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Gagliardi Trophy semifinalists announced
December 05, 2025Dozens of players were nominated but 15 make it to the semifinal stage. Who are they? Check out the players, then cast your fan ballot for the top all-around student-athlete in Division III football. -
Christopher Newport Falls to Susquehanna, 42-28, to End Season at 10-1
November 29, 2025Christopher Newport University saw its season come to an end Saturday afternoon, falling to Susquehanna University on a sunny and chilly day at TowneBank Stadium, 42-28. The River Hawks, now 10-2, jumped to an early 14-0 lead in the opening quarter, and the Captains were never able to get closer than a touchdown. The loss snapped a ten-game winning streak this year for CNU, and a 15-game winning streak dating back to last season. Paul Crowley's squad ends the year with a 10-1 mark. The River Hawks, Champions of the Landmark Conference, intercepted three Connor Barry passes, and sacked the Captains junior quarterback five times. Barry, the Offensive Player of the Year in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, connected on just ten of 24 attempts for 148 yards and a score. He also ran for two scores on a two-yard play in the opening quarter and a one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter.
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Seventh-Ranked Christopher Newport Completes 10-0 Regular Season With 27-7 Victory at TCNJ
November 14, 2025Christopher Newport University will head to the NCAA Division III Championship with a 10-0 record following a 27-7 victory by the Captains over the College of New Jersey Friday night at Lions Stadium. Paul Crowley's squad officially captured the outright New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship with the victory, CNU's second since joining the league in 2015, and had already secured the conference's automatic bid to the 40-team NCAA tourney.
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Christopher Newport Captures NJAC Championship and Stays Unbeaten with 45-42 Win over Salisbury
November 08, 2025Christopher Newport University held off Salisbury University, 45-42, Saturday night at TowneBank Stadium to capture the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship. The Captains, now 9-0 and 6-0 in league play, are assured of the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Sea Gulls fell to 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the NJAC. Junior quarterback Connor Barry threw for two scores and ran for a pair of touchdowns, and senior running back Gunner White scampered 28 yards for what proved to be the winning score with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was the 49th in White's career, as he continued to add to his all-time school record. Barry completed 15-of-29 passes for 254 yards, and also rushed for a team-high 65 yards. Barry hit senior wide receiver Colin Hart five times for 111 yards, including a 36-yard scoring strike to open the second half. Hart's big game moved him past Rudy Rudolph for the all-time record of career receiving yards.
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CNU turns energy up when rain comes down
October 01, 2025Rain doesn't have an off switch, and Christopher Newport made the most of it in its win vs. Susquehanna, said coach Paul Crowley: “You don’t get to choose the conditions that you play in. The thing we say a lot of the time is you’ve got to embrace it.”
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Christopher Newport Improves to 3-0 with 41-27 Home Victory over 13th-Ranked Susquehanna
September 27, 2025Christopher Newport University improved to 3-0 Saturday, fighting off the rain and 13th-ranked Susquehanna University, 41-27, at TowneBank Stadium. A Family Weekend crowd of 3,726 watched the Captains match a program record with their eighth straight victory, and record a win over a ranked program for the first time since 2016. Junior quarterback Connor Barry threw for three touchdowns and 374 yards, and senior wide receiver Colin Hart caught four passes for 144 yards and a score, all in the first half, as the Captains handed the River Hawks their second loss in as many weeks. The meeting was the first of the programs, and was played in steady rain through the second half.
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Christopher Newport Sets New Scoring Record with 70-31 Victory over TCNJ
November 15, 2024Christopher Newport University concluded the 2024 football season Friday night with a resounding 70-31 victory over the College of New Jersey. The season-ending win at TowneBank Stadium shattered the highest point total mark in program history as the Captains won their fifth straight game to finish the year at 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Running backs Jordin Lennon and Gunner White each scored four touchdowns as the Captains scored 35 points in each half and registered 458 rushing yards vs. the Lions. Lennon, a sophomore from Yorktown, Va., carried the ball 15 times for 234 yards, averaging 15.6 yards per carry. White, a junior from Virginia Beach, rushed 27 times for 183 yards as the Captains notched their seventh win in front of 2,708 fans on Senior Night. The 70-point outburst surpassed CNU's previous scoring record of 58 points at Ferrum College on November 16, 2013, in a 58-12 victory in Ferrum, Va. The Captains scored ten touchdowns, five in each half, and the 458 rushing yards is the second-highest rushing total in program history behind a 509-yard effort at Averett on October 10, 2009.
