Holding onto a 16-10 lead with under three minutes to go in its last game of the year, the Washington University football team was forced to rely on an inconsistent defense that had allowed just over 30 points per game this season for one final stop.

It wasn’t a winning proposition, and the Carnegie Mellon University offense marched 68 yards down the field and scored with 11 seconds left to win 17-16 on Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The loss gave the Bears their second losing season in five years as Wash. U. finished 4-6 overall, including an 0-5 road mark and a 1-2 record in University Athletic Association play.

While the game did feature a few positives with only two Wash. U. penalties and an improved running game that broke the 100-yard mark, the loss stung for a team that had hoped to send its seniors off with a win.

“It’s really too bad and it’s just disappointing to go out like this,” senior wide receiver Will Smith said. “We had the opportunity to close in the end, but we just couldn’t get it done. I think we still put together a pretty good game beyond the loss.”

Aside from a failed fake punt that resulted in an interception, the Red and Green played a respectable first half in all three phases of the game. The special teams unit blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt on Carnegie’s first drive; the defense, despite giving up an early first-quarter touchdown, forced two interceptions to keep the Tartans’ offense scoreless throughout the second quarter; and the offense kept the ball moving with three drives into Carnegie territory that resulted in three field goals.

With a 9-7 lead at the half, head coach Larry Kindbom was optimistic but disappointed that his team couldn’t convert on third downs and finish its scoring drives with touchdowns.

“Our kids were playing hard and we weren’t making too many mistakes,” Kindbom said. “We had opportunities to finish with touchdowns, but we had to settle with field goals. It was just one of those games where things just didn’t fall our way.”

The Bears’ offense started the third quarter with two short drives ending in punts. But the Bears’ offense finally found the end zone on its last drive in the third quarter as sophomore quarterback J.J. Tomlin connected with junior tight end Max Elliott on a four-yard touchdown pass.

“We executed particularly well on that drive and everyone did their job well,” Smith said. “[Tomlin] made some key throws down the stretch, the offensive linemen made some good blocks and we ran the ball well.”

But Carnegie quickly answered with a 26-yard run and 14-yard pass, leading to a 20-yard field goal to end the third quarter. In the fourth, the only scoring came on Carnegie’s touchdown in the final seconds, a 1-yard run capping off a whopping 286-yard rushing game for the Tartans.

According to Smith, the Bears had the right mindset going into the fourth quarter, but a lack of offensive execution prevented the team from sealing the deal.

“We have a pretty experienced group of guys, but experience doesn’t matter when you don’t execute,” Smith said. “The game came down to situational football, and we couldn’t put together that needed drive. Unfortunately, that put pressure on our defense.”

While the Bears will be losing several important senior players, including running back Zach Lonneman, linebacker Fade Oluokun and linebacker Jonathan Paramore, Kindbom is looking forward to the offseason, where he hopes the team will be able to regroup, reflect and rebuild.

“We have some great underclassmen who have great spirit and talent,” Kindbom said. “It’s great to see so many of them mature this season. There are a lot of positives in store for this program, and I’m excited about next season.”