After starting last season 1-2, Washington University’s football team defeated Centre College to spark a seven-game winning streak and make the playoffs for just the second time in school history. But the 2014 Bears squandered a chance at a repeat on Saturday in a dispiriting 50-20 loss at Centre.

The Colonels had won their first three games by an average of 19 points, but Wash. U. entered the game with greater expectations than just becoming another victim. Centre scored the first 20 points, though, and Wash. U. spent the last three quarters trailing by double digits.

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Sophomore running back Austin Smestad breaks several tackles against North Park University on Sept. 20 at Francis Field. Smestad ran for 13 yards on 10 carries on Saturday in a loss against Centre College.

Wash. U. surrendered 50 points for the first time since 1997—after allowing just 11.5 points per game a season ago, the Bears have given up a whopping 36.5 through its first four games of 2014.

“Our history as a defense has been that we don’t let up many points. It’s something that we’re proud of and something that we need to work on,” senior linebacker Fade Oluokon said. “We need to hold ourselves to higher standards and be more focused. Everybody needs to do their job and be responsible for their assignment.”

Centre quarterback Heath Haden completed an efficient 15 of 19 passes for three touchdowns, and Centre’s top two running backs totaled a combined 194 yards on the ground. On the season, Wash. U. opponents have tallied more than 200 rushing yards per game.

“Our No. 1 goal is to stop the run and we haven’t been able to do that consistently. When you struggle with that, it’s going to have an effect on all the other areas in defense,” head coach Larry Kindbom said.

“We weren’t focused, we made too many big mistakes and our execution was terrible,” Oluokun added. “We weren’t consistent and we had ups and downs. We would make a play in the backfield but then give up a huge chunk of yards. We can’t let that happen.”

On the offensive side, the Bears didn’t fare much better, and the team’s point total masked how difficult it was for Wash. U. to move the ball on Saturday. After winning his first career start last week, senior quarterback Sam Van Doren completed only 37.9 percent of his passes for a paltry 66 yards, and the Red and Green managed just 40 rushing yards on 37 carries, good for 1.1 yards per rush.

“We still need work on pass blocking,” senior running back Zach Lonneman said. “[Van Doren] had some trouble completing passes, but it wasn’t exactly his fault. He got a lot of pressure and he had to throw it away. He got hit a lot and that’s not what we want.”

Lonneman further noted that it’s the responsibility of the running backs to improve in order to open up the passing game.

“Our run game has to improve if we want to be effective. It’ll open up the pass and other options on offense,” Lonneman added. “We as running backs need to have better vision and follow our blocks better.”

A lone bright spot for the Bears was the kicking game, where junior Alex Hallwachs connected on a 51-yard field goal, the second longest in school history. Junior punter Alec Stanke also had his best game in a Wash. U. uniform, averaging 49.3 yards per kick and posting a 65-yarder for a career long.

But a game without many offensive or defensive highlights will force the Bears to refocus and reframe their season going forward. A matchup next week against Berry College, a team the Red and Green pounded 44-7 last year, might provide a starting point.

“There’s no panic button to press. Let’s sit down and throw out the mistakes that we’re making,” Kindbom said. “We need to regroup and play at a level that represents who we are as a team.”

With additional reporting by Derek Shyr.