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Captains Run Winning Streak to Four With 33-10 Victory at Montclair State
November 09, 2024Christopher Newport University broke open a close game in the second half Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 33-10 victory at Montclair State University. The Captains are now 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The victory was the fourth straight for the Captains, who were playing their final road game of the season. Sophomore quarterback Connor Barry threw for 249 yards and ran for 58, totaling 307 yards for the Captains on a sunny and cool day at Sprague Field. Barry completed 13 of 21 passes, and threw for a score and also reached the end zone on a four-yard run in the fourth quarter. His scoring pass went to junior Trey Hayes on a 59-yard strike late in the third quarter. The 23-point final verdict was not indicative of the way the day went. The Captains held a slim 9-3 edge at the intermission before out-scoring the Red Hawks, 24-7, in the second half in front of 756 fans on Senior Day at MSU.
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Captains Running Game Leads to 45-7 Victory over William Paterson
November 02, 2024Christopher Newport University built a 38-0 halftime lead Saturday, and then coasted to a 45-7 victory over William Paterson University. The triumph at TowneBank Stadium was CNU's third straight, and also marked the fifth straight loss for the Pioneers. The Captains scored six touchdowns on a sunny and breezy day in front of 2,418 home fans, with five of the six coming on the ground. Paul Crowley's team is now 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, and had two players rush for 100 yards or more for the first time since 2013, as CNU registered 283 rushing yards and 342 total yards in the victory. Junior Gunner White (100 yards on 15 carries with three scores) and sophomore Jordin Lennon (174 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns) led the ground attack while sophomore quarterback Connor Barry also threw for 59 yards and a score.
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Barry Leads CNU to 32-21 Road Victory at Kean
October 26, 2024Sophomore quarterback Connor Barry threw for two scores and ran for a touchdown Saturday afternoon, as the Captains of Christopher Newport University defeated Kean University, 32-21. CNU improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), while the Cougars fell to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in league play. The Captains never trailed in the game on a sunny and breezy afternoon at Kean's Alumni Stadium. After a scoreless opening quarter, CNU built a 16-7 lead at halftime and then used scoring runs by Barry and junior tailback Gunner White in the third quarter to hold off the stubborn Cougars.
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Christopher Newport's Defense Dominant in 24-7 Home Victory over Rowan
October 19, 2024Christopher Newport University used a stingy defensive effort and took advantage of several key miscues by Rowan to record a 24-7 victory over the Profs. The win at TowneBank Stadium Saturday came during Homecoming Weekend celebrations on campus. The Captains built a 17-0 at halftime, and then held off the Profs in a defensive dominated second half. Both teams are now 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
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Captains Fall to Dickinson, 31-28, as Red Devils Score Deciding Touchdown in Final Minute
October 12, 2024It took a touchdown in the final minute for Dickinson College to prevail over Christopher Newport University Saturday afternoon, 31-28, at TowneBank Stadium. The Red Devils, now 3-2, spoiled CNU's second half comeback bid and dropped the Captains to 2-3 on the season. Freshman quarterback Ben Klassen stepped in for injured senior starter Presley Egbers, and led the Red Devils by throwing for scores in the final minute of each half. Klassen connected with senior receiver Rocco DiRico from 18 yards away with 21 seconds left in the first half to give the Devils a 21-14 halftime edge. Klassen and DiRico then hooked up again from 22 yards out with 57 seconds left in the fourth quarter for the deciding score. Klassen finished the day 21 of 35 in the passing department for 241 yards, and also ran the ball seven times for 72 yards.
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Christopher Newport Falls in Defensive Struggle to 7th-Ranked Johns Hopkins, 14-3
September 14, 2024Christopher Newport University fell to 1-1 to open the season Saturday, dropping a 14-3 decision to 7th-ranked Johns Hopkins University at TowneBank Stadium. The Captains, who scored 42 points in a season-opening road victory over Trine University last Saturday in Indiana, were held to just a first half field goal in their home opener by the Blue Jays, who improved to 2-0.
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Montclair State Hands Christopher Newport First Conference Loss of Season, 19-14
November 04, 2023Christopher Newport University had an eight-game home winning streak snapped Saturday afternoon, falling to Montclair State University, 19-14, at Kelchner Field at TowneBank Stadium. The loss leaves the Captains with a 6-3 overall mark and a 4-1 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Paul Crowley's squad will end the regular season on Friday night at the College of New Jersey, and a win by the Captains would still give them their first NJAC title since joining the league in 2015. Montclair State used a stellar defensive effort to hand the Captains their first conference loss of the season, and snap a three-game CNU winning streak. The Red Hawks, now 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the NJAC, held CNU to just 21 rushing yards on 22 carries in the game. "They were better than us today," Crowley said following the Senior Day defeat. "Their defense did a great job taking away our run game, and we just made too many mistakes to win the game."
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Christopher Newport Cruises to 34-10 Homecoming Victory over Kean
October 21, 2023Christopher Newport University scored a little more than a minute into the opening quarter Saturday afternoon, and never looked back on the way to a 34-10 victory over Kean University at Kelchner Field at TowneBank Stadium. The Captains improved their record to 5-2 overall and 3-0 atop the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Senior quarterback Matt Dzierski threw for three touchdown passes, and sophomore wide receiver Colin Hart scored three times, once on a running play and twice on receptions from Dzierski. The Captains sent a Homecoming crowd of 3,123 home happy on a breezy and pleasant fall day by scoring five touchdowns, and have now won eight straight games at home dating back to last season.
