NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - So close.
Shenandoah University dominated Christopher Newport all over the
football field Saturday afternoon in the USA South Conference
opener for both schools, but it was the Captains that came out on
top in a 30-27 double overtime win.
CNU (2-2, 1-0 USA South) hit a Matt Bourne 28-yard field goal on
its possession in the second OT and then won it one play later.
Shenandoah (1-3, 0-1) attempted a pass into the endzone to start
its possession, but Markis Kelly picked off Vern Lunsford's pass
as he crossed the goalline to end the game and give the Captains
the comeback victory.
SU appeared to be headed to its second-ever win at Pomoco
Stadium late in the third quarter when junior Keone Kyle blasted in
from 12 yards out to give the Hornets a 20-13 lead.
Shenandoah held its hosts to a three-and-out on the next
possession, but muffed the ensuing punt to give Christopher Newport
the ball on the SU 15. It took just two plays for CNU to tie the
game at 20.
The Hornets advanced into the redzone on two different occasions
in the fourth, the last with four seconds remaining, but missed
field goals of 42 and 38 yards. The 38-yarder was blocked on the
last play of regulation.
The two missed field goals were two of four missed kicks on the
day for Shenandoah - the Hornets missed a 29-yarder at the end of
the first half after having to re-kick due to an illegal procedure
penalty and also muffed a hold on a PAT after its initial touchdown
of the contest.
Shenandoah dominated CNU in every other aspect of the game,
outgaining the Captains 443-249, getting 22 of the game's 31 first
downs and possessing the ball for 43:06.
Kyle did most of this damage, carrying the ball a school
record 45 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the losing
effort. Lunsford, who was picked off three times, completed 10
passes for 192 yards with Rico Wallace gaining
130 of that total on four catches.
Wallace opened the second half with a 76-yard TD catch.
Unfortunately, SU turned the ball over four times in the game
and CNU converted two of those miscues into 10 points and escaped
with the victory.
Sean
Purcell paced a defense that allowed less than 250 total
yards with 12 tackles.
