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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University opens play in the 2025 NCAA Division III Football Championship Saturday, hosting the River Hawks of Susquehanna University. The Captains are ranked sixth in the country and have a 10-0 record, while SU is 9-2 and is ranked 22nd. Kickoff for the second round game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at TowneBank Stadium.

The Captains will be making their 12th all-time appearance in the NCAA's, and the second trip in the last three years. The game will be the first home game in the tourney for CNU since 2006, and will be the fourth tournament game ever played at Christopher Newport in the 25-year history of the program.

"This is a great privilege to host in the NCAA Tournament," Head Coach Paul Crowley said. "I think our guys are really aware of how difficult it is to get to this point, and are focused on putting forward a tremendous effort against a team we've already played this season. We've had two weeks to prepare, and I think we've made good use of the extra time to get ready for this rematch."

CNU ended the regular season with a 27-7 victory over the College of New Jersey on November 14th at Lions Stadium in Ewing, N.J. With the victory, Crowley's squad captured the outright New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship, the second since joining the league in 2015. Senior running back Gunner White scored his 50th career touchdown in the road triumph, and became one of just three active running backs in Division III responsible for 50 or more career touchdowns (joining Montie Quinn of Curry and Eddie Williams of Alma). Junior quarterback Connor Barry, who was named the NJAC's Offensive Player of the Year, completed 18 of 26 passes in the win for 201 yards and two scores, and also ran for a score. He completed the regular season with 34 touchdown passes and just three interceptions, while completing 167 passes in 240 attempts (69.6 percent). He also ran for nine scores in ten games this season.

With the first 10-0 perfect regular season in program history, the Captains have now won 15 straight games dating back to last season, setting a new school record for consecutive wins in a single season and overall. The previous high was eight set during the 2008 season when CNU went 8-2 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament as Champions of the USA South Athletic Conference.

The NJAC bestowed post-season honors to 16 members of the Christopher Newport University football squad for their play this fall. The Captains garnered two major awards as Barry was voted the league's Offensive Player of the Year, and Crowley and his assistants were selected the Coaching Staff of the Year. Barry was joined on the first team offense by senior wide receiver Colin Hart, junior tight end Ethan Barham, junior offensive lineman Andrew Belford, and sophomore offensive linemen Ethan Gonzalez Bonilla and Kellan Roberts. In addition to the six offensive first team members, the Captains also received four first team defensive honors. Junior defensive lineman Connor Estrella, sophomore defensive lineman Charlie Clawson, Jr., senior cornerback Yasir Geter, and junior safety Noah Martin were all named to the first team.

Susquehanna University has a record of 9-2 entering Saturday's game, and the River Hawks have won their last seven games since falling to the Captains at TowneBank Stadium, 41-27, on September 27th during Family Weekend at TowneBank Stadium. SU won its third straight Landmark Conference title by going 6-0 in league play for the third straight season. Susquehanna defeated Washington and Jefferson College last Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, 38-32, in Selinsgove, Pa. The Hawks received all four top awards from the Landmark this season as quarterback Josh Ehrlich was named the Offensive Player of the Year, defensive lineman Galen Limantour was named Defensive Player of the Year, wide receiver Daniel Growney was honored as Rookie of the Year, and Head Coach Tom Perkovich and his assistants were selected Coaching Staff of the Year.

Tickets for Saturday's game will be available at TowneBank Stadium beginning at 10:00 a.m. Saturday. You can also purchase tickets online by using the ticket link posted at the top of this story.

All Christopher Newport games are broadcast live on the Home of the Captains, Xtra 99.1 FM. The pre-game show Saturday will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Links are provided at the top of this story for the live video of the game, which will be produced by ESPN+, as well as live stats, the complete CNU game notes package, and NCAA bracket.

The winner of the game will advance to play the winner of the Franklin & Marshall/Eastern game next Saturday, December 6th, at 12 noon in the round of 16.