NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The Christopher Newport University football squad played a game for the first time in 16 months on Sunday, losing at Salisbury University, 30-5, in the first of three scheduled games in a mini spring season. The New Jersey Athletic Conference game was played at Sea Gull Stadium in Salisbury, Md.

Salisbury rushed for 316 yards and four touchdowns from four different rushers, and the Sea Gulls' defense held the Captains to just 183 total yards for the game.

Christopher Newport's defense scored in the second quarter when junior linebacker Jack Parsons sacked Salisbury quarterback Jack Lanham in the end zone for a safety. The Gulls had opened the game by going 74 yards on 13 plays and scoring on its initial drive on a five-yard Shamar Gray run. The Gulls later added a 22-yard field goal to give SU a 10-2 advantage nearing halftime.

Captains senior kicker Ben Garbarini connected on a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the opening half, capping a six-play, 49-yard drive to make it a 10-5 game at the intermission.

The second half, though, would belong to the Sea Gulls, as Salisbury scored a third quarter touchdown (on a six-yard run by Lanham) and added two more in the fourth quarter (scoring runs of 11 yards by Joey Bildstein and 23 yards by Chad Gleason) for the 30-5 final verdict.

Salisbury out-gained the Captains in total yardage, 377-183, and on the ground, 316-69. Christopher Newport had the edge in the passing yardage, 114-61. Captains starting quarterback, sophomore Xander Jedlick, was 8-of-18 for 83 yards, while freshman wide receiver Michael Bailey caught three passes for 52 yards, including a 21-yard hookup. Jedlick also led the squad in rushing with 37 net yards on five scampers, including a 24-yarder.

On defense, Parsons finished the game with five tackles, including the sack that put two points on the board. Senior linebacker Jordan Hudson and freshman defensive back Kindrick Braxton led the squad with eight tackles each. 

Salisbury clinched the South Division title in the shortened NJAC spring season with the victory, improving to 2-0 after beating Wesley last week. The Sea Gulls do not have another game scheduled, as their game vs. Kean set for next week was canceled when Kean halted its season due to CoVID protocols. Christopher Newport, Salisbury, and Wesley make up the South Division, while Kean, William Paterson, and Montclair State comprise the North Division for the short season of  spring NJAC football. 

The Captains had last played on November 16, 2019, losing at Wesley College, 42-7, to end the 2019 campaign with a 2-8 record. The matchup with Salisbury was the 19th all-time, and the Sea Gulls now hold a 14-5 advantage in the series.

Christopher Newport is scheduled to host Wesley College next Sunday, March 28, at TowneBank Stadium in a 4:00 p.m. start. Click HERE for Christopher Newport's attendance policy.