NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to break a 35-35 tie, and held off Montclair State University Saturday at TowneBank Stadium, 49-42. The Captains, now 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Confence, recorded three key interceptions in the second half to help hold off the upset-minded Red Hawks, who fell to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

"We persevered today and never stopped battling," Head Coach Paul Crowley said following the victory. "We stressed to our team this week that this had a good chance of being a four-quarter football game, and I think our kids did a good job making big plays when we really needed them to."

Christopher Newport built a 21-8 first half lead before Montclair State stormed back and cut the advantage to one at the break, 21-20. The Red Hawks later surged in front, 35-28, midway through the third quarter before the Captains tied the score with just over two minutes to go in the quarter when junior quarterback Connor Barry connected with junior tight end Ethan Barham on a 17-yard scoring pass, the third of four TD throws for Barry on the day.

Junior linebacker Maddax Lee picked off a Montclair State pass late in the third quarter with the game tied 35-35, returning the interception to the five yard line of the Red Hawks. Junior quarterback Connor Barry hit freshman tight end Fred Cowell IV from one yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter to break the tie and put the Captains up for good. Just two minutes later, sophomore safety Eddie Henderson returned a pick 50 yards for a score to stretch the CNU lead to 49-35. The third pick came on the following MSU possession, as senior cornerback Eli Sherfield thwarted a Red Hawk drive with an interception in the end zone to help preserve the victory.

The Red Hawks cut the lead back to seven with a score with 3:05 to play, but the Captains were able to convert two first downs in the final minutes to hang on for the win. Freshman running back Drevyon Tharrington carried the ball five times on the final possession, picking up two first downs, and rushing for 53 of his game-high 73 yards to preserve the victory.

In addition to throwing for four touchdowns, Barry also ran for a score as the Captains recorded their 13th consecutive victory dating back to last season. The junior lefty completed 15 of 19 passes for 209 yards, and has now thrown for 30 scores this season with just two interceptions.Barry hit Cowell for two scores from five and one yard out, and also connected with senior Colin Hart on a 56-yard bomb in the second quarter. The score was Hart's 28th career TD reception, and he finished the day with four grabs for 88 yards.

Senior running back Gunner White finished the day with 62 yards on seven totes, and scored on a three-yard carry in the second quarter for his 48th career touchdown as a Captain..

Montclair State out-gained the Captains for the day, 483-388, in total offense. Freshman linebacker Jackson Ambruzs led CNU in tackles with nine, including three solo stops. Junior rover Noah Martin loged eight tackles, with five solo tackles. Christopher Newport now holds a 6-4 lead in the all-time series with the Red Hawks.

Saturday's game, on a sunny and cool day with 2,773 fans on hand at TowneBank Stadium, featured a halftime celebration of the first Christopher Newport University football squad 25 years ago. More than 40 student-athletes from the first team returned to the field they played on and were introduced during the intermission. CNU went 5-4 in 2001, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in its first year of play, becoming the first start-up program at any level to advance to NCAA play.

The Captains will host Salisbury University next Saturday in a battle for first place in the NJAC. It will be Senior Night at TowneBank Stadium, and the Sea Gulls are also 8-0 and 5-0 in the NJAC. Salisbury defeated William Paterson University on Saturday in Salisbury, Md., 51-7.

"It's obviously an exciting time, and I know our kids are looking forward to next week," Crowley continued. "We're stressing that every game is important and we've got two left in the regular season and the goal is to get to the playoffs."