play drive that resulted in Adrogue kicking a 24-yard field goal to extend the Bears' advantage to 37-14.
WashU had 398 yards of total offense (273 passing, 125 rushing) while Denison had 335 total yards (277 passing, 58 rushing).
Moore was 11-for-16 for 273 yards with one passing touchdown. He also had 30 rushing yards on 10 attempts with three touchdowns.
Cornell led the rushers with 53 yards on seven attempts with a touchdown. Carter led the receivers with 123 yards on four catches and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior
Spencer Snipe had nine total tackles (5 solo, 4 assists) and sophomore
Everett Cui had five total tackles (4 solo, 1 assist). Junior
Ethan Venable had three solo tackles with one for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble.
The Bears hit the road next week for a 1 p.m. ET game at Ohio Wesleyan. WashU returns home for the final weekend of the regular season on Nov. 14 for a 1 p.m. game against Wooster which will be senior day.
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