Bears Defeat Oberlin, 21-7, to Improve to 5-2
BOX SCORE
HIGHLIGHTS & INTERVIEWS
St. Louis, Mo., October 23, 2010 – The Washington University in St. Louis football team extended it winning streak to four games with a 21-7 victory at home over Oberlin College on Saturday afternoon at Francis Field. Washington University improves to 5-2 overall, and is off to its best start since 2007.
Washington U. opens University Athletic Association (UAA) play at home against Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Noon. The Tartans fell to 4-3 overall after suffering a 27-21 overtime loss at No. 7 Wittenberg University on Saturday.
Oberlin outgained Washington U., 304-214, in total offense, and had a 37:38-22:22 advantage in time of possession.
Special teams play was the key in the victory for Washington University. Sophomore Eric Chalifour was 2-of-2 on field goals with a career-long of 48, while junior punter Austin Morman averaged 45.8 yards per punt with a long of 52 yards.
Washington U.’s defense also limited Oberlin to 0-for-3 in field goals, including a 37-yarder that was blocked by senior John Schneider in the first quarter.
Senior linebacker Kyle Huber made 11 stops to lead the Washington U. defense, while Schneider added a career-high nine tackles, including 3.5 for loss. Freshman defensive back Scott O’Brien recorded the first interception of his career in the fourth quarter.
After the Bears’ defense forced a three and out on the opening drive where Schneider made three tackles, it took Washington U. just 35 seconds to score on its first possession. Senior quarterback Stephen Sherman found senior H-back Sam Kentor in the corner for a three-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0. A 34-yard punt return by senior Brandon Brown set up the Bears’ with great field position at the Oberlin 25-yard line.
A 48-yard field goal by Chalifour extended the lead to 10-0 with 2:25 left in the first quarter. The 48-yard kick by Chalifour was just four yards shy of the school record. Oberlin (2-5) was limited to 155 yard in the first half, and were held to 3-of-9 on third downs. 
Chailfour connected on a 19-yard field goal with 11:28 left in the third quarter to push the Bears’ lead to 13-0. Junior wide receiver Easton Knott recorded the big play of the drive, a 30-yard diving catch on 2nd-and-9.
The Yeomen trimmed the advantage to 13-7 with 9:48 left in the fourth quarter after Josh Mandel scored from one-yard out, capping a seven-play, 70-yard drive. Oberlin tried an onside kick on the ensuing play, but an acrobatic catch by sophomore Brian Harrell gave the Bears good field position at the Yeomen 43-yard line.
Senior wide receiver Tom Gulyas gave Washington U. a much-needed lift on offense, as he took a screen pass and broke three tackles for a 40-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion from Sherman to junior tight end Phill Stoecker was good to push the advantage to 21-7.
Knott had four receptions for 61 yards, while Gulyas added three catches for 47 yards. Senior running back Jim O'Brien led the rushing attack with 72 yards on 15 carries.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. leads the all-time series with Oberlin, 3-0 … This marked the first meeting between the two teams since 1948, a span of 62 years … Brown made his 37th-consecutive start at defensive back … Sherman’s fumble in the second quarter was the first lost fumble of the year for the Bears … The Bears have won five-straight home games dating back to last season.