Football Drops 46-34 Decision At NC Wesleyan

ROCKY MOUNT, NC - Christopher Newport's football team saw its six-game winning streak come to a halt Saturday afternoon by dropping a 46-34 decision at NC Wesleyan.

The Bishops, who came in averaging better than 400 yards of total offense, finished the day with 538 yards of total offense. The split was almost 50/50, passing for 277 and rushing for 261.

NC Wesleyan also scored 30 points in the second half while holding the Captains to just 13 second half points.

CNU took a 14-6 lead into the start of the second quarter. Roland Hilliard scored his 10th touchdown in the past six games to put the Captains ahead 7-0 with 9:55 left in the first. Cedric Townsend's 10-yard run put the Bishops on the board. Brian Vaughn's kick was wide and the Captains led 7-6 with 2:10 remaining in the opening stanza.

On the ensuing kick-off, Hilliard returned the kick 95 yards for his 11th touchdown in the past six games and his 27th touchdown in his career. Hilliard's return for a score was the longest in school history, eclipsing Branden Jones' 93-yard return in 2002.

Vaughn cut the lead to 14-9 with 12:43 left in the first half when he connected on a 32-yard field goal. The Captains increased their lead to 21-9 on Brian Long's 11-yard touchdown pass from Todd Faison with 8:01 remaining in the second. NC Wesleyan again cut into the lead on Mish Gilliam's 20-yard reception from Townsend with 4:29 remaining in the half to trail 21-16 at the break.

The Bishops took their first lead in the third quarter on Teron Bush's 4-yard touchdown reception from Townsend with 8:35 to go in the third. NC Wesleyan went for the two-point conversion and converted on Townsend's pass to Shelton Leverette to put NC Wesleyan up 24-21. It was also the first time the Captains had trailed in any game since the fourth quarter of CNU's overtime win at Salisbury. Christopher Newport re-took the lead with 7:37 left in the third stanza on Evan Taylor's tremendous 30-yard run. He was hit initially hit after a three or four yard gain and spun to the outside for the score. The score gave the Captains a 28-24 lead.

Christopher Brimer's 26-yard field goal with 1:46 left in third trimmed the Captains lead 28-27.

The Bishops would take the lead for good on Townsend's 1-yard plunge with 8:41 remaining in the game. Townsend's two-point conversion pass failed and NC Wesleyan led 33-28. Bush scored his second TD of the game with 7:17 left in the game on a 14-yard run. Brimer missed the kick and CNU trailed 39-28. The final Bishop score came on Bryan Haywood's 49-yard touchdown run with 1:03 to go in the game. CNU would score a late touchdown on Faison's quarterback keeper from 1-yard out with seven seconds left which provided the final margin.

Hilliard paced the Captains with his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game and fifth of the season. It was also his 13th in his career. He had 131 yards on 25 carries and one score. Faison finished 13-of-25 for 127 yards, one touchdown pass and two interceptions.

Bush led the Bishops with 136 yards on the ground on 13 carries and one rushing touchdown. Haywood finished with 87 yards on the ground on six carries. Townsend was 17-of-30 for 277 yards and two touchdown passes. Orlando Webb caught three balls for 116 yards and Leverette had 100 yards receiving on eight catches.

The Captains fall to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the USA South. NC Wesleyan is now 4-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

Christopher Newport returns to action next Saturday as they host Averett beginning at 1 pm.

Box Score