SALISBURY, Md. - Christopher Newport University senior running back Roland Hillard ran the game-winner in from 15 yards out to lift the Captains over the Salisbury University football team 23-17 in overtime before 973 at Sea Gull Stadium.

The Salisbury defense didn't have an answer for Hillard as he racked up 207 yards on the ground to go along with 15 receiving yards for 222 yards of total offense along with three touchdowns. The Captains (2-1) compiled 405 total yards to Salisbury's 169 yards (102 on the ground).

The Sea Gulls (1-2) forced overtime with six seconds left in regulation as junior Brendan Kincaid booted a 40-yard field goal through the uprights.

In the overtime period, Salisbury had the ball first and couldn't get a first down on its first three downs. The Sea Gulls elected to try a 44-yard field goal but Kincaid missed wide left.

CNU took its shot from the 25-yard-line and delivered a healthy dose of Hillard as he ran the ball five times at the Salisbury defense. On the last rush Hillard broke it for 15 yards and ended in the end zone to lift the Captains to victory.

Salisbury got on the board first as it capped a four play, 24-yard drive as sophomore quarterback Ronnie Curley tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior Chris Newton.

The Captains answered right before halftime as Hillard ran in his first touchdown of the day from a yard out.  The teams were tied 7-7 at the break.

In the second half, the Sea Gulls regained the lead as junior Justyn Lankford ran the ball in from five yards out for the score with 9:18 left in the third quarter. Lankford finished the day 3-for-9 for 53 passing yards and rushed for 37 yards. Salisbury sophomore Ronnie Shockley led all Sea Gull rushers with 71 yards.

CNU would begin to chip away at the Salisbury lead as Captains' kicker Jay Graham connected on a 22-yard field goal with 3:39 left in the third.

In the fourth quarter, Salisbury's defense denied CNU of a fourth down conversation as Salisbury linebacker Chris Loveland (eight tackles) stuffed Hillard for a one-yard loss on fourth and a yard.

The Captains regained possession with 5:21 left in the game. CNU drove to the Salisbury 19-yard-line but got penalized with offensive pass interference setting the Captains back 15 yards. Salisbury made two more stops defensively, only giving up a short pass play, to force fourth and 18 from the 32-yard-line.

CNU quarterback Todd Faison (12-of-25 for 151 yards) threw up a 27-yard pass to wide receiver George Jones who brought the pass down at the five yard line for the first down.

On the very next play Hillard ran the ball in from five yards out to give the Captains the three-point lead, 17-14.

NOTES: This is the second straight loss for the Sea Gulls. . . Salisbury still holds the series lead over the Captains, 3-2.