NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Averett University defeated Christopher Newport, 17-9, Saturday afternoon at POMOCO Stadium in USA South football. It was the fourth straight win for the Cougars, who improve to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
A family weekend crowd of 5,025, the sixth-largest in CNU football history, watched the Captains fall to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the USA South.
The teams were deadlocked at 3-3 at halftime. The Cougars broke the tie early in the third quarter on a one-yard plunge from senior James Wilson. The score capped an eight-play, 33 yard drive on the opening possession of the second half. The drive was set up by a 56-yard kickoff return by senior Logan Smyth.
Christopher Newport answered with a seven-play, 80 yard drive that ended with senior running back
Myles Reid scoring from two yards out. The potential game-tying extra point was missed by CNU, and Averett held a 10-9 advantage after three quarters.
Averett ended the scoring in the fourth quarter with another one-yard plunge from Wilson, his ninth touchdown of the season and second of the day. The score concluded an eight-play, 81 yard drive and put the Cougars up by eight. Avrett's defense then held the Captains to seal the win.
"I give them credit," CNU Head Coach
Matt Kelchner said. "They're a good football team and did the things they needed to do. We hurt ourselves with three interceptions and a fumble. That tells the story."
Averett has now out-scored its opponents, 80-0, in the fourth quarters of its first five games.
Wilson rushed for 103 yards on 27 carries, his third straight game over the 100-yard mark. Senior wide receiver Jeremy Dixon caught four balls for 103 yards. Senior quarterback Cody Ladutko was 12 of 16 for 235 yards.
For CNU, senior quarterback
Matt Long was 10 of 24 for 159 yards and three interceptions. Senior wide receiver
T.J. Foster caught three passes for 86 yards and senior
Keith Gaines rushed 13 times for 54 yards.
For the Cougars, Stefan Varner made two picks to go with five tackles. Mario Huffman and Matthew Smith each made seven tackles to lead AU.
It was Averett's first win in Newport News in five tries. CNU now leads the series, 8-2, and the Averett victory snapped a four-game CNU winning streak in the series.
"We've got five games left and a lot of work to do," Kelchner continued. "I was pleased with our effort...we played hard but just didn't make enough plays to win."
The Captains travel to Rocky Mount, North Carolina, next Saturday to take on North Carolina Wesleyan. Game time is scheduled for 1 pm.
