Margaret BauerThe Washington University football team defeated Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday 28-21 to improve their season record to 2-3. In the win, junior wide receiver Brad Duesing caught six passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns to move to first place all-time in both receptions and receiving yards at the University. Duesing supplanted Cory Snyder and Vernon Butler in the respective categories.
Seniors quarterback Adam Meranda and wide receiver Jeff Buening also moved up in the University annals Meranda, 23-43 on the day for 259 and four touchdowns, passed Jeff Daube and Brian Tatom to move in to fifth all-time in passing yards with 2,980. Buening, who posted four catches for 48 yards in the game, is now tied for seventh place all-time in receptions and eighth in receiving yards.
The Bears struck first in the game, scoring the first touchdown of the game on a nine-play, 80-yard drive with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter. Duesing capped off the Bears’ drive with a three-yard touchdown reception. Rhodes responded with a touchdown of their own midway through the second quarter. With the score tied and with 1:39 remaining in the first half, the Bears turned to the air to look for a final score to close out the first half. Meranda quickly connected with senior Scott Armul on an 11-yard pass. That play was followed by a costly 15-yard penalty on Rhodes and a 34-yard touchdown pass to senior Zak Clark. Both completed passes, the only passes completed on the scoring drive, came on critical third downs.
The Bears were successful on third down throughout the first half as they converted 7 of 10 third downs. The Bears were aided in the first half by Rhodes’ struggling kicking game. The Rhodes place-kicker missed two field goal chances from within 30 yards. At the end of the first half, the Bears led 14-7.
Looking to put the game out of reach, the Bears defense quickly stopped Rhodes on their opening drive of the second half. The Bears’ defense pinned Rhodes on its own 8-yard line after three downs. Sophomore Travis Ferber provided the key play on the Bears defensive stand, sacking the opposition quarterback for a 9-yard loss. Rhodes’ punt managed only 20 yards giving the Bears excellent field position at the Rhodes 28-yard line. The Bears wasted little time in taking advantage of their defense’s efforts scoring a touchdown in just four plays. Meranda connected with Duesing for a 14-yard score, the receiver’s second of the day, to finish the drive and bring the Bears advantage to 21-7.
Rhodes would not be defeated so easily though as they mounted their own scoring drive to bring the game back within reach. Their quarterback, Daniel Swanstrom, hit receiver Matt Dement on an 8-yard touchdown pass to score with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter. Dement finished the game with 12 catches for 133 yards. But a costly Rhodes mistake would send the game beyond their grasp for good. Senior John Woock intercepted a Swanstrom pass deep within Rhodes territory late in the third quarter to set up the Bears final score of the game. Meranda hit Buening on a 9-yard touchdown strike to bring the University lead to 28-14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. While Rhodes struck once more with 5:56 remaining in the game, the Bears were able to hold on for a 28-21 victory.