CARLISLE, Pa. - Christopher Newport University squandered a 14-0 first half lead Saturday afternoon, and went on to fall in overtime at Dickinson College, 27-24. The Red Devils improved to 4-1 on the season, while the Captains fell to 3-2.
After CNU kicker
Ryan Castle opened overtime with a 23-yard field goal, Dickinson pulled out the victory when junior quarterback Presley Egbers tossed a 14-yard scoring pass to Bobby Markey in the back of the end zone for the game-winner. It marked the first time in the game the Red Devils were ahead on the scoreboard.
"Just too many critical mistakes at key times of the game," Head Coach
Paul Crowley said following the defeat. "We did a pretty good job with our run defense today, but self-inflicted errors cost us several times. As we head back into NJAC play, we've got to continue working and getting better."
Sophomore running back
Gunner White scored two first-half touchdowns for the Captains, who had won their last two games including a 24-14 home win over Salisbury last Saturday. White opened the scoring thanks to a 16-yard run in the opening quarter, and then got open for a 29-yard scoring reception from freshman quarterback
Connor Barry with 6:10 left in the first half. White finished the day with 102 yards on 21 carries rushing, and also caught three passes for 37 yards to contribute 139 total yards for the day.
Dickinson then began its comeback, and broke into the scoring column with just 1:28 left before halftime to cut the lead to seven at the break, 14-7. Egbers connected with tight end Devlin McCool from four yards out for the Devils first score. The momentum carried over through halftime and the third quarter belonged to Dickinson. The Devils scored the only points of the quarter just three minutes into the second half, traveling 69 yards on six plays to tie the game at 14-14 as Egbers threw a six-yard scoring strike to Bobby Markey.
CNU would then rally to re-claim the lead, 21-14, when Barry crossed the goal line on a one-yard run with just 6:42 remaining in regulation. The scoring play capped a ten-play, 80-yard drive by the Captains.
Dickinson, though, would not be denied. The Red Devils, now 4-1, again pulled even when running back Diante Bell scored on a six-yard run with just 90 seconds left in the fourth quarter, setting up the dramatic Dickinson victory in OT. CNU's defense held Ball to 67 yards on 24 attempts. Senior
Kindrick Braxton led the Captains defense with nine tackles on the day, while junior
Andrew Worsham posted eight stops, 4.5 for lost yardage.
Barry, who made his second start of the season at quarterback in place of injured
Matt Dzierski, completed 11 of 19 pass attempts for 170 yards. He also ran for 66 yards on 11 carries. Egbers led the Devils by hitting on 16 of 28 throws for 221 yards and three scores.
The loss for the Captains came in the first overtime game for Crowley, who's in his second season leading the Captains. Christopher Newport concluded its non-conference schedule with the loss, and was 2-2 this fall with wins over Southern Virginia and Gettysburg and losses to Johns Hopkins and Dickinson. Christopher Newport's five remaining games are all New Jersey Athletic Conference battles, and the Captains open the second half of the season next weekend with a Saturday afternoon game at Rowan University. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. in Glassboro, New Jersey.
