While Christopher Newport looks forward to the return of intercollegiate competitions, our friends at TowneBank are partnering with CNUsports.com to spend some time throughout the fall semester looking back at a few of the more memorable moments in the storied history of the athletic department. Over the course of the next three months, the Captains will honor the anniversary of three dozen record-setting accomplishments, championship-clinching victories, and other historic events in order to celebrate the past while preparing for even more great moments in the future.

AT A GLANCE
Overcoming an early deficit, the Christopher Newport football team capitalized on late-game heroics during a clutch fourth-quarter drive to rally past Muhlenberg, 24-20, during the first round of the NCAA Tournament at POMOCO Stadium on November 22, 2003. After a game-saving fourth-down reception by George Jones, Phillip Jones connected with Nathan Davis on a fade route in the back corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. The win not only propelled the Captains into the second round of the tournament, but it also marked the program's first triumph in the national playoffs.
 
BACKSTORY
During the program's first two seasons, the Captains had established a benchmark for success that was unprecedented. Entering 2003, Christopher Newport already had a pair of conference championships and two NCAA Tournament berths. No team in college football history had ever accomplished both of those feats in its first two years of existence.
 
And yet, there was more to accomplish.
 
Setting out to check off a few more boxes, the 2003 Captains went to work. On September 27, they beat No. 5 Bridgewater, marking the program's first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent. Less than two weeks later, on October 7, the Captains made their very first appearance in the AFCA National Coaches Poll.
 
By the time the regular season wrapped up, Christopher Newport had shrugged off its label as one of the nation's top up-and-coming programs. The Captains were no longer coming. They had arrived.
 
After claiming its third straight conference title and climbing as high as 11th in the national rankings, Christopher Newport added another historic achievement. The 2003 Captains were selected to host the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the first time a playoff game would be contested in Newport News.
 
And now, the Captains had an opportunity to check off another box: their first win in the postseason.
 
OPPOSITION RESEARCH
Standing between Christopher Newport and its first win in the NCAA playoffs was a match-up that was more than two months in the making. On September 20, the Captains were scheduled to host Muhlenberg College at POMOCO Stadium. Hurricane Isabel threw a wrench into those plans after knocking out power for several days on the Peninsula.
 
Now, the Mules were back on the schedule.
 
Entering the playoffs with a 7-2 record, the reigning Centennial Conference champions were a defensive dynamo. Muhlenberg ranked in the top-20 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and passing defense. Under the guidance of legendary head coach Mike Donnelly, the Mules had not allowed more than 15 points in six straight games, including a 24-0 shutout against archrival Moravian in the regular season finale.
 
Riding a seven-game winning streak and featuring 12 All-Conference performers, Muhlenberg entered the NCAA Tournament looking to reach the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season.
 
GAME RECAP
Fifteen minutes into the first playoff game at POMOCO Stadium, Christopher Newport was staring at a 10-0 deficit. Fifteen seconds into the second quarter, the Captains found new life.
 
Backed up on their own 15-yard line and facing a 3rd-and-13, the Captains needed a miracle. Phillip Jones responded. The quarterback found Roland Hilliard for a school-record 85-yard touchdown, which immediately brought Christopher Newport back into the game. Two drives later, Jason Broskie hammered a 36-yard field goal, which evened the score at 10.
 
Although the Mules inched ahead again with their own field goal at the end of the second quarter, the Captains responded after the break.
 
On the defensive side, Jovonn Quillen grabbed an interception to end Muhlenberg's first drive in the third quarter. Two minutes later, Hosh Weekes snatched another pick on the Mules' second drive. This time, after grabbing possession, he quickly flipped the turnover into a touchdown with a 23-yard scamper, which handed Christopher Newport a 17-13 lead.
 
Despite another response by Muhlenberg that gave the visitors a 20-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter, the Captains retaliated with one of the finest drives in program history.
 
Facing a three-point deficit, Christopher Newport took possession with seven minutes remaining in regulation. Starting 84 yards from the end zone, the Captains unleashed their passing attack. Early in the drive, Nathan Davis toed the sidelines with an acrobatic catch on a 26-yard completion. Four plays later, on 4th-and-7, George Jones hauled in a game-saving 31-yard reception to keep the drive alive.
 
Now just 16 yards from paydirt, Davis came through again. Running a fade into the back corner of the end zone, he put his athleticism on full display. Elevating over a Muhlenberg defender, the sophomore receiver made a leaping, out-stretched snag on a highlight-reel toss by Jones to retake a 24-20 lead.
 
With just over three minutes left in regulation, the Captains held on for the win following one last defensive stand. On Muhlenberg's final drive, the Mules marched down to Christopher Newport's 28-yard line. After forcing three straight incompletions, the hosts needed one final play on 4th-and-10. Coming through with the clincher, Olando Holmes broke through the line and hauled down the quarterback for a game-winning sack.
 
POSTSCRIPT
The defensive stand at the end of the contest was a perfect punctuation mark to Christopher Newport's first NCAA Tournament victory. Carrying the Captains throughout the 2003 campaign, the defense eventually finished the season ranked seventh in the nation in total defense and 11th in scoring defense.
 
Overall, the 2003 squad allowed just 12.2 points per game, which still stands as the best mark in program history.
 
Wrapping up the year with an 8-3 record, Christopher Newport saw 16 players earn All-Conference accolades. George Jones led the way, securing the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Twelve years later, he was inducted into the Christopher Newport Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
Incredibly, along with Jones, four other Hall of Famers saw time on the 2003 squad. Rob Rodriguez and Roland Hilliard were also freshmen on the roster, while Justin Wood was a sophomore and Tommy Fitzgerald was a junior.
 
For a full listing of the fall 2020 features published to date, click here.
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