New-look offense hopes to bring football back to title contention

| Junior Sports Editor

Collin Goldberg led the Bears with 670 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns in 2023. (Clara Richards | Student Life)

The 2023 Washington University football season was one of ups and downs. On one hand, WashU football set records. Their 66-0 thumping of Elmhurst University was the program’s largest victory in 85 years, and then-junior Collin Goldberg broke the record for the longest-scoring play in program history — only to break his own record the next week. 

On the other hand, the Bears finished fourth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), their worst showing since joining the league in 2018. WashU missed the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl — the CCIW’s postseason bowl game — for the first time since the game’s inception in 2021. A midseason loss to upstart Augustana College rocked their momentum, and their heartbreaking Hail Mary loss to Wheaton College, one of Division III’s finest programs, left the Bears hungrier. 

This autumn, the squad hopes to rebound from a successful, but nevertheless disappointing, 2023 season. 

Key Players

They will do it without quarterback Matt Rush, whose eligibility expired in 2024 after leading WashU for three straight seasons. Replacing Rush’s production at QB will be no small task, but the Bears will most likely turn to senior Clark Stephens, though head coach Aaron Keen said he will not officially name a starter until fall training camp. Stephens, Rush’s backup for the previous two seasons, was successful in 2022 when Rush missed time due to injury. 

“[Stephens] has some experience on his side. He started two games for us as a sophomore,” Keen said. “We’re looking forward to some great things from him this season.” 

In addition to Stephens, the quarterback room includes goal line specialist and sophomore Levi Moore, who recorded seven rushing touchdowns as the third-string QB in 2023. While Stephens and Moore will play a majority of snaps, junior Luke Johnston, who excelled in junior varsity games for the Bears, could also be part of the Bears’ plans this season. 

“I think we’ve got good depth with good talent,” Keen said after the 2023 season’s final game. “It’ll be a heck of a competition, and that’s what you want.” 

Goldberg, now a senior, will be the primary wide receiver, with WashU needing him to replicate his production with Stephens at the helm. Collin Hoyhtya, the Bears’ second-leading receiver from 2023, will be returning for his fifth year of NCAA eligibility, a huge boost to the WashU offense. Seniors Zach Ginsburg and Taidhgin Trost and sophomore Makael Carter showed flashes of talent in early-season games last year, and should play a bigger role this season. 

Kenneth Hamilton and WashU’s running backs will be key figures this fall. (Lydia Nicholson | Student Life)

WashU got lots of its offensive production from the rush last year, and all four of the Bears’ premier running backs  — seniors Kenneth Hamilton and Kenvorris Campbell and juniors Fred Ware and Artrell Miller — will return in 2024. 

Defensively, WashU will look to junior defensive back Ryan Schmadtke, who led the team with four interceptions last season. Sophomore defensive lineman Henry Murr impressed in his first season, and senior defensive lineman Nate Light will provide consistency for the Bears. 

Key Matchups

According to Keen, in order to succeed, WashU will have to set the tone with a positive mindset at the beginning of the season. 

“It’s time for our guys to decide to be great. Then, we’ll follow that up with the right actions to get us in the right place,” Keen said. “If we have that mentality, we’ll play some great football, knock off some of the better teams, and get back to the postseason.” 

The Bears will first travel to Memphis to face Rhodes College, their only non-conference opponent of the season in September. The Bears will reignite a storied rivalry against Rhodes, having played them the most out of any other team in school history. The CCIW conference schedule is familiar and difficult. After an early-season bye week, WashU will face No. 2 North Central College away for a second-straight year on Sep. 28. A home tilt with Wheaton College on Oct. 26 will be crucial for the Bears’ playoff hopes, as will the final game of the season: a home matchup with Augustana College on Nov. 16. 

WashU will likely need to win one or two of these three critical CCIW games for a shot at the NCAA tournament or a bid back to the Isthmus Bowl. While they will need to overcome some adversity to get there, Bears football has every reason to be optimistic about the upcoming season. 

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Starting Line before the team’s rosters and schedule were available online. The article was updated on Aug. 16, 2024 to include additional information.

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