(Sydney Smith/CNU Athletics)
NEWPORT NEWS — The longest-running rivalry in Christopher Newport University football history will be renewed Saturday night when the captains travel to Maryland to take on No. 9 Salisbury University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Seagull Stadium.
CNU won 2-1, 54-37, on Sept. 21 at Gettysburg College. Salisbury is 3-0 with a 41-13 victory over Johns Hopkins in its last game. Both teams had last weekend off, but will be back on the field for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener.
This game will be the 23rd time the two schools have met on the gridiron. Salisbury holds a 16-6 edge in the all-time series, but the Captains defeated the Seagulls 34-14 at Townbank Stadium last season. Paul Crowley’s team won its first-ever NJAC championship last year, ending Salisbury’s four-year title streak. The series with the Gulls dates back to Christopher Newport’s first game in 2001, SU’s 21-6 victory.
“Salisbury University has been one of the most consistent programs in the country for a very long time,” Crowley said. “They’re going to pose a very difficult challenge for us.”
The Captains set a new offensive scoring streak in their last game on September 21, en route to a 54-37 victory at Gettysburg. For the first time in program history, a CNU team scored a touchdown on each of its first six possessions and built a 40-7 halftime lead for a 17-point victory. His eight touchdowns against the Bullets also tied a program record.
While the offense put up big numbers in the last game, CNU’s defense has been outstanding all season. The Captains had 13 sacks in the first three games, and against Trine in Week 1, CNU had just 298 yards and six scores, plus four sacks and an interception returned for one score. In Week 2’s home loss to Johns Hopkins, the Captains allowed just 14 points and 180 total yards while recording six sacks. In Week 3 against Gettysburg, CNU’s defensive starters allowed just seven points in the first half, but also recorded three sacks.
On the other hand, the Seagulls have a huge offensive record with three wins to start the season. After a 41-13 win over then No. 8 Johns Hopkins on Sept. 21, Sherman Wood’s team is averaging 49.3 points per game. The Gulls also won 48-26 against Washington and Lee, and also won 59-38 against Muhlenberg, then No. 18.
All Captains games will be broadcast live on Home of the Captains, Xtra 99.1 FM and CNUsports.com. Saturday’s pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m. At the top of this article you will find a link to live video of the game in Salisbury and a live broadcast on CNU Radio. Live stats and the complete CNU game notes package are also available by clicking above.
