NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport University scored touchdowns on its first five possessions Saturday, pulling away to a 49-3 victory over William Paterson University. The game opened the New Jersey Athletic Conference season for both schools, and improved the 14th-ranked Captains to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC.
The victory marked the 19th consecutive regular season win for Christopher Newport dating back to the 2024 season.
"We challenged our guys on Friday when we felt we really hadn't practiced well, and they responded today," Head Coach
Paul Crowley said following the victory. "It was a great atmosphere as always when we're home and it was wonderful to see so many Captains return to campus and support our program."
Sophomore quarterback Brandon Pena threw three touchdown passes, and also ran for a score as CNU opened a 35-0 lead at the half and cruised to the 46-point win at TowneBank Stadium.
"I was really impressed with Brandon's play today," Crowley continued. "I've challenged him to make more plays out of structure, and his touchdown run was him just making something out of nothing. It was very positive to see, and he is clearly getting better and better each week."
Pena's opening score went to junior wide receiver
Beau Sahnow, and he later connected with senior tight end
Ethan Barham and senior running back
Alex Jreige on scoring passes. For the day, Pena completed 21 of 25 attempts for 245 yards, and he also scored on a four-yard run in the second quarter.
Freshman
Lukas Wuhrer spelled Pena at quarterback and recorded a nine-yard scoring scamper, and also connected with freshman
Justin Clarke on a 50-yard touchdown pass to complete the scoring in the fourth quarter.
Christopher Newport's defense again was spectacular, allowing just a third quarter field goal to the Pioneers, who fell to 0-4 on the season. The Captains held WPU to 92 total yards 44 on the ground and 48 in the air. CNU sacked Pioneer quarterbacks three times, and also intercepted a pass.
The Captains were coming off a shut out win at Susquehanna last week, 21-0, and had held Western Connecticut State scoreless in the second half of a 37-7 triumph on September 12th. The 27-yard field goal by William Paterson's Omar Rodriguez snapped a streak of eight consecutive quarters the Captains had held their opponents scoreless.
Saturday's victory, in front of a Homecoming crowd of 3,289 on a cloudy and cool day, was the tenth for the Captains in 11 all-time meetings with WPU. CNU is now 6-0 all-time at home vs. the Pioneers.
Christopher Newport travels to New Jersey next Saturday to play the Cougars of Kean University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Alumni Stadium in Union, N.J.
"I think the next two weeks will be the toughest stretch of the regular season for us," Crowley concluded. "Going to Kean and then Montclair State the following week will give us two very tough challenges on the road, and we'll have to be ready to play well and match the intensity and enthusiasm we've been building."
