Christopher Newport's journey in the 2014 NCAA Division III football playoffs was put to a stop Saturday afternoon. The Captains had their five-game winning streak halted as well as Widener University defeated CNU, 37-27, on a chilly and cloudy day at Leslie C. Quick, Jr., Stadium. The Captains finish the season with a mark of 8-4.
"We just didn't make enough plays today I guess is what it comes down to," coach Matt Kelchner said. "I was very proud at the way we battled back and continued to fight. Widener is a good team, and we didn't do enough to stop them."
CNU held a brief lead in the second quarter, 10-7, before the Pride scored two touchdowns to go ahead at the half, 21-10. Widener then scored 16 straight points in the second half to post a 37-13 lead with 10:39 to play in the final stanza. CNU rallied late to make things interesting, scoring two fourth quarter touchdowns for the 37-27 final verdict.
Senior quarterback Marcus Morrast completed his career by throwing two touchdown passes to fellow senior Rudy Rudolph. The pair ended up connecting ten times for scores this season and 21 times in all. Morrast went to Rudolph early in the second quarter with a 39-yard scoring strike, and then the duo completed the scoring on a three-yard hookup with 4:24 to play in the game.
Morrast finished the day 25 of 45 for 269 yards Saturday despite relentless pressure applied by the Pride. Rudolph caught eight passes for 106 yards and two scores, giving him 32 career touchdowns. Rudolph matched the career touchdown total of Roland Hilliard for second-place all-time, behind only Tunde Ogun's 38 career scores.
Senior kicker Mason Studer connected for two field goals, making attempts from 29 and 35 yards. Studer completes his career with 33 field goals, a new CNU all-time mark surpassing Jay Graham's previous high of 31 career boots.
"It's tough to see this senior class go," Kelchner continued. "They're better people than they are football players, and they're really good football players. We're going to miss all twenty of them, but they've had a great run here. I'm really proud of what they've been able to accomplish."
CNU failed to establish a consistent running game, as Widener's stingy defense held the Captains to just 92 rushing yards on 29 attempts (3.2 yards per carry). Morrast led CNU on the ground with 53 yards on 18 carries.
Christopher Newport, champion of the USA South Athletic Conference, had advanced to the second round of the tournament for the third time in program history thanks to a come-from-behind 29-26 triumph at Delaware Valley last week. The Pride also had to come back last week to edge Muhlenberg in the opening round, 36-35.
Widener, champion of the Middle Atlantic Conference, was led by sophomore quarterback Seth Klein, who posted 268 yards passing and completed 21 of 29 attempts. Klein threw for two scores, and the Pride also recorded three rushing touchdowns on the day. Widener's defense sacked Morrast three times Saturday, while the Captains posted four sacks for the day against Klein. Senior Ryan Parker posted 1.5 sacks, while juniors Mic Edwards and Cameron Barlow led CNU on defense with eight tackles each.
The Pride improved to 12-0 and will advance to play Linfield next Saturday in the quarterfinal round. Linfield knocked out Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday, 31-28.
CNU, who will become a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference beginning next season, is now 98-51 all-time in 149 games played for an all-time winning percentage of .658. The Captains were playing in their 10th all-time NCAA Tournament in 14 seasons of action, and CNU is now 3-10 all-time in NCAA play.