From Washington University Athletics
The Washington University in St. Louis football team forced four turnovers and celebrated Senior Day with a 28-17 win over Case Western Reserve Saturday afternoon at Francis Field in St. Louis.
Washington U. improved its record to 3-5, 1-1 in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while Case Western Reserve fell to 3-5, 1-1 in the UAA. The Bears extended their home win streak to three games, and have won nine of their last 10 contests at Francis Field.
Prior to the contest, Washington U. honored its 25 seniors who played their second-to-last game at Francis Field. The Class of 2015 has an overall record of 22-17 (.564), including an 8-3 mark and an NCAA playoff appearance in 2013. The Bears also captured the 2012 and 2013 UAA championship.
Case Western Reserved turned the ball over two times in the red zone in the fourth quarter, which led to 14 fourth quarter points for Washington U. The Bears had a 422-390 advantage in total offense, and threw for a season-high 319 yards.
Sophomore quarterback J.J. Tomlin tossed a pair of fourth quarter TDs and finished the day 25-of-33 for 244 yards, while senior QB Sam Van Doren was 5-of-7 for 75 yards and led the Bears on a scoring drive in the second quarter. Senior wide receiver Tim Bartholomew had a career-high nine catches for 86 yards and a TD in the win.
Senior linebacker Fade Oluokun led the Bears defensive unit with 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass break-ups, while junior defensive back Dylan Petre added a career-best nine stops. Junior punter Alec Stanke punted five times for a 46.6 average, with a long of 56 and two inside the 20.
A 42-yard field goal by junior Alex Hallwachs gave Washington U. the 3-0 advantage midway through the first quarter, but a 25-yarder by Case Western Reserve's sophomore kicker Mitch Hopkins tied the score at 3-3.
Hallwachs drilled a 49-yard field goal to open the scoring in the third quarter to push the Washington U. advantage to 13-3. Case answered back with a seven-play, 43-yard drive, resulting in a 11-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Billy Beecher to junior wide receiver Bryan Erb to make it 13-10.
After a Washington U. punt, senior linebacker Ryan Rees intercepted Beecher on the WUSTL 28-yard line to halt the Spartan drive. Four plays later, Tomlin lofted a five-yard TD pass to sophomore wide receiver Hank Childs in the corner. Tomlin hit freshman tight end Jon Schlotterback on a two-point conversion pass extending the lead to 21-10.
On the ensuing Case Western Reserve drive, Erb was popped by senior linebacker Cody Deterding in Washington U. territory, leading to the Spartans' fourth turnover of the day. Tomlin capped the nine-play, 56-yard drive with a one-yard TD pass to Bartholomew to extend the lead to 28-10.
Erb turned in a career day with 10 receptions for 122 yards and a TD, while Beecher was 24-of-44 for 257 yards and two TDs and was picked off twice. Junior linebacker Gavin Sandidge posted a game-high 12 tackles in the loss.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. leads the all-time series with Case, 20-9, and has won the last three meetings … Washington U. has scored 20 or more points in eight straight games for the first time since 1998 … Freshman defensive back Nate Lowis recorded his first career INT in the third quarter … Washington U. had a 33:44-26:16 advantage in time of possession … Since 2000, the Bears are 21-7 (.750) when playing in the month of November.