NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport's football team saw its 20-game home USA South winning streak snapped on Homecoming Weekend as NC Wesleyan held on for a 42-32 win Saturday afternoon.

The Captains once again fell victim to the turnover bug as they fumbled four times, losing three of them, including two on drives where CNU was inside the 10-yard line.

The Bishops struck first, going 80 yards on 17 plays on the opening drive of the game. The drive culminated in Steve Burant's 16-yard touchdown reception from Cedric Townsend with 7:35 left in the first. Brian Vaughn's PAT put NC Wesleyan up, 7-0.

Christopher Newport evened the score at the very end of the first quarter on Jesse Bradshaw's 70-yard touchdown reception from Todd Faison. Jay Graham's kick tied the score at seven.

The difference in the game, scoring wise, came in the second quarter as the Bishops out-scored CNU, 14-3.

Teron Bush scored the first NC Wesleyan TD of the quarter on a 24-yard TD strike. The second came on Bryan Haywood's 1-yard plunge with 6:03 left in the half. Sandwiched in between was Graham's 27-yard field goal. NC Wesleyan led 21-10 at the half.

In the third, each team scored once. Townsend's 10-yard scamper gave the Bishops a 28-10 lead, but the Captains responded on Tunde Ogun's 3-yard score with 4:11 left to cut the lead to 28-17.

Burant caught his second TD pass of the afternoon, this time a 10 yarder from Townsend extended NC Wesleyan's lead to 35-17.

Christopher Newport would not go quietly as they put up back-to-back touchdowns. Ogun scored his first from one yard out and Faison's second TD pass was a 25-yarder to Bradshaw. Ogun converted on the two-point conversion, and CNU trailed, 35-32.

On the Bishops ensuing drive, they were faced with a fourth and short situation. Townsend appeared to be stood up on the quarterback keeper, but apparently got just enough yardage for the first down to keep the drive alive. He later scored from 11 yards out to seal the win.

Townsend finished with 103 yards on the ground on 20 carries and two scores. He was 15-of-26 for 215 yards, three touchdowns and one pick.

For the Captains, Bradshaw shattered George Jones' receiving yards in a game record set against Methodist in 2003. Bradshaw caught 10 balls for 272 yards, eclipsing Jones' record of 190 yards.

Mike Thomas ran for 78 yards on 21 carries. Ogun finished with 54 yards on 21 attempts. Faison was 14-of-22 for 292 yards.

NC Wesleyan is now 6-2 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Christopher Newport falls to 5-3 on the year and 4-1 in USA South action.

CNU hits the road next week to take on Averett in Danville, VA with kick-off set for 1 pm.

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