On a sunny autumn day, the Christopher Newport University Captains defeated William Paterson 45-7.
The game was played in front of a crowd of 2,418. The Captains running game led the way as 283 of their 342 total yards were accounted for on the ground. This victory was also the first time since 2013 that two players ran for 100 yards or more in a game.
The Captains defense set the tone for the rest of the game. On their first possession, they forced an interception thanks to sophomore defensive back Noah Martin. This put the Captains offense into William Paterson territory, which they were able to score on the first play through a 46 yard rushing touchdown from sophomore running back Jordin Lennon.
The Captains offense continued to score at will. With just under six minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Captains offense returned to the field. A 40 yard run from junior running back Gunner White was followed by a 30 yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Connor Barry to junior tight end Ethan Barham which gave the Captains a 14-0 lead.
With the offense building an early lead, the Captains defense made sure to preserve it. An interception from junior defensive back Eli Sherfield put the Captains at William Paterson’s four yard line. The offense rewarded their efforts with a rushing touchdown from Gunner White that extended the Captains lead. This was the first of three touchdowns for White on the day as his 15 carries for 104 yards complemented the work of Lennon, who ran for 174 yards on 16 carries.
The Captain’s valiant efforts were displayed from each unit. A blocked punt near the end of the first half was followed by a late field goal from sophomore kicker Maxx Lawton that gave the Captains a 38-0 halftime lead, which they never looked back from.
The Captains bid for a shutout ended when senior wide receiver Nolan Epps returned a punt for a touchdown, giving the Pioneers their lone score of the afternoon.
Up next, the Captains (5-3) will face Montclair State University (3-5) in Montclair, New Jersey on Nov. 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
