Defensive Effort Leads WU Past Ohio Wesleyan, 26-14

OWU-WASHU BOX

Delaware, Ohio, October 24, 2009 – Washington University in St. Louis allowed 208 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers in the 26-14 win at Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at Selby Field in Delaware, Ohio.

Junior Jim O’Brien had 83 yards on the ground while senior Matt Glenn ran for a season-high 79 yards as Washington University snapped its season-long two-game losing streak.

Washington University’s defense was the story in the first quarter as the Bears allowed just 13 yards of total offense and forced five Ohio Wesleyan punts. Sophomore Nick Hillard snuck through the line on the fourth OWU punt and blocked it out of the end zone for a safety. That was the lone score of the first quarter as Washington U. outgained OWU, 44-13, in the opening quarter.

The Bears’ took advantage of great field possession on the OWU-25 yard line to get on the board with a 20-yard field goal by sophomore Brandon Rogalski early in the second quarter. O’Brien ran the ball six times for 25 yards on the drive.

Ohio Wesleyan (1-6) fumbled the ball on its first play from scrimmage, and junior John Schneider fell on it on the OWU 14-yard line. Three plays later, junior Stephen Sherman connected with sophomore Austin Morman on a 22-yard fade route for a touchdown to make it 12-0 with 10:40 left in the second quarter.

Sherman was picked off with under two minutes left in WU territory, and Ohio Wesleyan took advantage just before half. With backup quarterback Keegan Varner in the game, he put together an eight-play, 44-yard drive to get the Battling Bishops on the scoreboard. Varner got loose from the Bears’ defense and scampered 14 yards with 16 seconds left to make it 12-7 at half.

WU’s offense struggled in the first 30 minutes registering 100 yards of total offense. Despite allowing the late-scoring drive, the Bears defense allowed just 67 yards of total offense in the first half. O’Brien was the lone bright spot on offense for the Bears, rushing for 46 yards on 13 carries.

The Bears put the ball on the ground to start the third quarter and it resulted in a 41-yard TD run by Glenn to make it 19-7 with 5:44 left in the third quarter. Washington U. ran the ball seven times for 77 yards in the eight-play drive. Sophomore Kyle Larkin added a 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring for the Bears.

Senior Bryce Buchanan led the defensive unit with a career-high eight stops, while senior Andrew Berryman and juniors Kyle Huber and John Schneider added seven tackles apiece.

Washington University (3-4) opens University Athletic Association (UAA) play on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Carnegie Mellon University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (ET) at Gesling Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Bear Notebook: The Bears improved to 105-20 (.840) when scoring at least 21 points under head coach Larry Kindbom … The Bears’ defense had two sacks in the win after registering just three in the first six games … Junior Brandon Brown notched his eighth career interception in the fourth quarter … WU held OWU to 2-of-17 on third downs in the victory.