BOX SCORE

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Ferrum College suffered a 13-10 setback to Christopher Newport University this afternoon in USA South football action on the road. 

CNU claimed the USA South football title with the win, edging the Panthers on a 30-yard Jay Graham field goal with 6:43 left in the game. 

Quarterback Matt Dobson led the Panthers with 82 rushing yards on 18 carries, and also had 53 yards passing and a touchdown.

CNU scored first with a short field goal by Graham on their first possession of the game at 4:07 in the first quarter.  The Captains scored on their next possession as well when QB Matt Long called his own number and scored on a 1-yard sneak to open the second quarter.

Ferrum answered just before the half with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Dobson to Johnson to bring the score to 10-7 with 2:29 left in the first half.

The Panthers tied the game with a 31-yard field goal by placekicker Clint Slappey at 1:18 in the third quarter, only to see Graham kick the game-winning 30-yard field goal that barely inched over the crossbar.

Ferrum was led defensively by Willie Taylor and Maureik Goode with 10 tackles each.  William Kenney added 6 solo tackles to go with 3 assists and 1 pass break up.

Tunde Ogun entered the contest ranked first in rushing in NCAA Division 3 football, and led the Captains with 181 rushing yards on 35 carries.

With the win, Christopher Newport captures the USA South football championship outright for the first time.  They also gain an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.  Today's game marks the third time in the CNU-Ferrum series that the USA South's NCAA Playoff bid hung in the balance.

CNU closes out regular season action at 8-1 overall and 7-0 in the USA South.  Ferrum finishes with a 7-3 overall, 5-2 in league play.  The Panthers lose 10 seniors to graduation.