By Pat Cummings
D3sports.com
We outlined Christopher Newport's struggles last week against Rowan. So let's put all of this into perspective.
Rowan defeated CNU 32-8 in a game that could have easily been a 50-point win by the Profs or perhaps merely a 17-8 victory had the Captains not made so many early mistakes.
So in Week 2, a 15-10 win over sixth-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor rocked the scoreboards.
CNU's offense struggled against the Profs and the Crusaders were coming in to kickoff their season and many considered them the strong favorites especially considering CNU's Week 1 output.
With CNU holding the five-point lead, UMHB took over at the Captains 41-yard line with just more than two minutes remaining. Three Josh Welch pass completions got the Crusaders down to the 1-yard line and a game winning score seemed imminent.
"I was just expecting that big No. 23 (Freddie Rollins) getting the ball up the gut three times," CNU coach Matt Kelchner told the Newport News Daily Press.
UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg called for a passing play and Welch dropped back to pass, only to lose the ball as CNU's Harvey Harper sacked the 2004 Stagg Bowl starting quarterback. CNU recovered and took home the surprising win.
It was "the most significant win in CNU history," Kelchner said, "hands down."
In analyzing the win, it's tough to say whether or not UMHB had a bad game or CNU a really strong game. (We'll learn more later in the week in Around the Nation, since Keith McMillan was at the game.) This much is clear:
->The Captains ran for minus-2 yards. Most of the lost yardage came on five UMHB sacks of Faison, but even still, Roland Hilliard accumulated just 40 yards on 19 carries.
->Quarterback Todd Faison improved and completed 16 of 24 passes for 213 yards but just one touchdown.
->CNU called a fake punt just seven minutes into the game which resulted in their first touchdown. Without the gadgetry, the Captains might have lost. They also had two long gains called back because of penalty, however.
->The Captains did not turn the ball over.
There is no doubt that the final scores from CNU's first two games of the season are Jekyll and Hyde, but some similarities on the stat sheets should concern Captains fans.
Diplomats outgovern Generals
Washington and Lee's highly regarded 2006 squad ran into a group of feisty politicians in Lancaster this past Saturday, falling to the Diplomats of Franklin and Marshall 21-7. F&M coach John Troxell made his debut a winning one behind two passing scores and a rushing touchdown from quarterback Kyle Turner.
The Generals were predicted to finish second in the ODAC preseason poll and returned a host of offensive and defensive starters. The one major question mark surrounding W&L was the first start for long-time backup, Hunter Dawkins. Despite going 11-for-20, Dawkins' passes gained just 58 yards, and W&L managed just 128 all day against the Dips. Not having the ball on offense didn't help either. F&M dominated the clock, holding the ball for more than 42 minutes.
"We couldn't stop them," W&L coach Frank Miriello told the Lancaster Sunday News, "and we couldn't get the ball back."
The Generals' main focus will be ODAC play, but a slow start to 2006 is nothing the Miriello wanted to see. Meanwhile, F&M couldn't be happier with its opening win with a non-conference matchup with Kean to come this week.
Bears open up a solid 2-0; John Port-less era begins for Lions
In the rain of Week 1, Ursinus kept the football tucked in the ground game and protected a 6-0 lead en route to a win against Susquehanna. More favorable conditions allowed for a more diversified offense at Albright last week and the Bears cruised to a 32-13 win.
Freshman Aaron Harper carried 43 times against Susquehanna and basically was the entire offense for Ursinus (more below). Last week, it was senior David Ashworth who led the Bears on the ground with 151 yards on 34 carries. Ted Wallingford hit Josh Hannum for two long touchdowns on his only receptions of the game
Note to Bears fans: Close games this year could require extra nail-biting. Justin Beres missed his only extra point attempt in week one and was one-for-two this week. Greg Zara was one for three in PATs against Albright, along with two missed field goals. Special teams are so crucial and the Bears will need a reliable foot, especially when conference play kicks in.
Albright got their first look at football without big-time tosser John Port. Derek Dubbs and Tanner Kelly shared the position against Ursinus and combined for 19 completions from 32 attempts and 139 yards with an interception each.
Eagles defense pitch second shutout
For the second time in as many weeks, the Bridgewater Eagles defense did not allow their opponents to score. A 30-0 win over Shenandoah kicked off the Eagles' home season.
Philip Carter started at running back for Bridgewater in place of injured senior Winston Young. Young was sidelined with an injury in week one and fortunately for Eagles fans, his services were not needed as Carter managed 90 yards on 12 carries for a solid average of seven yards per carry.
