NEWPORT NEWS, VA - It took three overtimes for the
Christopher Newport football squad Saturday to beat Salisbury. The Captains pulled out the victory over the
Sea Gulls at POMOCO Stadium by a score of 27-21 in front of 5,265 fans during Family Weekend. For CNU
head coach,
Matt Kelchner it was a tough way to even his team's record at 1-1.
"That was a game that had more twists and turns and injuries and decisions to make," said Kelchner. "The shifts in momentum made it tough to get comfortable...I'm just glad we persevered and got the win."
The Captains and Gulls were tied at the half, 7-7. After a scoreless third quarter CNU took its first lead of the season on a four-yard touchdown pass from senior
Matt Long to senior
Tony Spradlin early in the fourth quarter. The 14-7 lead would last only four minutes due to a
Christopher Newport fumble deep in its own territory. Salisbury took advantage and tied the game on a five-yard run from Randal Smedley with just over nine minutes to play in regulation.
"I credit our defense for making the big plays," Kelchner continued. "Even after they tied it up, our defense stepped up down the stretch and made stops to send the game to overtime."
Neither team scored in the first overtime possession and the game remained tied after both teams scored a touchdown in the second overtime, SU took the lead on a 25-yard run by Bryan Woolson. The Captains answered on a one-yard plunge from sophomore
Corey Legister. The
Christopher Newport possession was costly as quarterback
Matt Long suffered an injured knee on the drive and had to leave the game. Kelchner turned to freshman
Christian Woelfel-Monsivais to lead the team into the third overtime.
The Captains appeared to be in trouble facing a fourth down situation and 19 yards to go. The lefty Woelfel-Monsivais rifled a 28-yard completion to sophomore
T.J. Foster to put the Captains at the Salisbury six yard line. Two plays later it was the freshman quarterback's two-yard run that ended up being the difference in the game. Woelfel-Monsivais scored to give CNU the 27-21 victory.
"The pass he made in the third overtime was one of the top passes I've seen here," Kelchner said. "He made a huge play at a big time and from there our defense held on for us."
The Christopher Newport defense stopped Salisbury on its third overtime possession. Sea Gulls quarterback Sean Kelly was sacked for the ninth time of the day to end the game as Salisbury's record fell to 1-2 on the year.
"Every win is a big one," Kelchner said. "This is the kind of game you just have to be happy to get out of with the W."
Sophomore running back Corey Legister of CNU ran for 168 yards on 34 carries and a score. Senior Tunde Ogun, nursing an injured knee,
did score a first-half TD for the Captains and ended up with 32 yards on eight carries.
Senior quarterback Matt Long rushed for 65 yards and was 7 of 15 passing for 47 yards with one TD and one interception.
It was only the third overtime game in the 86-game history of CNU football dating back to 2001. The Captains are now 2-1 in those overtime games.
The crowd of 5,265 was the third-biggest in POMOCO Stadium history.
