NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Courtesy of CNU Athletics) – Christopher Newport University built a 38-0 halftime lead Saturday, and then coasted to a 45-7 victory over William Paterson University. The triumph at TowneBank Stadium was CNU’s third straight, and also marked the fifth straight loss for the Pioneers.
The Captains scored six touchdowns on a sunny and breezy day in front of 2,418 home fans, with five of the six coming on the ground. Paul Crowley‘s team is now 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, and had two players rush for 100 yards or more for the first time since 2013, as CNU registered 283 rushing yards and 342 total yards in the victory.
Junior Gunner White (100 yards on 15 carries with three scores) and sophomore Jordin Lennon (174 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns) led the ground attack while sophomore quarterback Connor Barry also threw for 59 yards and a score.
“Coming into the game we expected to to run it a bit more than we have this season because of their defense, and I thought we did a great job in the first half of establishing the running game,” Crowley said following the victory. “Our defense helped us a lot by creating a couple of turnovers and we were able to build the lead.”
Lennon started the scoring with a 46-yard first quarter score, and later concluded the scoring by reaching the end zone on a three-yard effort in the fourth quarter. White scored on three short runs in the opening half, crossing the goal line from one, seven, and six yards away. White and Lennon became the first tandem to reach 100 yards in a game since Marcus Morrast (118 yards) and Paul Dukes (109 yards) did so in a 58-12 victory over Ferrum College on November 16, 2013.
Barry attempted just 14 passes for the day, completing seven including a 30-yard scoring strike to sophomore tight end Ethan Barham for his first career touchdown. Sophomore kicker Maxx Lawton also converted a 24-yard field goal as the first half clock expired to build the lead to 38-0 at the intermission.
The three touchdown day for White gives him 30 career scores in 29 games as a Captain. The junior from Virginia Beach is now just eight touchdowns shy of Tunde Ogun for CNU’s all-time mark of 38 career TDs.
William Paterson, now 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the NJAC, scored its only touchdown of the day on a 56-yard punt return by senior Nolan Epps early in the third quarter. CNU’s stellar defense held the Pioneers to just one conversion on third down in 12 attempts, allowed no points, and picked off two passes in the opening half. Sophomore Noah Martin and junior Eli Sherfield both recorded picks and fifth-year senior safety Logan Baker and senior linebacker Andrew Worsham topped the squad with seven tackles each. The victory was the eighth in nine all-time games played vs. William Paterson for the Captains.
“Good teams are able to play different styles of football,” Crowley continued. “We’ve shown some great passing prowess in the past, and today I think we showed what we’re capable of on the ground. Our guys did a great job blocking, and it really opened up some holes we were able to take advantage of.”
Salisbury wrapped up the NJAC crown with a 52-35 victory on Saturday over the College of New Jersey. Even though they can’t catch the Sea Gulls, Crowley explained his team still has plenty to play for.
“At the end of the day, we’re playing for our seniors,” Crowley said. “There are a lot of guys who have given their blood, sweat, and tears to this program…so we’re going to make sure we make the most of our time that’s left together these next couple of weeks. We’re going to work hard every day and we’ve got a couple of games left that we want to win.”
Christopher Newport heads back to New Jersey next week, as the Captains take on the Red Hawks of Montclair State University. Game time Saturday is set for 2:00 p.m. at Sprague Field in Montclair, N.J.
The season will conclude on Friday, November 15th, when the Captains host the College of New Jersey at TowneBank Stadium in a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.