Despite outgaining its opponent by nearly 100 yards in total offense, the Washington University football team fell 21-7 to Trinity at E.M. Stevens Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. The loss marked Trinity’s eighth straight win over the Bears. Trinity is currently ranked No. 16 in Division III.

Trinity struck first in the contest, scoring on the game’s opening possession. The Tigers drove 80 yards in just three plays, with quarterback Dan DesPlaines connecting with wide receiver Jason Mendivil on a 26-yard touchdown. On the ensuing possession, the Bears drove to Trinity’s 28 yard line before senior Jonathan Feig’s 45-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Despite solid, error-free play from junior quarterback Adam Meranda, the Bears were unable to find the endzone in the first half. The half ended with Trinity leading 7-0. On the Bears’ first possession of the third quarter, Meranda was knocked out of the game with a rib injury and was replaced by senior Matt Alley. Meranda left the game having completed 14 of 19 passes for 127 yards. Meranda was sacked 5 times over the course of the game. Alley had not seen action since the team’s season opener when he sustained a broken collarbone.

The long layoff may have had an effect on Alley; four plays after Meranda left the game, Alley threw an interception which was returned for a 50-yard touchdown by Jarrod Smith of Trinity. Alley quickly shook off the rust, as he led the team down the field on a 12-play 76-yard touchdown drive. With senior Matt Plotke paving the way on the ground, Alley was able to march the team down the field before connecting with sophomore Brad Duesing on a 7-yard touchdown score. Alley’s touchdown pass came on fourth down and was the first offensive touchdown Trinity had allowed the Bears in their last three meetings. Duesing had 9 catches for 104 yards over the course of the game while moving into a tie for fourth place on the Bears’ all-time reception list and gaining sole possession of sixth place on the all-time receiving yardage list.

Trinity answered right back with a score of its own as Dan Desplaines hit Austin Kremers on a 10-yard touchdown pass. While neither team scored in the fourth quarter of the game, the Bears did have several scoring opportunities which they were unable to convert. On their first possession of the 4th quarter, the Bears drove all the way to the Trinity 1 yard line. With first and goal on the 1 yard line, running back Mike Decker lost a yard. Then, Plotke rushed for no gain and the Bears were whistled for an illegal procedure call on a touchdown pass play to Duesing on third down sending the Bears back to the 7-yard line. Facing fourth down and seven to go, Alley was unable to connect with Duesing and Trinity gained possession on downs.

Coach Kindbom was pleased with the performance of both quarterbacks.

“Adam Meranda played pretty well,” Kindbom said, “And Matt came in and did pretty well figuring that he hadn’t been there for five weeks”

After a tough defensive stop by the Bears, the offense took over on Trinity’s own 49-yard line. Alley brought the team within striking distance on a 29-yard pass to Duesing before having his pass intercepted two plays later.

Despite coming up short in the game, Kindbom felt his offense played well regardless of the team’s struggles in the red zone.

“I think the performance overall was pretty good. We went down that game and we wanted to win. It was hard to lose that game because we controlled much of the football game,” Kindbom said. “Offensively we moved the football, we just couldn’t finish the drives.”

Kindbom offered similar praise of the team’s defensive play.

“Defensively I thought we did very well. We made some key plays,” Kindbom said. “From a defensive standpoint, we did pretty well.”

The Bears will begin their UAA schedule at next week’s homecoming game against the University of Chicago. Chicago is the only conference team to have defeated the Bears in the last four years.

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