Game #1 - Wheaton College 35, Washington University (Mo.) 12

Wheaton, Ill. (9/11/99) - The host Crusaders of

Wheaton College (Ill.) opened their season with a 35-12 victory over fellow

NCAA Division III foe Washington University (Mo.) at McCully Field today.

It avenged a 31-28 Washington win in St. Louis last season that saw the Crusaders

blow a 21-7 halftime lead. Wheaton is now 1-0 on the season, while Washington

is 1-1.

Both teams battled through a scoreless first quarter. Washington

was first on the scoreboard when Brian Yanites (Coal City, Ill.) recovered

a fumble when on of his teammates lost ball in the endzone at the 11:49 mark

of the second quarter. Yanites came up with the ball in the endzone to give

the Bears the 6-0 advantage, but the ensuing PAT attempt was missed. It was

the last lead the Bears would see on the day. Wheaton scored on a four-yard

touchdown reception by Jeremy Amos (Austin, Texas/Westlake) from senior

quarterback Mitch Slater to end a five-play drive of 64 yards at the

10:46 mark in the second quarter. Junior placekicker Chris Bowman (Fort

Morgan, Colo./Fort Morgan) connected on the point after attempt. Later in

the second quarter Slater scored on a one-yard touchdown run to cap a seven-play

drive of 24-yard drive. The drive was generated thanks to a blocked punt by

junior runningback Brian Pastermack (Merritt Island, Fla./Merritt Island).

Washington scored on a 31-yard run from Mike Gallo (Chagrin Falls,

Ohio), however the two-point conversion pass fell incomplete giving Wheaton

a 14-12 advantage. Gallo's trip to the endzone was the culmination of a 65-yard

drive that was four plays and 1:52. The Crusaders concluded the first half

with a one-play touchdown drive that saw Slater connect with wide receiver

Jay Westra (Wheaton, Ill./North) with a 12-yard pass. Bowman connected

on the extra point and the Crusaders owned a 21-12 advantage at halftime.

The teams went scoreless through the third quarter. At the 3:54 mark of the

fourth quarter Slater hit wide receiver Ben Peays (Austin, Texas/Westlake)

with a 30-yard touchdown pass to cap a six play, 40-yard drive. Bowman connected

on the extra point giving Wheaton a 28-12 advantage. Pastermack reached the

end zone on a nine-yard run to cap a five-play drive of 20-yards giving the

Crusaders a 35-12 final advantage.

Slater opened the Crusaders' season with a stellar effort at

quarterback with three passing touchdowns with 18 completions on 36 attempts

for 189 yards with one interception. Slater had 11 rushing attempts for 15

yards with one touchdown. Slater found senior Ben Peays on six occasions for

106 yards with one touchdown. Peays also had 93 yards on five kickoff returns

for 199 yards of all-purpose yards. Amos had four catches with 33 yards and

one touchdown reception. Pastermack was the Crusaders' top rusher with 59

yards on 16 carries with one touchdown.

The Wheaton defense was led by 16 total tackles from junior

linebacker Greg McMillin (Nampa, Idaho/Nampa Senior) with five solo

tackles and 11 assisted, including 2 tackles for lost yardage (-13 yards)

with 1 sacks (-11 yards). Senior defensive back John Peays had 11 total

tackles (all assisted) with an interception and a blocked field goal.

Washington was led by the rushing endeavors of senior runningback

Larry Foster (Oklahoma City, Okla./Douglass) with 83 yards on 24 carries.

Gallo had 39 rushing yards on five carries with the 31-yard touchdown scamper.

Washington starting quarterback Greg Lake (St. Louis, Mo.) was 7-10

passing with an interception and three sacks. In the second half the Bears

used senior Austin Bredow (St. Louis, Mo.) behind the center. He was

6-18 on the day with three interceptions and one sack. The Washington quarterbacks

combined for 13-29 passing on the day with 134 yards, five sacks and four

interceptions. Washington was led defensively by junior defensive lineman

Luke McIntosh (Omaha, Neb.) with seven total tackles (two solos). Senior

defensive lineman Tim Runnalls (St. Louis, Mo.) had six total tackles

(four solos) with three tackles for lost yardage (-8 yards) and two sacks

(-6 yards).

Wheaton will travel to Anderson University (0-2) this Saturday

with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Anderson, Indiana. The Ravens dropped a 33-6 decision

to NAIA foe Taylor University this afternoon at Taylor. Washington will host

Wabash College (0-1) this Saturday in St. Louis. Wabash lost at home this

afternoon 38-6 to Ohio Northern University.