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ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.- The Christopher Newport University football team registered its first win of the season Thursday night, defeating North Carolina Wesleyan, 31-28. The Captains, now 1-2, needed a fourth quarter comeback to beat the Bishops in the USA South opener for both squads.
 
The game was the first non-Saturday game in CNU program history, and was played in front of 1,055 fans at Bishop Stadium.
 
After leading for most of the night, the Captains had to mount a fourth quarter comeback to record the come-from behind victory. Senior quarterback Marcus Morrast led the way, driving CNU 71 yards on ten plays in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead touchdown with 7:27 to play. Morrast reached the endzone on a one-yard plunge, his second of the night, to put the Captains ahead to stay.
 
"Marcus really did a great job managing the game," Head Coach Matt Kelchner said. "He has improved steadily throughout his career and did some very good things tonight."
 
Morrast finished the game with 109 yards rushing on 17 carries, and was 16 of 21 passing for 137 yards. In addition to his two scoring runs, he also hit fullback Justin Cormier with a two-yard scoring pass in the final minute of the first half.
 
Christopher Newport ran the ball effectively for the first time this season, posting 307 yards rushing on 52 attempts. Sophomore Daquan Davis finished with 99 yards on 22 carries in addition to Morrast's big night.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, the Captains drew first blood when Morrast scored his first touchdown of the game early in the second quarter. After the Bishops tied the score at 7-7, CNU went back ahead when junior backup quarterback Arsaiah Robinson scampered 50 yards for a score, followed by Morrast's scoring pass to Cormier to give CNU a two touchdown lead at the intermission.
 
The Captains lost momentum in the third quarter when they were out-scored by the Bishops, 14-3. NCWC used a defensive score early in the fourth quarter to go ahead for the first time of the evening. Anthony Janezic returned a CNU fumble 48 yards to put the Bishops ahead, 28-24.
 
"I was really happy with the way we responded to that," Kelchner said referring to his team falling behind late in the game. "We could have packed it in being on the road, but I thought we showed a lot of character by not panicking and finding a way to get it done."

The Captains then ran out the clock in the final minutes for their fifth consecutive triumph over the Bishops. CNU now leads the all-time series, 8-3. 
 
North Carolina Wesleyan, now 1-2, suffered from several critical penalties and had the ball just 21 minutes all night. CNU dominated time of possession, controlling the ball almost 39 minutes for the evening, and the Captains were penalized just twice all night.
 
Christopher Newport will host its next two games at POMOCO Stadium. CNU plays Methodist on Saturday, September 27^th during Family Weekend at Christopher Newport. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.