EWING, N.J. - For the first time since joining the New Jersey Athletic Conference in 2015, the Christopher Newport University football team captured the NJAC Championship Friday night with a 27-21 victory over the College of New Jersey. The Captains, now 7-3 overall and 5-1 in league play, will be one of 32 teams to advance to the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Tournament beginning next Saturday, November 18th.

Sophomore running back Gunner White raced into the end zone on a ten-yard run with just 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Captains the victory. White, who started the scoring with a seven-yard pass reception from senior quarterback Matt Dzierski, followed the late score by running in the two-point conversion as well for the 27-21 final verdict. 

"I'm so very proud of this team and this victory," Head Coach Paul Crowley said following the trophy presentation. "I don't think most people realize just how much work and effort these young men put in week after week. I'm happy to have at least another week with them as we get ready for the NCAA's."

Crowley, who has been a part of CNU games in the NCAA Tournament as a player and assistant coach, will now lead his team into the tournament in just his second season as head coach. Overall, this will be the 11th trip to the tourney for the Captains, and the first since 2014.

The Captains, who needed to win the regular season finale at Lions Stadium for the outright conference title and automatic bid, jumped to an early lead, 13-0,  but then had to battle from behind.to register the victory. After two touchdowns on their first two possessions of the night in the opening quarter, CNU didn't reach the end zone again until White's score with a little over a minute left.

Christopher Newport pieced together back-to-back 50-yard drives on the first two possessions of the night to open the 13-0 early lead. Dzierski, CNU's all-time leader in passing yards, connected with White on the first score and then went to sophomore Trey Hayes on a 27-yard connection for the second. 

With 3:21 remaining in the opening quarter, TCNJ jumped on the board thanks to a defensive score. Amir Vick intercepted a Dzierski pass and returned it 64 yards to cut the lead to 13-7, a score that would stand until the end of the first stanza. The Lions then took the lead five minutes into the second quarter when quarterback Trevor Bopp threw eight yards to tight end Thomas Burke to give the Lions a 14-13 edge, a lead they would maintain until halftime.

The third quarter saw the Captains produce two Ryan Castle field goals, from 22 and 21 yards, while the Lions scored the only touchdown of the quarter. Bopp connected with wide receiver Malin Jasinski on a 59-yard scoring strike, and TCNU held a 21-19 lead heading to the final 15 minutes.

Christopher Newport's game-winning drive began at the TCNJ 33-yard line thanks to a short punt by the Lions with 2:33 to play. White then took over for the Captains, running the ball four consecutive times on the drive for the 33 yards needed to reach the end zone to put CNU ahead to stay. White posted runs of two, 17, four, and ten yards...and then ran in the conversion to account for the 27-21 final margin.

"Gunner White is just a special player," Crowley continued. "He's only a sophomore, and I think he's one of the best our program has ever produced. I truly think he's the best offensive player in our league this year, and as the old saying goes, big players make big plays in big games."

CNU's defense also made numerous big plays, including three in particular in the fourth quarter. Senior defensive back Logan Baker picked off a Bopp pass in the end zone to end a Lions drive early in the final stanza. Freshman Noah Martin also made two sparkling plays, one on special teams and one on defense. Martin raced downfield on a punt and was able to stop the ball from bouncing into the end zone to force the Lions to begin their drive at the one-yard line. After the Captains took the lead, Martin put an end to TCNJ's final drive of the night by picking off a Bopp pass at the five-yard line to enable the Captains to run out the clock and begin the celebration.

Sophomore defensive back Yasir Geter led the Christopher Newport defense with nine tackles and also broke up three passes. Martin finished the game with seven stops in addition to the interception and special teams highlight. 

Sophomore wide receiver Trey Hayes produced 194 total yards for the Captains by catching ten passes for 92 yards, rushing three times for 20 yards, and returning four kickoffs for 82 yards.

The victory by the Captains on a chilly and damp Friday night snapped a TCNJ four-game winning streak The Lions finished the year with a 5-5 overall mark and a 3-3 NJAC record. CNU has now won seven of eight games over TCNJ in the all-time series, and have won all four games played at Lions Stadium.

The 32-team NCAA Tournament bracket will be released on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. CNUsports.com will have details on the opponent and location as soon as they become available.