Sophomore running back Bertrand Ngampa's 72-yard touchdown run was the biggest offensive highligh for Waynesburg during a 12-7 loss at Christopher Newport.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Sept. 3) – The Waynesburg University football team knew it was going to get a stern season-opening test on Saturday when they traveled south to face Christopher Newport University. Though the Captains' program has only existed for 10 years, they have qualified for the NCAA Division III national championship tournament in seven of them.
The Yellow Jackets didn't seem to be intimidated by this fact as their veteran-laden defense was able to keep an ultra-quick CNU offense in check for almost the entire game. Unfortunately, a few key turnovers and one big run by the Captains were enough to overshadow Waynesburg's solid overall play as the Jackets dropped both team's season opener 12-7.
Both teams flexed their defensive muscle in the first half, which was exhibited by a 0-0 tie. After 30 minutes of scoreless football, CNU got the first big play of the game when Markeese Stovall took a handoff on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter and sprinted 62 yards for the first touchdown of the season. A missed extra point made the score 6-0 17 seconds into the half.
CNU doubled its advantage to 12-0 when Stovall pounded in a one-yard score to cap a five-play, 25-yard drive that was set up deep in Waynesburg territory when senior quarterback
Josh Graham was intercepted. Luckily for the visitors, the Captains were unsuccessful for the second time on an extra-point try.
The deficit for Waynesburg remained 12-0 as the third quarter came to an end and the Jackets knew they needed to find their rhythm on offense. Luckily, they had a big play of their own in the tank as sophomore running back
Bertrand Ngampa exploded for 72-yard touchdown jaunt that made up an entire early fourth-quarter offensive drive.
Dominic Zappa tacked on the extra point to cut the lead to 12-7 with 11:33 remaining in the game.
The Waynesburg defense continued to do all it could to grab a victory by forcing two four-and-outs and one punt over CNU's final three drives of the day. However, the Jacket offense couldn't match the output, only managing one punt, a lost fumble and a game-ending four-and-out that gave the Captains the ball back with just three seconds showing on the clock.
There weren't a lot of highlights to Waynesburg's offensive day, but Ngampa had one of them, which came in the form of his first collegiate 100-yard rushing performance. The Virginia native racked up 102 yards and the Jackets' only score on 19 carries. Things didn't go as well for new starting quarterback
Josh Graham, who completed 14-of-31 passes for 121 yards and two interceptions. Graham's favorite target on the day was junior
Christian Jackson, who pulled in a game-high six catches for a contest-best 47 yards.
The Waynesburg defense featured plenty of outstanding performers, including junior safety
Bryan Gary, who piled up game highs in solo tackles (six) and total hits (13). He was one of three Jacket defenders to record double-digit tackles. The trio was completed by senior safety
Ryan Williams (12) and junior defensive lineman
Matt Krause (10). Williams also intercepted the team's first pass of the year. Krause also recovered a fumble that was forced by sophomore defensive back
Marvin Sampson. Sampson also recorded the team's only sack and had five tackles.
CNU held a modest 290 to 246 advantage in total offensive yardage, but out-gained the Jackets on the ground 231-125. The Captains also held a slight 32:28 to 27:32 edge in time of possession.
Waynesburg will look to bounce back next weekend when they host another non-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opponent in Wilkes University for the Jackets' home opener at John F. Wiley Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
