CNU Football Holds Off Greensboro, 27-22, to improve to 5-0 in USA South
GREENSBORO, N.C.- It wasn't pretty, but it was a win. The Christopher Newport football squad is now 5-0 atop the USA South Athletic Conference following a 27-22 road win at Greensboro College Saturday. The hard-fought win at Jamieson Stadium improves CNU's overall record to 6-2.
"I could tell early we just weren't sharp," Head Coach Matt Kelchner said after the win. "Our focus just wasn't there. We were able to go on the road and get a win, but I certainly didn't like the overall play of our team."
CNU turned the ball over three times on fumbles. The Captains were still able to build a 27-10 lead with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter, only to give up 12 late points to the Pride for the 27-22 final verdict.
The victory was the 10th straight conference win for the Captains dating back to last season.
Sophomore running back Markeese Stovall (Richmond, Va.) scored all three CNU touchdowns on runs of 1, 2, and 5 yards. Stovall carried the ball 24 times for 70 yards. He is now 85 yards shy of 1,000 yards for the season, and has now scored 11 touchdowns this year in eight games.
Sophomore kicker Stephen Denuel (Moseley, Va.) kicked field goals of 32 and 45 yards, and is now 14 of 16 for the season.
The Captains lost their starting quarterback, sophomore Lyndon Garner (Tappahannock, Va.), to a leg injury in the third quarter. Garner, who replaced junior Christian Woelfel-Monsivais (Fredericksburg, Va.) earlier this season due to injury, did not return. Garner was 5 for 10 passing for 79 yards.
Junior Aaron Edwards (Yorktown, Va.) stepped in at quarterback and completed 6 of 7 passes for 39 yards.
Freshman Marcus Morrast (Stafford, Va.) carried the ball 12 times for 88 yards and also returned two kicks for 65 yards and two punts for 35 yards.
On defense, sophomore cornerback Derek Britt (Glen Allen, Va.) led the Captains with 9 tackles.
Greensboro senior linebacker Allen Stallings set a new school record with 26 tackles in the game. The Pride falls to 0-8 overall and 0-5 in conference games.
The Captains, now 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the USA South, head to Ferrum next Saturday for a first-place showdown with the Panthers. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
