Sophomore running back Matthew Kinoshita takes the ball in a game against Elmhurst. (Bobby Kaplan | Staff Photographer)

On Nov. 1, the WashU football team blew out Millikin University in dominant fashion, 38-7. 

The Bears came into this matchup as unequivocal favorites, having won their last four games against the Big Blue by an average margin of almost fifty points. Still, with the regular season winding down and playoff hopes on the line, WashU had little room for complacency. The team entered the contest looking for a crucial bounce-back victory from a heartbreaking, last-second defeat against No. 18 Wheaton College the week prior.

The game began with Millikin winning the toss and electing to defer, giving the Bears the ball to start the afternoon. However, just a few minutes into the drive, Millikin recovered a Bears fumble. This set the Big Blue up for an excellent start, with solid field position on the Bears. However, as they have many times this season, the Bears’ defense stood tall, stifling consecutive run attempts as well as a pass to force Millikin into a quick punt. 

WashU’s ensuing possession involved an excellent team effort as the squad plowed down the field, firing from all cylinders. The drive started off with junior running back Matthew Kinoshita picking up five yards, followed by a rush from junior quarterback Levi Moore to pick up an additional seven. Following several consecutive receptions from junior receiver Drew Bomar and first-year receiver Avery Lazard, Moore found Bomar once again for a 20-yard touchdown, putting the Bears up 7-0 early in the first.

However, unlike in years past, Millikin’s next drive managed to keep things interesting early on. Following a 20-yard punt return and an offsides penalty on WashU’s special teams, the Big Blue’s quarterback unleashed a 64-yard touchdown pass, knotting the score at 7-7.

Finally, with 1:12 remaining in the first half, the Bears were able to put some points on the board. Moore found junior receiver Makael Carter and Bomar on consecutive downs to position WashU at Millikin’s 25-yard line. After two incompletions, sophomore kicker Matias Adrogue stepped up and converted a 43-yard field goal to put the Bears up 10-7 going into the locker room at the half.

Coming into the second half, the Big Blue received the ball, but ended up turning it over on downs in their own territory. Following a quick completion to junior receiver Nathan Bluhm for a 21-yard gain, Moore finished the drive on his own, running into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown, putting the Bears up 17-7.

Following another Millikin punt, WashU kept their offensive onslaught coming. Kinoshita began the drive with a 16-yard gain, which was followed by a 3-yard gain from first-year running back Brayden Lewis. Then, Moore launched a 34-yard dart to Carter for their second scoring connection of the day, increasing the Bears’ lead, 24-7. 

The fourth quarter was highlighted by airtight defense and exceptional play from WashU’s first-years. On the first play of the final quarter, junior safety Joy Chane intercepted a pass attempt and returned it 18 yards to position WashU at Millikin’s 30-yard line. On the first play of the following drive, Moore launched a 30-yard touchdown pass to Lazard to set the score at 31-7.

Even with the outcome all but decided, WashU kept its foot on the gas. Millikin’s next drive resulted in another interception, this one recorded by senior safety Anthony Kuceba, who returned the turnover to the Big Blue’s 45-yard line. 

The Bears’ next and final drive had Lewis’ fingerprints all over it. The first-year running back recorded all of the yards on the play, running for consecutive bursts of 2, 5, 3, 13, 26, 3, then 6 yards. He capped off his masterful drive with an inevitable 1-yard touchdown run, putting the Bears up 38-7 to close out the match.

With this win, the Bears move to 6-2 on the season, meaning that their aspirations to make the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl are alive and well. The game’s impact extends far beyond the standings however, as it puts the potential of WashU’s younger talent on full display.

“I thought my offensive line did a great job during that final drive,” Lewis said. “I was just glad to have an opportunity to show what I can do.”

WashU will look to carry its momentum into next week’s final home matchup of the season and their final in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, when they face North Park University on Nov. 8.