CNU Football Falls at Stevenson in Double Overtime, 46-43
OWINGS MILLS, MD- In the highest scoring game in CNU football history, the Captains fell to Stevenson Saturday night in double overtime, 46-43. Both teams are now 1-1.
The game, played before a capacity crowd of 3,500 at Mustang Stadium, was the first home game in Stevenson's inaugural season.
"Overall, they played with more energy than we did tonight," Head Coach Matt Kelchner said after the defeat. "We just didn't do enough to win the game...it comes down to the basics, blocking and tackling, and we didn't do a good enough job."
The game was tied at 21 at the half, and Stevenson built a 30-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Captains scored 12 points in just over seven minutes to pull back ahead, 33-30, with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter.
Stevenson then marched down the field in the final minute of regulation, and freshman Garrett Perau drilled a 37-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game at 33 and force overtime.
After each team scored a touchdown in the first overtime, the Captains had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from sophomore Stephen Denuel, his fifth field goal of the game, in the second overtime.
Stevenson then closed out the Captains with a 19-yard scoring pass from junior C.J. Hopson to sophomore Jeromie Miller for the 46-43 final verdict.
"I give them a lot of credit," Kelchner said. "They played with more enthusiasm and a higher energy level than we did. I take responsibility for that as the head coach, and I will make sure that doesn't happen again."
CNU running back Markeese Stovall (Richmond, Va.) rushed for 164 yards on 31 carries just one week after running for 170 vs. Waynesburg in a 12-7 win. Another sophomore back, Evan Moog (Williamsburg, Va.) scored his first career touchdown in the game on a 7-yard run in the second quarter. Moog finished with 55 yards on 15 carries.
The five field goals by Denuel (Moseley, Va.) set a new CNU mark for field goals in a game.
The Captains also got scores from sophomore Kentel Noel (Weems, Va.) on a 15-yard scamper to start the scoring in the first quarter. Junior quarterback Christian Woelfel-Monsivais (Fredericksburg, Va.) ran for two scores from three and eight yards.
Stevenson quarterback C.J. Hopson, a junior transfer from Division I Bucknell, threw for five scores and 284 yards and also rushed for 91 yards.
"He was the best player on the field tonight," Kelchner continued. "Any time you can bring in a Division I player like that you're going to benefit. He had a really good nght."
CNU was victimized by 11 penalties that resulted in 123 penalty yards.
Christopher Newport is now 3-2 all-time in overtime games.
The Captains return home next Saturday, September 17th, to host Salisbury at POMOCO Stadium. It will be the first home night game ever for the Captains with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
