ASHLAND, Va. - A fourth quarter comeback bid came up short, and the season came to a close Saturday afternoon for the Christopher Newport University football squad. The Captains, appearing in NCAA play for the first time since 2014, fell to the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College, 28-20, at Day Field.

Paul Crowley's squad, Champions of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, finished the year with a 7-4 record, and managed to hold the high-powered R-MC offense to its lowest point total of the year. The Yellow Jackets, now 11-0, will take on Ithaca College in the second round next Saturday.

"I couldn't be more proud of this team for all they did this season," Crowley said following the game. "Our seniors and grad students have been a part of a great turn-around and I think we all owe them a debt of gratitude. This was a special season, and we gave them a great fight today, but came up just a bit short." 

Randolph-Macon opened the game on a sunny and breezy autumnal afternoon by scoring on its first possession, traveling 69 yards on ten plays, to grab an early 7-0 advantage. Fifth-year senior kicker Ryan Castle opened the scoring for CNU, connecting on a 20-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter. The field goal capped a 14-play, 72-yard drive, to cut the lead to 7-3...a score that would stand until halftime.

CNU's attempt to take the lead midway through the second quarter was thwarted when the Yellow Jackets made a defensive stop on sophomore running back Gunner White with a goal-line stand to preserve the four-point lead. CNU's defense also made a big stop in the second quarter when senior rover Kindrick Braxton intercepted a pass in the end zone with just over two minutes remaining to keep the score at 7-3 going to the break.

The Captains briefly surged ahead in the third quarter after another fantastic play on defense. Sophomore linebacker Pat Sullivan sacked R-MC quarterback Drew Campanale, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by junior linebacker Andrew Worsham. Christopher Newport scored four plays later on a one-yard run by senior quarterback Matt Dzierski to put CNU in front, 10-7. It marked just the second time this season the Yellow Jackets have trailed in a game.

Randolph-Macon, though, would recover quickly. The Yellow Jackets, who average 50.9 points per game this season, scored touchdowns on their next three possessions to open a 28-10 advantage with 9:09 to play in the fourth quarter. The three drives by Randolph-Macon covered 67, 65, and 75 yards.

The Captains, however had a comeback in mind. Dzierski went to the air on a long shot and connected with sophomore wide receiver Colin Hart on a 60-yard pass play to cut the lead to 28-17 with 8:14 to play. Randolph-Macon then went to work to trim the clock and keep possession. R-MC put together a drive than ran almost four-and-a-half minutes, and decided to attempt a field goal from 42 yards away. Sullivan stepped up again and made another big play on defense, blocking the kick and returning it 25 yards to give the Captains hope.

CNU took over at the Macon 45-yard line and moved the ball to the 28 before the Yellow Jackets held and forced another field goal attempt. Castle booted a 45-yarder with just under three minutes to go to pull the Captains within one score, 28-20. Castle then delivered a near-perfect onsides kick attempt, only to have the Yellow Jackets recover and run out the clock

Gunner White, the NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 74 yards on 15 carries in the first half. He was injured late in the second quarter and did not see action in the second half. Dzierski completed ten of 20 passes for 164 yards, and Hart caught three balls for 84 yards. On defense, freshman Noah Martin led the Captains with 11 tackles. Sullivan registered five stops in addition to his sack, forced fumble, and blocked kick.

Freshman punter Maxx Lawton set a new CNU school record in the game by delivering a 73-yard punt late in the second quarter. 

Christopher Newport won the NJAC title for the first time since joining the conference in 2015, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history,. The Captains are now 3-11 in NCAA games.

Click HERE for the post-game press conference.