 "Photo: Lily Schorr | Student Life")
In the final game of the year on Saturday, Washington University football could not take down No. 12 Case Western Reserve for a share of the UAA championship.
The Bears were shut out, only accumulating 182 total offensive yards in the 17-0 loss. With this loss, the Bears fell to 5-5 and broke a school-record 15-consecutive winning season streak.
The game was not a blowout, however. Wash. U.’s defense held Case, a team averaging 39.9-points per game, to only 17. Ten of these points came in the last quarter.
“The defense did a great job in creating tempo for the game. Their scores were a result of field position as much as anything else. I really didn’t think they could drive on our defense,” Head Coach Larry Kindbom said.
In the first half, Washington’s offense seemed lifeless, putting up only 53 yards. The closest the Bears ever got to the end zone was the Spartans’ 27-yard line, punting on five out of six drives.
With 1:08 remaining in the first quarter, Case Western struck first. Derek Bush, one of their many talented running backs, scored on a 9-yard run, giving CWRU a 7-0 lead.
After surrendering the lead, the Bears defense refused to be pushed around. A key fourth-down conversion attempt by Case was stopped on a sack by the team’s two senior defensive captains, Brent Sensenich and Adam Hartzler.
On Case’s next possession, junior Andrew Berryman picked off quarterback Dan Whalen’s pass attempt for his second interception of the year. Sophomore Todd Palmer blocked a 37-yard field goal late in the second, keeping it a one-possession game, while the last play of the half was picked off by senior Drew Makar.
“You never know what’s going to happen in a game, as far as fumbles, blocked kicks, special teams, whatever, so staying close is nominally the best to be and hope that you’re going to come out winning no matter how the team is struggling,” Sensenich said.
The Bears only controlled the ball for 3:19 in the third quarter, with neither team scoring. A key play late in the quarter, however, set up Case’s next score in the fourth. A failed fake-punt attempt at the Bears’ 40-yard line gave the Spartans great field position for their ensuing drive.
Kicker Sam Coffey nailed a 45-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0. With Washington’s offense reeling and backup quarterback sophomore Mitchel Bartel in the game, CWRU ensured their second consecutive UAA championship on a one-yard rushing touchdown from Whalen midway through the fourth quarter.
Smith finished with 90 yards on 13-30 passes, while junior Tim Olivos led the defense with 10 tackles.
Before the game, Washington’s 14 seniors were honored.
“I don’t want to, 10 years fromnow, dwell on the last two losses of the year. I want to take away the good things from the season…the bus trips with the guys, the nights in the hotel rooms…obviously a big part of it is the playing, but I think its the little stuff I’ll miss a little more,” senior defensive back Tommy Bawden said, reflecting on the season.
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