The football players defeat Elmhurst 49-10, setting up a late-season crunch.

Senior Kenneth Hamilton runs the ball in a 66-0 win over Elmhurst last October. Hamilton rushed for 99 yards in this year’s 49-10 win. (Lydia Nicholson | Staff Photographer)

Just five minutes into the Oct. 19 game, the University of Washington football team got off to a fast start. Senior running back Ken Hamilton and senior wide receiver Collin Goldberg dominated the game, and the Bears built a two-point lead.

“In football, momentum is everything,” Hamilton said. “Once you start working with our team, it will be very difficult to stop.

The Bears carried their early momentum throughout the game and defeated Elmhurst University 49–10. With the win, WashU improved its record to 5-1 heading into the late-season crunch. WashU, currently ranked second in the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin (CCIW), will face third-ranked and nationally ranked 24th-ranked Wheaton College next week, followed by fourth-ranked North Park University two weeks later. place. If the Bears beat these two teams and finish second in the CCIW, they will have a good chance to advance to the finals. Division III tournament with 40 teamssomething they haven’t done since 2016.

WashU got the kickoff and the Bears were in business by kickoff. The Blue Jays defense had no answer for Hamilton, who had received four straight passes to start the game. On his fourth attempt, Hamilton ran 35 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the season. The senior, who missed the previous two games with an injury, quickly returned to form against Elmhurst.

“In any game, it’s a blessing to go out and just put them in your mouth,” Hamilton said. “It just starts the momentum on a high note.”

The Bears defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Elmhurst drive, giving the Blue Jays the opportunity to strike. On his return, Goldberg lined up at the 29-yard line for the reception, evaded three Elmhurst tacklers and found an outside route for a special teams touchdown. Goldberg’s 71-yard return extended WashU’s lead to 14-0 early in the first quarter, capping the Bears’ 66-0 dominance over Elmhurst. last year.

WashU missed a field goal late in the first quarter but answered in the opening minutes of the second. With senior starting guard Clark Stevens out of the game due to injury, WashU’s offense relied more on the run game. Hamilton and junior Fred Ware exchanged passes to slowly drive down the field, culminating with Hamilton’s touchdown on the goal line.

Despite injuries to key members of the WashU offense, Hamilton and the Bears were able to adapt.

“The good thing about our team this year is the depth,” Hamilton said. “We had some nasty injuries to players that helped us a lot. But we have people who can replace them as if nothing happened, while these (injured) guys will have to work hard to get back on the field.”

While the run game was on full display early in the contest, sophomore quarterback Levi Moore found his best passing form of his collegiate career later in the second quarter. Moore connected with freshman Lucas Blumenthal and sophomore Makael Carter to enter the red zone and then found Carter for a four-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 28-3. On WashU’s next possession, Moore threw a 21-yard pass to Goldberg. Moore, who was usually positioned on the goal line for a short run or pass, set a personal collegiate record with two passing touchdowns against Elmhurst.

Despite a 35-3 halftime lead, WashU didn’t immediately let off the gas in the second half. Ware and sophomore Matthew Kinoshita each attempted touchdowns of their own after halftime, extending WashU’s lead to 46. WashU scored a late Elmhurst touchdown, but it was too late for the Blue Jays. In the 49–10 win, WashU’s defense held Elmhurst to under 200 rushing yards; The Bears advanced more than 400 yards.

The Bears play complete football, excelling on offense, defense and special teams. At the beginning of the season, the Bears coaching staff set a challenge for the team: decide to become great. Hamilton and the Bears support this motto.

“To decide is to want to be part of this team and try to achieve a goal,” Hamilton said. “This year, more than most, people have really gotten into it. It’s just contagious”

Next Saturday, October 26th, the University of Washington will host No. 24 Wheaton College in a showdown. Last year, the Bears came within inches of beating the Thunder, losing at the last second Hail Mary and two-point conversion. However, Wheaton has had less than impressive results against CCIW opponents this year. The winner of next week’s game will have a much easier berth in the NCAA D-III tournament.

For the Bears and their star senior guard, a win over Wheaton would mean more than just another win in the standings. It’s about proving themselves to the team they’re aiming to beat.

“A lot of guys are going through a lot of emotions this week. Our job is to regulate these emotions in a positive way so that we can play to the best of our ability. Once we do that, the game will already be won,” Hamilton said.