WashU Football Wallops Carroll In Home Opener

NCAA Football	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Carroll (1-1, 0-1)	0	0	0	7	7
WashU (2-0, 1-0)	14	7	7	7	35

CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University football team delivered a dominant performance in its 2024 home opener on Saturday. The Bears crushed visiting Carroll University, 35-7, in the CCIW league opener for both teams at Francis Olympic Field.

The WashU defense had a particularly fine day, as it held Carroll to just 163 total yards and allowed the Pioneers to convert only one of its 15 third down chances.

The Bears were led by DB Ryan Schmatke, who had a team-high eight tackles (six solo), and defensive linemen Joy Chane and Jack Middleton, who combined for six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble.

DB Brett Kersemeier also intercepted a pass, which he returned 55 yards for a touchdown. That play came midway through the third quarter and was the play that broke the game wide open, as it gave WashU a 28-0 lead.

WashU scored its first three touchdowns with efficient offense. The Bears put up 360 total yards, 232 of those came from the run game, as WashU controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the game.

Quarterback Levi Moore threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Fred Ware late in the first quarter to put the Bears on the board. Then, following a muffed punt by Carroll, tight end Grant Hajicek threw a reverse-pass touchdown for 14

yards to fellow tight end John Benke for a touchdown that made the score 14-0.

Then, late in the second quarter, following a Carroll fumble that was recovered by Chane, running back Kenneth Hamilton rumbled in for a 1-yard score that put the Bears up 21-0. That was also the score at halftime.

Hamilton finished with a game-high 92 rushing yards, narrowly missing his sixth career 100-yard rushing game.

Both teams scored in the fourth quarter. Carroll punched in a touchdown, following a WashU fumble, early in the fourth. And WashU put the game away with a 31-yard touchdown run by Moore on its ensuing possession.

The Bears are now 2-0 on the year and 1-0 in the CCIW. Next week, they’ll face their toughest test of the season, when they go on the road to Naperville, Ill., to take on No. 1-ranked North Central.

The Cardinals are 3-0 this year, went 14-1 last year, and have been to the NCAA Division III national championship game in each of the last four seasons.

Kickoff for next Saturday’s contest at North Central is set for 12 p.m.

2024 WASHU BEARS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 7 at Rhodes College -- W 44-20
Sept. 21 vs. Carroll University* -- W 35-7
Sept. 28 at #1 North Central* -- 12 pm
Oct. 5 at Illinois Wesleyan* -- 1 pm
Oct. 12 vs. Carthage* -- 1 pm
Oct. 19 at Elmhurst* -- 1 pm
Oct. 26 vs. #18 Wheaton* -- 1 pm
Nov. 2 vs. Millikin* -- 12 pm
Nov. 9 at North Park* -- 12 pm
Nov. 16 vs. Augustana* -- 12 pm
* - denotes CCIW league game