Senior running back Emmanuel Ebirim runs over a North Park University defender Saturday. (Photo by Curran Neenan | Student Life)

The Washington University football team dominated its first home game of the season (and since 2019) Saturday, securing a 41-7 victory over North Park University.

The win was the team’s first victory under head coach Aaron Keen, who undertook head coaching duties in January 2020 but did not step onto the field with his team until earlier this month. It represented a rebound for WashU after a tough loss to the University of Chicago in their season opener, as the Bears brought their record to 1-1. 

WashU put up over 600 yards of total offense, with key contributions from junior quarterback Matt Rush, senior tight end Sam Fenske and senior tailback Emmanuel Ebirim. 

The team played stingy defense, allowing only 202 total yards, limiting big plays and forcing key turnovers throughout the game. Senior defensive back TJ Perusek came up big with two interceptions while senior defensive lineman Noah Bryson finished with seven total tackles. 

Rush threw for an efficient 313 yards and three touchdowns, completing 21 of 31 pass attempts. He showcased excellent ball security and awareness, throwing zero interceptions and making smart reads all game. 

Junior wide receiver Treyton Lamphier celebrates after snagging a touchdown to end the first half. (Photo by Curran Neenan | Student Life)

Keen commended Rush’s performance. “He puts the work in to prepare himself, he knows what he’s looking at and has done a really nice job with putting the ball on receivers and giving them the ability to make plays,” he said.

After the pandemic canceled last year’s season, Rush has stepped up after an extended period off and taken the reins of the WashU offense.

Fenske was his favorite target, recording seven receptions, 94 receiving yards and a touchdown. Junior Cole Okmin also played a huge role in the passing game, ending with 82 yards on four receptions and a touchdown. His 57-yard catch kickstarted the team’s offense after a slow start, allowing the team to put their first points on the board in the second quarter. 

The rushing game consistently gained yardage, with 274 yards on 5.1 yards per carry. Ebirim ran for a team-high 79 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Senior tailback Tennyson Holmes contributed as well, parlaying 14 carries into 58 yards. Freshman tailback Kenvorris Campbell also showed potential toward the end of the game, turning his eight late-game carries into 50 yards, dominating the team’s late touchdown drive. 

While the offense consistently racked up yards, the team’s defense also did an exceptional job limiting the offensive output of North Park. The team was able to stop the run in early-down situations, placing pressure on North Park quarterback Matt Eck in long-yardage situations. 

“We did a better job this week of stopping the run game and putting ourselves in a position where we could rush the passer,” Keen said. “That resulted in pressure, resulting in interceptions downfield.” 

North Park was uncomfortable offensively all game, with only 4.0 yards per play. The defense did an excellent job of coming up big in key opportunities, restricting first-downs and creating takeaways. 

The team continues their CCIW play next Saturday with a matchup at Elmhurst College at 2 p.m. 

Grady Nance contributed reporting.

Read more about football at Washington University:

Le quarterback: Former Bear J.J. Tomlin reflects on a summer of football in Geneva

‘Building from the ground up’: Football prepares to start the Keen era

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