St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 11, 2014 – The Washington University in St. Louis football team scored 24 first quarter points en route to a 59-19 win over Hendrix College in front of 2,217 fans Saturday afternoon at Francis Field.
The win for Washington U. snapped a two-game losing streak and improved its overall record to 2-4, while Hendrix suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 4-1.
Washington U.'s offense erupted for a season-high 453 yards of total offense. Sophomore quarterback J.J. Tomlin completed 17-of-22 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns, while senior QB Alex Hodakowskiwas 5-of-7 for 90 yards and a TD.
The Bears controlled the line from start to finish and ran for a season-high 220 yards, led by sophomore Austin Smestad (85 yards, TD) and junior Cody Ratermann (76 yards). Sophomore Kevin Hammarlund led the receiving corps with seven catches for 59 yards and a TD. Washington U. had 12 student-athletes catch a pass in the win.
Washington U.'s defense allowed 309 yards in the victory, but limited Hendrix to 3.2 yards per play on 97 plays. The Bears forced six punts and two fumbles in the win. Senior linebacker Fade Oluokun (12 tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss), senior defensive back Patrick Cantwell (nine tackles, forced fumble) and senior defensive back Jonathan Way (six tackles, tackle for loss, pass break up, interception) led the defensive unit for WUSTL.
The Bears quickly jumped out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter after Tomlin tossed a pair of touchdown passes. He found junior wide receiver Matt McCareins in the corner for an eight-yard TD pass, and then he connected with senior wide receiver Will Smith for an 11-yard TD reception.
A 44-yard field goal by junior kicker Alex Hallwachs made it 17-0, and then a 45-yard punt return by sophomore Hank Childs pushed the advantage to 24-0 with 4:09 left in the opening quarter.
Washington U.'s defense forced four punts, a turnover on downs and a fumble in Hendrix's first six offensive possessions. Freshman defensive lineman Matthew Uchiyama had a pair of breakups in the first half, including one on third down that led to Child's punt return for a TD.
The Bears' continued to pour it on as Hodakowski connected with junior defensive back Quincy Marting for a 62-yard touchdown on a fake punt to make it 31-0. Washington U. added a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Alex Graham and a four-yard TD pass from Tomlin to Hammarlund to make it 45-10 at half.
Washington U. had a 371-167 advantage in total offense in the first half. Tomlin was 16-of-21 for 123 yards and three TDs.
A blocked punt by sophomore defensive back Andrew Freeland led to a touchdown recovery in the end zone by sophomore Dylan Newcomb to push the lead to 52-13, and then Smestad rounded out the scoring for Washington U. with a four-yard run in the third quarter.
Washington U. concludes a two-game home stand against Maranatha Baptist University Saturday, Oct. 18. Game time is set for Noon at Francis Field.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. has won both career meetings between the two teams … Hendrix is the fourth team this season the Bears have played that entered the game undefeated … The 59 points scored are the most since 2006 (61-0 win vs. Westminster) … Washington U. honored 2014 NCAA Division III individual national champions Lucy Cheadle (3,000 steeplechase), Anna Etherington (pole vault) and Michael Lagieski (100 breaststroke) at halftime … WUSTL has scored 20 or more points in six-straight games for the first time since 1998 … The Bears are 23-of-26 in the red zone this season.