Washington University in St. Louis Football Falls at North Park, 13-10
Chicago, Ill., September 24, 2011 — The Washington University in St. Louis football team dropped its second-straight game in a 13-10 loss at North Park University on Saturday afternoon in Chicago, Ill.
Washington University was limited to just 29 yards rushing and nine first downs in the loss. North Park picked up 215 yards rushing on 60 carries and had a 40:25-19:35 advantage in time of possession.
With the score tied at 10-10 late in the third quarter, Tony Kebeda kicked an eventual game-winning 26-yard field goal to make it 13-10. Washington U. had four possessions in the fourth quarter, resulting in two interceptions and a pair of punts. Junior quarterback Adam Banks was intercepted for the third time with less than a minute to play at the NPU 31-yard to end the threat for the Bears.
North Park (3-0) ran the ball 13 times for 70 on its opening drive, taking 7:01 off the clock. A key stop on 3rd-and-8 resulted in a 27-yard field goal by Kebeda to make it 3-0.
The Bears answered right back with a five-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Dan Burkett to senior wide receiver Easton Knott to give Washington U. the 7-3 lead with 14:41 left in the second. The key play of the drive was a 45-yard reception by Knott, which got the ball down to the NPU 10-yard line.
After running the ball its first 27 times in the game, North Park quarterback Tyler Kreps found Sam Cochiaro for a 52-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-7 with 1:00 remaining. The pass completion for the Vikings was just their third this season.
The Bears took possession with 50 seconds left in the half at the NPU 43-yard line, and drove to the 14 following a 17-yard pass from Banks to senior Drew Sexton. After a timeout by Washington U., Banks was intercepted in the end zone to end the half.
North Park had the advantage in total offense in the opening half, outgaining the Bears 157-151. Banks (5-7, 75 yards) and Burkett (3-4, 52 yards) combined to throw for 127 yards on 8-of-11 passing. North Park ran the ball 28 times for 105 yards in the opening half and connected on its only pass attempt.
Junior kicker Eric Chalifour booted a season-long 40-yard field goal with 13:22 left in the third quarter to knot the score at 10-10. The game would remain tied until Kebeda's kick with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.
Knott was the lone bright spot for the Bears on offense, catching four passes for 124 yards and the lone touchdown of the game for the Bears. Senior linebacker Nick Hillard led the defensive unit with nine tackles, 2.5 for loss, while senior linebacker Kyle Larkin added eight tackles, two for loss.Washington University (2-2) will have a week off before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, at No. 17 Wabash College. Game time is set for 1 p.m. (ET) in Crawfordsville, Ind.
Bear Notebook: This was the first meeting in school history between Washington U. and North Park … Washington U. has lost its two games this season by a combined six points.
