Live Video  //  Game Notes

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The inaugural Anchor Bowl gets the regular season underway Saturday night for the Christopher Newport University football team. The Captains host the Newport News Apprentice School at TowneBank Stadium, with kick off set for 7:00 p.m.

The Captains are coming off their best season in program history, going undefeated (10-0) in the regular season last year. Head Coach Paul Crowley, who begins his fifth season leading the squad, is optimistic CNU will continue its winning ways.

"We've put in a lot of work over the last few weeks, and I think our preparation for the season has been excellent," Crowley said. "I think the general feeling is excitement to get out there and play in front of our great fans at TowneBank Stadium. There's nothing like the atmosphere and the electricity of a home game for us, and we've got a lot of new guys who will be experiencing that for the first time."

Christopher Newport won all ten regular season games last year for the first time in the 25-year history of the program. Crowley's squad set a new school record last season for scoring, with 496 points in 11 games (45.1 points per game). The previous record was set in 12 games during the 2014 season when CNU tallied 396 total points. CNU finished ninth in the country in scoring, and the Captains went over the 40-point mark in eight consecutive games.

Christopher Newport was 5-1 at home last year, and had won eight straight games at home dating back to 2024 before losing to Susquehanna in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The streak matched the program's all-time record for consecutive home victories.

While the game Saturday will serve as the season opener for the Captains, the Builders are already 1-0 on the season. The Apprentice School defeated Sussex County Community College last Saturday by a score of 27-14. The match up will mark just the second time the nearby schools have ever met on the football field. The Builders defeated the Captains, 38-35, in the first meeting four years ago at TowneBank Stadium. Christopher Newport is 12-13 all-time in games to open a season, and the Captains have won five straight season openers. The last two seasons, CNU has opened with victories over Trine University, 42-6 in Angola, Indiana, in 2024 and last year, 38-7, at TowneBank Stadium.

Tickets for the Anchor Bowl can still be purchased online by clicking the link below. Tickets will also be available for purchase beginning at 5:00 p.m. Saturday at TowneBank Stadium, with cash or card accepted. 

https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new//client.asp?ClientID=87

For fans who have already purchased tickets, Will Call will also open at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and will be located at the front entrance gates to TowneBank Stadium. If you are picking up tickets at Will Call, please remember to bring a photo ID. Tailgate passes will also be available on game day at the front entrance of the tailgate lot. The tailgate lot will open at 3:00 p.m. Tailgate passes are $30 and CASH ONLY.

Following Saturday's opener, Christopher Newport will hit the road next week for a game at Western Connecticut State. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. in Danbury, CT.