Newport News, Va. - The Captains of Christopher Newport handed North Carolina Wesleyan a 20-8 loss in Saturday night's USA South football action. The two squads battled wet conditions throughout the night, with the Captain defense coming up with three huge redzone stops in the first half that proved to be the difference in the game.
In the first two quarters, the Captains (4-1, 1-1 USA South) got rushing TDs from Paul Dukes and Storm Parker from 33- and 12-yards out, respectively. The TDs sandwiched a team safety to open the second period, and CNU would take its 14-2 lead into the break.
The Bishops made three trips to the redzone in the opening half, the first coming in the first quarter when the ball was turned over on downs at the CNU-16. The second came midway through the second when the Bishops drove down to the CNU-11 before a missed field goal gave the ball back to the Captains. Wesleyan's final chance came just prior intermission and saw the Bishops' drive stall at the CNU-4 as time expired.
CNU proceeded to control the ball in the third and fourth quarters by way of the run, but Wesleyan's defense would hold the Captains to a pair of Mason Studer field goals from 24- and 22-yards out.
The Bishop offense made good on its lone redzone opportunity of the half, as a 2-yard scoring run by junior Jacques Alston capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with 5:34 remaining. CNU, however, ran the clock out on any thoughts of a Bishop comeback, securing the 20-8 victory.
Alston finished with 86 rushing yards, while freshman wideout Malik Adams caught five passes for 83 yards. Junior tight end Brice Wordsworth also hauled in a season-high four catches for 43 yards.
Defensively, freshman Rocky Carlisle made a game-high 12 tackles for the Bishops.
Wesleyan (1-5, 1-2 USA South) returns home next weekend to take on USA South foe Greensboro College. Kickoff is slated for 1:00pm at Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium.