Junior quarterback struggles to evade North Central College defenders earlier this month. The Bears will face the University of Wisconsin – River Falls Saturday. (Photo by Elle Su / Student Life)

The Washington University football team finished the regular season with a 37-16 victory over Carthage College Saturday, bringing their record to 7-3. While the Bears did not receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, they performed well in their final regular season game and will face the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the first-ever Isthmus Bowl next weekend. 

The Bears were aggressive to open, as the offense jumped out to a 13-0 lead, courtesy of rushing touchdowns from senior tailbacks Emmanuel Ebirim and Tennyson Holmes just under 10 minutes into the first quarter. After limited rushing success (just 62 yards) last week against North Central, the Bears’ backfield was able to find success early this week, according to junior quarterback Matt Rush, because they “were running hard and making great cuts.” 

Defensively, the Bears handcuffed the Firebirds offense in the first half, allowing just three first downs and 62 total yards. The unit played especially well on third downs throughout the game, holding the Firebirds to a 31% third down conversion ratio. With this stifling defense warding off any offensive momentum, the Bears’ offense was able to cruise during the second quarter and extended the lead to 16-0 going into halftime.

On the first possession following halftime, a 24-yard touchdown connection from Rush to sophomore receiver Collin Hoyhtya pushed the Bears’ lead to 23-0. Although Carthage responded on their ensuing drive with a passing touchdown of their own, the Bears defense remained stout and prevented the Firebirds from creeping any closer during the quarter. Another touchdown pass from Rush to Hoyhtya, this time from five yards out, gave the Bears what would be their largest lead of the game, 30-6. 

And all of this happened before what was, perhaps, the most electric play of the game. On the kickoff following a Firebirds field goal, freshman receiver Collin Goldberg shed tacklers and faked out defenders en route to a 97-yard touchdown on the return to ice the game. 

WashU then forced an interception on Carthage’s final possession of the game, giving the team a plus-12 turnover margin on the season (good enough for top-10 in D-III football). Rush attributes this impressive margin to the players making smart decisions during each game. “Passing-wise, I think smart decisions were being made with play calls and reads, and whoever had the ball — whether it was the receivers or running backs — always had great ball security,” he said. “Defensively, [we have] a lot of ballhawks. I’m happy they’re my defense and not somebody I have to play against on a week-to-week basis.” 

Even though the Bears did not make the NCAA tournament, Rush thinks the team has laid a solid foundation to build on next year. “It was great to see all those components — special teams, defense and offense — come together,” he said. “It’s been a work in progress all year, and it was nice to see each facet [of the team] finish the regular season playing so well.” 

The Isthmus Bowl will take place Saturday at 3 p.m. You can watch at this link.