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Stifling Defensive Effort Leads Christopher Newport over Salisbury, 24-14
September 30, 2023Christopher Newport University used a stifling defensive effort Saturday afternoon to hold off Salisbury University, 24-14. The victory, in front of a standing room only crowd of 4,167 at Kelchner Field at TowneBank Stadium, came in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both schools. Paul Crowley's Captains snapped a 21-game Salisbury winning streak in conference action dating back to 2018, and also ended a string of seven straight wins by the Sea Gulls over the Captains in the series.
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Crowley promoted at CNU
December 08, 2021Paul Crowley, a former player at Christopher Newport and current offensive line coach, is getting promoted following the departure of Art Link.
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Link cut loose at Christopher Newport
November 08, 2021A 5-5 season wasn't enough for CNU to retain Art Link, whose teams had gone 2-10 in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
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CNU Defense Sparkles as Captains Improve to 4-1 with 30-0 Home Victory over Rowan
September 30, 2017NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport's defense did the talking Saturday night as the Captains blanked the Profs of Rowan University, 30-0, at POMOCO Stadium. CNU improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference with the victory that saw the Captains hold the Profs to just 67 total yards and four first downs all night.
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Christopher Newport finally finds its coach
January 31, 2017Five and a half months after Matt Kelchner announced he was stepping down and two and a half months after CNU's football season ended, the Captains finally have their new commanding officer.
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Captains Give Kelchner Proper Send-Off with 41-0 Senior Day Victory Over Southern Virginia
November 12, 2016NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport concluded the 2016 season and the Matt Kelchner era Saturday, as the Captains shut out the Knights of Southern Virginia, 41-0. The victory at POMOCO Stadium was followed by an emotional ceremony at midfield honoring the only coach in the 16-year history of the CNU football program.
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Captains Stage Dramatic Comeback...Defeat Montclair State in Double Overtime, 28-21
October 15, 2016NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Christopher Newport posted a fourth quarter comeback Saturday, and outlasted Montclair State at POMOCO Stadium in a double overtime thriller, 28-21. The Captains, now 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, used a dynamic defensive effort in the second half to send a Family Weekend standing-room-only crowd of 4,711 fans home happy.
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Saints, Cardinals win Top 25 battles
September 17, 2016Thomas More pulled away from W&J in the second half, while St. John Fisher picked off Cortland twice in the fourth quarter to win and CNU pulled away from Wesley. More in Saturday's Top 25 roundup.
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CNU trying to restore tradition
September 14, 2016Christopher Newport started off its Division III football program with a bang, but the Captains landed with a thud last season after entering the NJAC. This season, however, they've come out with a lot more offense and a little extra motivation.
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Kearney's Record-Setting Performance Leads Captains to 45-27 Victory at Hampden-Sydney
September 10, 2016HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va.- The Christopher Newport football squad improved to 2-0 Saturday, pulling away from Hampden-Sydney in the second half on the way to a 45-27 triumph. Junior quarterback K.J. Kearney threw for two scores and ran for two more, and set a new school record for passing yards in a game with 355.
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CNU's only head coach to step down
August 10, 2016Matt Kelchner has been the only head coach in the 16-year history of Christopher Newport football. But following the 2016 season, the Captains will be looking for someone new at the helm.
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Big pick puts opponent on edge
November 03, 2015When you're reduced to playing spoiler, then the best thing to do is embrace the role and give it your best shot. The outcome for one particular team and the contender it was facing on Saturday is the D3football.com Play of the Week.
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Top 25: Cowboys turn heads; Captains end slide
October 31, 2015Hardin-Simmons turned one playoff race on its head after a wild fourth quarter, while St. Thomas remained unbeaten and Christopher Newport played spoiler. More in the Top 25 wrapup.
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CNU Football Stuns 18th-Ranked Salisbury, 51-39, for 100th Victory in Program History
October 31, 2015SALISBURY, MD.- Christopher Newport knocked off 18th-ranked Salisbury Saturday, 51-39, to snap a six-game losing streak and post the 100th victory in CNU football history. The Captains, now 2-6 overall and 2-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, recorded 495 yards of total offense and snapped a Salisbury five-game winning streak.
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CNU Football Jumps to Early Lead and Holds Off TCNJ, 31-21, in Season Opener
September 05, 2015NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Christopher Newport got off to a fast start Saturday by building a 24-0 lead by halftime over the College of New Jersey at POMOCO Stadium, but then had to hold off the Lions in the second half. The Captains, playing in their first game as associate members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, ended up winning the conference opener, 31-21, in front of 4,245 fans. The game was the 150th in CNU program history, and the first ever with the Lions.