McDaniel, Bridgewater's first shutout victim from last week, fell to Seton Hill this weekend and Shenandoah was handled by Catholic, narrow winners over Ohio Wesleyan. Those two opponents don't exactly make Bridgewater's strength of schedule look all that great. The schedule should get a bit tougher next week as the Eagles travel to Ferrum next week.
Scott ties Centennial kicking records
Johns Hopkins kicker Ben Scott booted a 52-yard field goal, tying a Centennial Conference record, in the Blue Jays 21-14 win over Randolph-Macon. The senior's two three-pointers gave him 33 for his career, also tying the CC mark for field goals in a career. And for good measure, Scott, who also punts, averaged a professional 44.8 yards per punt over his four attempts.
Isgro's rough start smooths out
Jim Clements was making his head coaching debut. Del Val freshman quarterback Mike Isgro was making his first start in his first collegiate game and had some pretty big shoes to fill in the graduated Adam Knoblauch.
Two incompletions, a sack, and two fumbles from Isgro probably didn't help Clements settle in, nor did a 7-0 FDU-Florham lead.
Not to worry as the Devils would not score again and Isgro's first collegiate completion was a 74-yard touchdown strike to sophomore running back Antonio Fernanders. For the game, Isgro ended up 12-for-27 with the touchdown and two interceptions.
Clements, the defensive coordinator, saw his green and gold allow just 152 yards and one FDU third-down conversion on the afternoon while the Del Val offense did everything possible to keep the Devils off the field. Del Val monopolized the football, holding it for nearly 41 minutes of the contest. Converting 11 of 22 third downs, and four of five fourth downs certainly helped. Given the new key elements in Doylestown, the box score tells the story that Del Val seemed well-prepared for its first game and they will have to be, as the Aggies travel to Wilkes for a major conference test.
Gettysburg shocks Hampden-Sydney
For the first time in eight years, H-SC opens up at 0-2. Perhaps more surprising is that the losses came to Sewanee and Gettysburg, both of whom were well-handled by the Tigers for the last four seasons. Now, the two teams who were beaten by a combined 108-47 in 2005 have gotten back on the winning side of the Tigers.
H-SC gave this one away. Freshman quarterback Craig Warnement tossed three interceptions, two of which led to Bullets touchdowns, and an eventual 28-20 Gettysburg win. The Tigers opened up to a 7-0 lead and had just gotten the ball back when Warnement threw his first pick to Gettysburg's Harold Barton which was returned to the H-SC one-yard-line. Matt Flynn pushed through for the score to tie it up early.
Leading 21-14, the Bullets picked off Warnement again on the first play of the fourth quarter and set themselves up to capitalize one more time. A personal foul penalty gave the Bullets the ball at the edge of the Tigers' red zone and three plays later, a 28-14 lead that would not be topped.
Overlooked Obscure Box Score from Week 1
We all deserve a holiday hangover, and so I will claim one for last week. Ursinus' 6-0 win over Susquehanna amongst the remnants of Ernesto was rather unique. Freshman Aaron Harper rushed 43 times for 153 yards and the Bears' lone score. Get this. The entire team accumulated 144 yards for the game. Senior running back James Cannon rushed for six yards and six other plays lost 15 yards.
Harper set a Centennial Conference record for most yards by a freshman playing in his first game. His yards, were pretty much the only ball movement for the game. Quarterback Ted Wallingford was 0-for-5 passing with two completions to Susquehanna defenders. While Harper ran all over the Crusaders, Susquehanna was hoping some of his gain would rub off on them. Susquehanna finished the game with one yard of rushing.
Mid-Atlantic Region Top 5
1. Bridgewater
2. Wilkes
3. Delaware Valley
4. Guilford
5. Christopher Newport
Del Val moves up in proving all is right with the world in their win over Florham. The Captains enter but are holding this spot tenuously; their offense struggles to put points on the board and an improvement there can hold this position down.
Games of the Week
No. 12 Delaware Valley at No. 19 Wilkes, Ralston Field, Edwardsville, Pa., 1:00 p.m.: Winner of this one takes the lead in the race for the MAC title, and the loser hopes that they can win out. This is the first time two ranked teams in the MAC have played in recent memory. Despite the lower ranking, Wilkes are definitely favored as the Colonels will host, and get Aggies youngster quarterback Mike Isgro in just his second collegiate start.
Guilford at Averett, Cougar Den, Danville, Va., 1:00 p.m.: Averett needs a win after facing top ranked Mount Union and now sixth-ranked Wesley in consecutive weeks. Welcome the high-powered offense of Guilford to the equation and while it gets easier for the Cougars, the Quakers have become formidable opponents.
