GLASSBORO, N.J. - Christopher Newport University concluded the football season Saturday with a come-from-behind road victory over Rowan University, 35-32. The Captains evened their season record at 5-5 and finished the year 3-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Dzierski ran for three touchdowns, and threw two fourth quarter scoring passes to propel the Captains to victory on a sunny and autumnal afternoon at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium. Dzierski completed 25 of 31 passes for the day for 297 yards and also ran the ball 19 times for 105 yards, accounting for 302 total yards.

The Captains got off to a fast start, traveling 79 yards on 16 plays on their first possession, and running almost ten minutes off the first quarter clock. Dzierski completed the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give CNU a 7-0 early edge. Rowan would get on the board with a field goal in the second quarter, and the Profs were able to jump in front with a score in the final minute of the first half to take a 10-7 lead at the intermission.

Christopher Newport's special teams opened the second half with a big play, recovering a fumble by Rowan on the opening kick of the second half, giving the Captains the ball at the 16 yard line of the Profs. Dzierski plunged into the end zone from one yard out to put CNU back in front, 14-10. 

Rowan responded with a scoring run to re-claim the lead just four minutes later, 17-14, and the seesaw battle intensified. CNU answered with a 35-yard scamper by Dzierski for his third rushing touchdown of the day to put the Captains on top, 21-17, at the end of three quarters.

The final quarter proved to be a wild one, as the teams combined to score 29 points. Christopher Newport built its biggest lead when Dzierski connected with sophomore Michael Bailey on a 34-yard scoring strike with ten minutes to play, putting the Captains up by 11, 28-17. The Profs again answered quickly, scoring twice on touchdown runs of two and 17 yards, and converting a two-point conversion as well as an extra point, to re-gain the lead, 32-28 with just 1:28 left on the fourth quarter clock.

The Captains then orchestrated a textbook two-minute drill, traveling 70 yards on seven plays, on their final possession of the season. Dzierski again found Bailey, this time from 22 yards away, for the game-deciding score with just 33 seconds left...giving the Captains the 35-32 victory.

CNU out-gained Rowan for the day in total yardage, 435-419, including a 297-214 edge in passing yards. Bailey caught three passes, two for scores, for 72 yards. Sophomore Chase Kelly caught six passes for 63 yards for the Captains, who now have won three of the last four meetings with the Profs. Rowan leads the all-time series, 8-4. The Profs are now 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the NJAC, and will conclude their season next Friday night at the College of New Jersey.