Live Video // Live Stats // CNU Game Notes
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - It will be the 250th game in Christopher Newport University football history, and it's safe to say one of the most anticipated ever in the 25 seasons of Captains football. Christopher Newport hosts Salisbury University Saturday night at TowneBank Stadium in the final regular season home game for the Captains. Both teams are 8-0 and tied atop the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) with 5-0 league marks. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
When the schedule for 2025 was released in mid March, not many would have predicted the two rivals to be so dominant this season. The Captains are ranked 13th in the country this week in the D3football.com poll, while Salisbury is seventh. In the weekly poll from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), CNU is 12th and Salisbury is fourth. Now, the unbeaten squads collide, with the winner guaranteed a share of the NJAC Championship.
"I know it's a coaching cliche, but we haven't prepared any differently this week than we normally do," Head Coach
Paul Crowley said Friday afternoon. "We've put in five good days of preparation and solid work, and that's the formula we've always used."
The NJAC leaders are two of just eight undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division III football, and two of the top six scoring squads in the country, with the Captains fourth at 49.5 points per game, and the Sea Gulls sixth at 48.75 points per game.
Christopher Newport is coming off a hard-fought victory at home last Saturday over Montclair State, 49-42. Junior quarterback
Connor Barry threw for four scores and also ran for a touchdown as CNU scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to hold off the upset-minded Red Hawks. The Captains recorded three key interceptions in the second half to help seal the victory, the 13th straight win for Christopher Newport dating back to last season. Barry has been named the Offensive Player of the Week five times this season in the NJAC, including the last two weeks, and leads the nation in passing efficiency this week for the sixth straight week with 30 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.
Salisbury, meanwhile, had no trouble last week at home in a 51-7 victory over William Paterson, marking the fifth time this year Sherman Wood's team has gone over the 50-point mark. Wood is in his 27th season leading the Sea Gulls, and Salisbury was 12-1 last year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. Salisbury has won 25 of 27 games played since CNU beat the Gulls at TowneBank Stadium two years ago, 24-14, on September 30, 2023.
The battle will be the 24th in the all-time series, the longest-running series in CNU football history, which dates back to the very first game of Christopher Newport football in 2001. The Sea Gulls have a 17-6 edge in the series, and are 9-2 all-time at TowneBank Stadium.
"I would say this Salisbury team is as good as any Salisbury team that we've ever gone against," Crowley continued. "They have a very explosive offense, and their skill guys are tremendous. They lead the country in yards per play, and our defense is prepared for a great challenge."
Saturday's game will feature a pre-game celebration of Christopher Newport's senior student-athletes prior to their final home regular-season game. It will also be Military Appreciation night, and $5.00 general admission tickets will be sold, on day of game only, to those with military ID. Tickets will go on sale at TowneBank Stadium Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m.
All Captains games are broadcast live on the Home of the Captains, Xtra 99.1 FM and CNUsports.com. The pre-game show Saturday will begin at 5:30 p.m. Links are provided at the top of this story to the live video of the game, as well as the complete CNU game notes package and live stats of the game.
Following Saturday's game, the Captains will conclude the regular season on Friday, November 14th, at the College of New Jersey in a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.
"It's going to be a quick turnaround, and a short week," Crowley said. "Regardless of what happens against Salisbury, we have to be ready to get back to work to get ready for TCNJ, which will be another important and challenging game."
