Box Score  NEWPORT NEWS, VA.- The second decade of Christopher Newport University football got off to a successful start Saturday, as the Captains held off Waynesburg, 12-7. The season opener for both schools at POMOCO Stadium opened the 11th season of CNU football.

"It was a great battle...two good football teams going toe-to-toe," Head Coach Matt Kelchner said after his team's triumph. "It was good to be playing someone other than ourselves," Kelchner said referring to his team's training camp. "I think we did some very good things, especially on defense."

It was the first meeting ever between the schools.

The teams were scoreless at halftime after squandering several scoring chances in the opening half. The Captains didn't waste any time getting on the board after the intermission.

Just 13 seconds into the second half, and on the first play from scrimmage, sophomore running back Markeese Stovall (Richmond, Va.) broke into the open and scampered 62 yards for the first score of the season. Later in the third quarter, it was Stovall again for the Captains, scoring on a 1-yard plunge to account for all the scoring Christopher Newport would need.

"Markeese did a good job even though he was battling through fatigue and cramping," Kelchner continued. "We prepared all week by hydrating, but I think both teams were affected by the heat."

Stovall finished the day with 170 yards on 17 carries. 

After building the 12-0 lead in the third quarter (both conversion attempts were unsuccessful), the Captains had to hold on in the final quarter for the hard-fought win. Waynesburg's only score of the afternoon came on a 72-yard run from sophomore Bertrand Ngampa early in the fourth quarter.

"That was really our only defensive breakdown of the day," Kelchner said. "I thought we hit hard all day and when we needed to late in the game, we held them off."

Senior linebacker Mike King (Centreville, Va.) led the defensive effort with 13 tackles.

Senior lineman Malcom Jones (New Kent, Va.) forced a fumble on a fourth quarter tackle with less than a minute remaining that essentially ended Waynesburg's hopes. It was Jones' 6th tackle of the day.

A crowd of 3,424 at POMOCO Stadium watched the Captains open year #11 on a sunny and warm day. The next three CNU home games will be played at night, as lights have been installed at POMOCO Stadium for 2011.

The Captains travel to the Baltimore area next Saturday to play Stevenson, a first-year program. The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday, September 10th.

Christopher Newport's next home game, September 17th vs. Salisbury, will be a 7 p.m. start and the first home night game ever at POMOCO Stadium. It will also be played during CNU's 50th Anniversary weekend.