ANGOLA, IN. - Christopher Newport University opened the 2024 football season Saturday afternoon with a dominant 42-6 victory over Trine University. Fifth-year senior quarterback Matt Dzierski threw three first half touchdown passes, and junior running back Gunner White reached the endzone twice in the second half as the Captains surged to the 36-point victory at Shive Field at Fred Zollner Stadium.
CNU scored six touchdowns in all, five by the offense and one by the defense, and its five scoring drives were all 64 yards or longer. The meeting was the first ever of the schools, and came on a sunny, cool, and breezy day in the Hoosier state.
"I thought we performed at a pretty high level today, especially for the first game of the season," Crowley said. "Matt Dzierski was about as efficient as you can be, and he got the ball to our playmakers without many mistakes. Defensively, I think we wrapped up well and made some big plays. It was obviously a long trip and the game went the way we wanted it to."
An opening day crowd of 3,560 watched Dzierski open the scoring just four minutes into the opening quarter. The Captains signal caller connected with junior Colin Hart on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 11:08 on the clock. The play capped a drive that traveled 82 yards on eight plays. Early in the second quarter, Dzierski and junior Trey Hayes combined efforts on a 37-yard scoring play, culminating a five-play, 80-yard drive. The Captains veteran quarterback went back to Hart midway through the second quarter for his third scoring pass of the opening hal, again from eight yards out, to cap a drive that went 64 yards in just three plays. The Captains carried a 21-0 lead to the locker room at halftime.
After Trine opened the second half scoring with a touchdown reception from senior Cole Alexander to junior Jermaine Williams, CNU junior running back Gunner White took over for the Captains. White, the New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year last season, scored on runs of 28 and 12 yards to extend the lead to 35-6 after three quarters.
The final score of the game came on a 40-yard interception return by junior Eli Sherfield with 9:26 to play in the fourth quarter, accounting for the 42-6 final verdict.
Dzierski, CNU's all-time leading passer and a two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, completed 13 of 15 passes for 278 yards. He has now thrown 40 career touchdown passes and is just one shy of Marcus Morrast's all-time record of 41 scoring strikes.
White, who rushed for 71 yards on a dozen attempts, has now scored 22 touchdown in 22 games in a CNU uniform.
CNU's defense provided constant pressure on Trine's quarterbacks, and registered four sacks. Two of the sacks came from junior defensive end Jordan Cokley. Sophomore linebacker Noah Martin led the squad with nine tackles, while junior linebacker Patrick Sullivan logged seven tackles, three for loss of yardage, and also forced a fumble.
The victory was the fourth straight season -opening triumph for the Captains, who were 7-4 last year and captured their first New Jersey Athletic Conference title since joining the league in 2015.
The Captains open their home schedule next Saturday, September 14th, when they host Johns Hopkins University at TowneBank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. Johns Hopkins is also 1-0 after opening the season Saturday with a 27-23 road victory at Ithaca College.
Tickets for next Saturday's game vs. Johns Hopkins are sold out, but a limited number of five dollar Standing Room Only tickets will go on sale Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at TowneBank Stadium.