/seasons/2017/contrib/20171111e961is

WashU Celebrates Senior Day with Win Over Bridgewater

More news about: Washington U.

St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 11, 2017 – The Washington University in St. Louis football team celebrated Senior Day with a 41-7 over Bridgewater College (Va.) in the season finale for both teams Saturday at Francis Field in St. Louis.

WashU concluded the 2017 season with a 3-6 record, while Bridgewater lost its third-straight game and ended with a 4-6 mark. The Bears finished the regular season with the No. 1 Strength of Schedule (.649) in NCAA Division III, playing four teams ranked in the D3football.com Top-25 Poll.

Prior to the contest, WashU honored its 18 seniors who played their final game at Francis Field. This year's senior class holds an overall record of 21-19 (.525), captured the 2015 and 2016 University Athletic Association (UAA) championship, and made an appearance in the 2016 NCAA Playoffs.

Sophomore quarterback Johnny Davidson completed 31-of-42 passes for a career-high 380 yards and four touchdowns. WashU totaled a season-high 578 yards of total offense in the win. Davidson also went over the 2,000-yard passing mark (2,035) for the season.

Junior defensive back Chandler Elmore picked off Bridgewater quarterback Brenton Maturey on the third play of the game, and then Davidson connected with freshman wide receiver Nick Cione for a 28-yard TD pass. Cione caught all three passes on the opening drive.

After WashU forced a three-and-out, senior running back David Nees scored from four-yard out to make it 14-0. Nees also had a 33-yard run on the six-play drive.

The lead grew to 28-7 after Davidson connected with sophomore RB John Fisher for a 27-yard pass and a 37-yard pass to junior wide receiver Jason Singer.

WashU had a 352-116 advantage in total offense, and Davidson completed 16-of-22 passes for 205 yards and three TDs. The Bears had seven penalties for 75 yards, and limited Bridgewater to 38 yards passing.

Senior kicker Dan Kalvaitis split the uprights from 34 yards with 9:02 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 31-7.

Davidson tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 42-yarder to Singer, to push the lead to 38-7. Kalvaitis added a 25-yard field goal to round out the scoring. The field goal for Kalvaitis was the 14th of his career.

Sophomore linebacker Jarrod Huther recorded 11 tackles as WashU limited Bridgewater to 181 yards of total offense and forced nine punts.

Senior wide receiver Marcus Ramspott tied his career-high with 10 receptions for 99 yards, and moved past WashU Hall of Famer Vernon Butler (1994-97) into fourth place in career receptions (131).

BEAR NOTEBOOK: The teams met for the first time in school history … WashU is 6-9 after a bye week since 2004 … The win for head coach Larry Kindbom was the 205th of his career, 15th most by an active coach in all of NCAA … Senior defensive back Andrew Ralph started his 27th-straight game … The interception for Elmore was the fourth of his career.

Dec. 15: All times Eastern
Final
Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
@ Salem, Virginia
Video Box Score Recap Photos
Dec. 9: All times Eastern
Final
North Central (Ill.) 34, at Wartburg 27
Box Score Recap
Final
Cortland 49, at Randolph-Macon 14
Box Score Recap Recap Recap Photos
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