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.

In his first career start, senior quarterback Sam Van Doren led the Bears to a 24-19 win over North Park University, the team’s first victory of the season.