Box Score Box Score in HTML Format  |  Box Score in PDF Format

DANVILLE, VA- Christopher Newort played two very different halves Saturday. Fortunately for the Captains, the second half was good enough to offset a horrible first half. CNU scored 23 unanswered points and came back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to beat Averett University, 23-14.

The win was the third straight for Christopher Newport as the Captains improved to 4-2 overall and 3-0 atop the USA South Conference standings.

"I don't know what happened in the first half, I really don't," Head Coach Matt Kelchner said following the road win. "It was like we were sleepwalking. I pulled everybody together at halftime and had a good heart-to-heart talk. We really stepped up in the second half."

CNU's defense tightened after a slow start and didn't allow a point in the final three quarters, intercepting Averett quarterback Kirkland Brown three times in the second half.

Sophomore running back Markeese Stovall (Richmond, Va.) got the Captains on the board with a 49-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Stovall, who has now scored eight times in the first six games, finished with 129 yards on 26 carries.

The Captains used another big play just three minutes later to tie the game. Sophomore quarterback Lyndon Garner (Tappahannock, Va.) connected with freshman receiver Rudy Rudolph (Chesapeake, Va.) for a 75-yard scoring pass to even things up at 14-14.

Sophomore kicker Stephen Denuel (Moseley, Va.) gave the Captains their first lead of the day with a 40-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Garner finished the second half scoring barrage with a 4-yard TD run midway through the final period to cement CNU's 23-14 victory.

"We stepped up when we had to," Kelchner continued. "We're really banged up on defense and played without Mike King (senior linebacker) and Tyler Portell (sophomore linebacker). Our backups stepped in and got the job done."

Junior linebacker Daniel Bowen (Caret, Va.) filled in admirably for King leading the squad in tackles with nine. Dayn Washburn (Stafford, Va.), Dorion Jackson (New Orleans, La.), and Michael Ruckman (Newport News, Va.) all made interceptions in the second half.

The Captains, now 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the USA South, host North Carolina Wesleyan next Saturday at POMOCO Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The Bishops are 2-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play folowing a 31-19 win Saturday at Greensboro.

Next Saturday at POMOCO Stadium, CNU's game with the Bishops will be played during Family and Homecoming Weekend.