NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The 2021 football season begins Saturday night, as the Captains of Christopher Newport host the Generals of Washington and Lee. Kickoff at TowneBank Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. It will be the first meeting ever of the two programs.

Gates will open at 5:00 p.m., and tickets will be available at TowneBank Stadium Saturday. It will be the first home game for the Captains with fans in attendance since November 9, 2019. The matchup with the Generals will be the first of four non-conference games for CNU, which will be followed by six contests in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

For a pre-season look at the Captains from Head Coach Art Link, click HERE. For rosters, depth charts, and more game information you can click HERE for the complete Captains Game Notes package. The game will be broadcast live on the Christopher Newport/Pepsi Radio Network (Xtra 99.1 FM) with the pre-game show beginning at 5:30 p.m. Live video of the contest can also be seen by clicking HERE. You can also follow the action with live stats by clicking HERE.

Art Link begins his fifth year at the helm in 2021, his fourth full season, and looks to combine a core group of experienced veterans and a host of newcomers into an improved squad.
 
"We're just so excited to get out there and compete," Link said. "Last year was tough on everyone, but we hope we've turned the corner and are back on the right track. Our group coming in has a lot of experience to provide leadership, and there's a lot of young talent, too. I can't wait to hear the great Captains fans in full voice at TowneBank Stadium."
 
Following Saturday's battle with Washington and Lee, the 2021 non-conference schedule also features a road game at Averett in week two, a home matchup with Ferrum in week three, and a trip to Washington for a battle with Catholic to end September. Averett and Ferrum are former league-mates from the USA South Athletic Conference, while the game with Catholic will be the first ever. The New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule for 2021 features six games, three at home and three on the road. CNU will host league rivals Kean, Montclair State, and defending champion Salisbury and will travel to New Jersey three times to play William Paterson, the College of New Jersey, and Rowan.
 
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW:
Christopher Newport returns fifth-year wide receiver Garrison Mayo, who is likely to be one of the top playmakers of the squad. Mayo has tremendous speed and is elusive following the catch, and has scored eight career touchdowns for the Captains. He's been hampered by injuries in the past, so keeping him healthy will be critical. At quarterback, sophomore Matt Dzierski has been named the starter with seniors Scotty Forbes and Ty Crabb also expected to push for playing time. Junior Xander Jedlick has moved from quarterback to wide receiver, where he will join Mayo as well as sophomores Michael Bailey, Roemell Garcia, and Chase Kelly as targets for the passing game. In the backfield, freshman Aeron Williams and senior Adam Luncher are likely to lead the way for playing time. The Christopher Newport offensive line could be a particularly strong spot, with several key returners. Seniors Nick Norman, Drew Knott, A.J. Atkins and Max Wilson as well as juniors Josh Hartley and Connor Kirley all have the experience and potential for big seasons in 2021.
 
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW:
Christopher Newport's defensive unit has a number of returning lettermen with extensive experience. The linebacking corps should be very skilled, and will likely be led by seniors Sean Wilkinson,Jason Massengill, Jordan Hudson as well as sophomores Nana Ankrah and Michael Evans. Senior Conner Ryan will be a key returner up front for CNU, with the defensive line likely also comprised of seniors Jack Parsons and Adrian Cassanova and junior Luke Nitowski. In the secondary, the Captains have solid returners in Josh Uvodich and D.J. Wright as well as Shawn Hamilton and Kindrick Braxton to lead the list of veterans.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS OVERVIEW
Both the kicking and punting chores for Christopher Newport will feature new faces for the 2021 season. The Captains have several options at each spot, with junior Ryan Castle and sophomore Nick Gonzalez a possibility for both.
 
SUMMARY
The Captains reported for pre-season camp in mid August with big numbers, and high expectations. They've worked hard getting readyf for the 2021 campaign, and the number of returning players with game experience, coupled with promising newcomers, should be a sign the Captains are on track for an upswing in success.