2019 CNU Football Schedule

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport head football coach Art Link announced the release of the 2019 Captains football schedule today, set to open play on Saturday, September 7 at home. With three non-conference games this season, CNU will welcome two new opponents to the schedule starting with the opener against perennial national power North Central College out of Naperville, Ill. 

"We are very excited for the opportunity to not only play, but host one of the nation's top teams in our season opener this year," said Link. "We are committed to taking on high quality non-conference opponents to help prepare us for the rigors of the New Jersey Athletic Conference." 

Kickoff against the Cardinals is set for 12:00 p.m. on September 7, marking the latest start date since the 2008 season when the Captains opened on September 20. It is the first of five home games at POMOCO Stadium as Christopher Newport hosts the first ever matchup with North Central. The Cardinals have finished each of the last three seasons ranked in the top-ten nationally, and have been a top-25 program since the 2005 season. 

Christopher Newport will also host Hampden-Sydney College the following week for Family Weekend on September 14. Kickoff against the Tigers is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. This will be the eighth straight year the Captains face H-SC with Christopher Newport holding a slight 4-3 advantage in the matchup. Non-conference play will wrap up on September 21 with a road trip to Brevard College for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. After winning just seven games in the previous five years, the Tornados have won eight games in the last two seasons as members of the USA South Athletic Conference.

The 19th season of Christopher Newport football is also the fifth for the Captains as a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference and league play will begin week five after a bye week following non-conference play. The 2019 schedule alternates with home and away games every other week, starting with a road game against Kean University on October 5 at 12:00 p.m. The rest of the road slate includes games at Montclair State (Oct 19), Salisbury (Nov 2), and Wesley (Nov 16). 

The home games at POMOCO Stadium are set for October 12, October 26, and November 9. The Captains will take on William Paterson University first, with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. On Homecoming Weekend, set for October 26, CNU will entertain TCNJ for a 3:00 p.m. start; and rounding out the home dates is a 1:00 p.m. fall kick against Rowan. 

Christopher Newport has compiled an all-time record of 121-67 for a winning percentage of .644, including a 12-7 mark under third-year head coach Art Link. CNU has won ten conference championships in its first 18 seasons, recording a conference record of 98-33 (.748), and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament ten times. The Captains are coming off a 7-2 season with a 6-2 mark in NJAC competition. 

2019 CNU Football Schedule
September
7                      North Central (Ill.), 12:00     
14                      Hampden-Sydney, 7:00 (FAMILY WEEKEND)
21                    at Brevard, 7:00
           
October
5                      at Kean *, 12:00
12                    William Paterson *, 1:00
19                    at Montclair State *, 2:00
26                    TCNJ * (Homecoming), 3:00
           
November
2                      at Salisbury *, 1:00
9                    Rowan *, 1:00                 
16                      at Wesley *, 1:00

* New Jersey Athletic Conference games