WINCHESTER , Va. – The Shenandoah University football team gave Paul Barnes his first win as a head coach in a big way Saturday night as his Hornets defeated Christopher Newport 19-15 before a homecoming crowd of 2724 at Shentel Stadium.

Shenandoah (1-4,1-1) snapped a program record four game losing streak with the victory over the defending Dixie Conference co-champions Captains (1-4, 0-1). SU has now won both of its series meetings with Christopher Newport. This is also the first win for Barnes since he took over for program founder Walter Barr this past December.

CNU started quickly; they took an early 7-0 lead when Thomas Thornton capped a 6 play, 39 yard drive with a 6 yard touchdown run. Although this was the majority of the Captains offense in the first half, their defense held SU without a first down until the Hornets final drive of the first period. Barnes' club could get nothing going offensively until the SU defense forced the first of what would be five CNU turnovers.

Shenandoah recovered the Thomas Thornton fumble on the CNU 19 and took just four plays to knot the score at 7. The turnover bug struck again one play later as Davis Briggs fumbled the ensuing kickoff back to the hosts at the Captains 24. It took eight plays this time, but Anthony McGhee (Reston,Va./South Lakes) gave the Hornets their first home lead of the season when he took a 2nd and goal pitch from the 3 and waltzed untouched into the endzone.

CNU salvaged something out the series when William Blount returned the blocked PAT attempt for a two-point conversion. This made the score 13-9 SU.

The two teams then played a scoreless third quarter before the Captains took their second and lead at the 13:10 mark of the fourth when Thornton blasted over from the 2.

Shenandoah answered right back though, using a 37 yard Chris Gillette (Woodbridge, Va./Hylton) kickoff return to start the drive from the SU 44. Nine plays later, McGhee added his second touchdown of the night by following a trio of SU blockers into the end zone on 2nd and goal from the 6.

CNU would possess the ball two more times, but could not reach Shenandoah territory on either occasion.

Mario Marin had a game high 111 yards on 20 carries while CNU quarterbacks Eric Carlson and Phillip Jones were a combined 2 for 15 for 20 yards and one interception through the air.

Dennis Robart (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Potomac State) had 65 yards on 19 carries and McGhee added 61 yards on 21 carries.

Quarterback Wayne Hogwood (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) was 6 for 10 for 62 yards through the air. He also gained 38 yards on 10 rushes.

Senior Gregg Anderson (Clifton, Va./Robinson) led the Hornets with 16 tackles (five solo) and had one fumble recovery and three passes defensed to go along with his end zone pick. Junior Michael Doleman (Berryville, Va/Clarke County) played his most solid game of the season with 15 tackles (10 solo, 5 for loss), a forced fumble, two sacks and two passes defensed. Richy Ingram and Jason Flanigan both had nine tackles for CNU.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/fb/2002/100502.htm

Shenandoah is now off until October 19 when it travels to Greensboro for another Dixie Conference contest. Game time at Grimsley High School is 7:00.