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| Christopher Newport could go
out on top in its last game in any sport as a member of the USA
South. CNU athletics photo by Jesse Hutcheson |
A pair of upsets on Saturday handed the keys to the conference to the Captains and the Quakers. One program is on the rise and has already secured its winningest season in nearly two decades. The other is on its way out of a conference it has dominated since the program’s inception in 2001.
The USA South title will be wrapped up this Saturday if Christopher Newport wins at Maryville in the Captains’ final game as a member of the conference. Going out on top would be fitting for the program that has won a share of the league title in nine out of its 13 seasons under coach Matt Kelchner. After finishing tied for third place last season, the Captains are hungry to depart for the NJAC with a 2014 USA South title in tow. While they are excited to join a new league in 2015, they want to represent the only conference home they’ve ever known one last time in the postseason.
“It’s a lot of hard work and preparation and determination. Coach K has a great program that has dominated this league since CNU came into existence,” said senior wide receiver Rudy Rudolph. “Last year was the first year we didn’t win the conference since I’ve been here, so to rally back and win one my senior year would be great, and also a great farewell to this conference.”
The Captains can thank Averett for shocking defending co-champion Methodist and paving a clear path to the conference crown. The Panthers forced five turnovers, pitched a second half shutout, blocked a field goal, and scored on two explosive plays to pull ahead late and hang on for the win, their first of the season in conference play. The Monarchs’ final four possessions ended with a missed field goal attempt, fumble, interception, and blocked field goal attempt. Dontae Gilbert nabbed two interceptions to go with nine tackles and the blocked kick to lead the Panthers to the upset road victory.
That left Christopher Newport and Marvyille alone at the top of the conference standings. The defending co-champion Scots can still earn the title with wins over CNU and Methodist, but a loss this Saturday means that the Captains will capture the USA South’s Pool A bid for the tenth time. The Captains can put their Oct. 11 loss at Huntingdon completely behind them.
“Even with our loss, we thought we’d be in contention at the end of the year,” said senior quarterback Marcus Morrast. “Going out on top as seniors is something that we’ve always planned on doing.”
Morrast continues to lead the team in both rushing (75.1 yards per game) and passing (226.6 ypg). He has accounted for 27 touchdowns, but is far from the only Captains playmaker. On Saturday, Rudolph had another huge game, hauling in six receptions for 198 yards and a score. He enters his regular season finale ranked third in the nation with 136.3 receiving yards per game. Sophomore running back Daquon Davis has emerged as another weapon to take pressure off of Morrast. He carried 26 times for 129 yards and three scores in Saturday’s 45-26 win over LaGrange.
For Christopher Newport, the playoffs begin Nov. 8. Thanks to the leadership of their coaches and senior playmakers, they are prepared for the moment.
“Every week we have the mentality that every game is a playoff game,” said Rudolph. “Maryville is a great team, so if we want to win we have to play our best football. It’s going to be a great game.”
The Scots defeated the Captains last season en route to their first conference title and playoff berth. CNU is eager to avenge that defeat, and to exit the USA South in a familiar position--on top. The seniors are appreciating their opportunity to win one more game and one more championship, and are not yet ready to play their final game.
“It’s hard to live up to the legacy that CNU has, but it’s nice that we have a chance to win another one,” said Morrast. “It’s hard going into the week knowing that it could be my last week, but I hope it’s not. This is pretty much the first playoff game of the year.”
In the ODAC, it was a similar defensive onslaught that led to conference upheaval.
Bridgewater’s upset of Hampden-Sydney put Guilford in the driver’s seat. The Quakers, Tigers, and Emory and Henry are tied atop the league standings. Guilford faces its two co-leaders over the final two weeks of the season.
The Eagles held the Tigers to just 310 yards of offense, forcing three turnovers and notching five sacks. Alex Collins and Nicholas Anthony led Bridgewater with nine tackles each, but it was a total team effort that shut down the reigning ODAC champs.
Of course, the ODAC could still deliver a wacky finish. The Eagles are not eliminated from contention but will need some help. Emory and Henry could win out and win the league with some help from Guilford this weekend. While the Eagles and Wasps are enjoying resurgences, the Quakers have already secured their best season since 1997.
Guilford last defeated Hampden-Sydney in 1999 and last won at Hampden-Sydney in 1998. Then again, the Quakers haven’t started 7-1 since 1994. That distant history is not on the minds of the current players. What is on their minds is the lackluster performances from the past two seasons. They entered the Hampden-Sydney game in both 2012 and 2013 with a chance to control the conference with a win. The Tigers crushed the Quakers’ title hopes, winning the two games by an average margin of 48 points. The Quakers are convinced that this year will be different.
“For three years in a row, we’ve come into the Hampden-Sydney game with the opportunity to put ourselves in first place,” said coach Chris Rusiewicz. “There is no intimidating factor now. We have a lot more maturity and we have experience in big games.”
The junior-laden Guilford roster was in over their heads at Hampden-Sydney two years ago. The young Quakers secondary had no answer for Nash Nance, who passed for 309 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Last year, the Quakers simply froze, said Rusiewicz. The Tigers controlled the game from the start, outgaining Guilford 444-118 and running 20 more offensive plays than the Quakers.
This year, the Quakers are not calm, but they’re not anxious either. Rusiewicz compared the anxiety of a doctor’s appointment to the excitement of Christmas morning. He hopes his team understands how to separate the two emotions come Saturday.
“We’re not anxious anymore. When you’re anxious, things can go bad,” said Rusiewicz. “We’re excited. There’s a difference.”
Par for the Centennial course
In the more predictable Centennial Conference, Johns Hopkins handled its business against Ursinus. The Blue Jays jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead and never looked back on their way to a 42-14 victory securing sole possession of first place in the conference. Quinn Donaldson had a big day, catching five passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense — led by Keith Corliss, Michael Rocca, and Michael Longo — held the Bears to just 243 yards of offense. With the win, Jim Margraff became the winningest head coach in Maryland college football history, with 175 career victories. The Blue Jays can wrap up the conference’s Pool A bid with a win in either of their final two games, at Franklin and Marshall or at home against McDaniel. It would be the program’s sixth straight Centennial championship.
Elsewhere in the Centennial, McDaniel quarterback Matty Callahan passed for 388 yards and rushed for 68. Not a bad day for a quarterback. His counterpart, Juniata’s Ward Udinski, dwarfed Callahan’s numbers. The Eagles quarterback passed for 469 yards and rushed for 90, accounting for seven total touchdowns in a 56-31 victory.
Bigger than sports
On Sunday, I had the privilege of attending and covering the first game of the college basketball season. It was Lauren Hill’s collegiate debut. I’m sure you’ve heard her story and have been inspired by it. I challenge each football program in the Mid-Atlantic to follow the lead of the Hanover Panthers and accept the #Layups4Lauren challenge, football-style. Tweet them at me, and we’ll post them here next week.
What did I miss?
Do you know about any upcoming milestones, big games or new names in the Mid-Atlantic? Please share them with me. If you have suggestions for next week's column, please reach out to me on Twitter at @adamturer or via email at adam.turer@d3sports.com.
