SALISBURY, Md. - The No. 9 Salisbury University football team has begun the 2024 season 3-0 with high-scoring wins over Washington & Lee and two ranked wins in No. 18 Muhlenberg and on the road at No. 8 Johns Hopkins. The Sea Gulls now welcome rival Christopher Newport University into Sea Gull Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff on Oct. 5th.
THE RUNDOWN
GAME NOTES
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS
The Series
This is the 20th time the Sea Gulls and Captains have faced off in football. Salisbury is 15-4 all-time against Christopher Newport and had won the previous seven meetings before falling 24-14 on the road last season.Over the previous 10 meetings between the two programs, only two games have been decided by one possession.
Early Season Review
The Sea Gulls are off to a 3-0 start and the offense has played a huge role in that effort. SU has totaled 1,638 yards of total offense through three games. 1069 of those yards have been on the ground from the tricky spread option. SU is averaging 8.8 yards per carry which has helped them average 49.3 points per game. Third-down conversions have been key for the Sea Gulls as they are sitting at 52 percent on third downs. Along with the offensive explosive plays, the defense has created seven turnovers through the three games. This start for the Sea Gulls has propelled them into the top 10 of the Division III Rankings.
The Captains
Seniors
Javon Freeman,
Nero Schrader,
Dusty Krotee, and
Jaden Davis were announced as team captains heading into CNU week.
The Class of the NJAC
Since joining the NJAC in 2015, Salisbury has won 59 games in the conference. The 59 wins stand as the most wins among active teams in the conference. Since joining the NJAC in 2015, Salisbury has won five conference championships which is the most in the eight-year span. They open up conference play on Oct. 5th at home against rival CNU.
Among the Greats
Salisbury head coach
Sherman Wood ranks in the top 15 of active coaches in wins, regardless of NCAA Division. Coach Wood totaled 204 victories as head coach with stints at Bowie State and SU. Wood has more career wins than other notable coaches with 20 years or more of experience than Rich Rodriguez of Jacksonville St. and Terry Bowden of Louisiana-Monroe.
Spiess named to D3football.com Team of the Week
After gaining his first NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors two weeks ago,
Ben Spiess was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week at the linebacker position as well.
Spiess (Gr. – Germantown, Md.) spearheaded a second-half shutout in the Sea Gulls' 41-13 romp of then-No. 8 Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. He finished one off the team lead with six tackles (five solo) and put the final nail in the coffin with a 26-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown for SU's last score in the fourth quarter. Spiess effectively returned to action after missing the bulk of the 2023 season with an injury.
Community Day with Fireworks
As part of Community Day promotions, SU is offering free admission for children age 12 and under, City of Salisbury employees (with employee ID), Wicomico County employees (with employee ID), and Wicomico County educators (with employee ID). Fans in these categories will be directed to pick up their complimentary ticket at the Sea Gull Stadium ticket booth. All fans are encouraged to wear white to the game as part of the team's White Out promotion. In addition, Sea Gull rally towels will be given away at the gates of Sea Gull Stadium. A fireworks show is also planned to begin approximately 10 minutes after the conclusion of the game.
Scouting CNU
Last time out, Christopher Newport University established a new offensive scoring streak Saturday afternoon, and cruised to a 54-37 triumph at Gettysburg College. For the first time in program history, the Captains scored touchdowns on each of their first six possessions, building a 40-7 halftime lead en route to the 17-point victory. The 54-point scoring surge at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium was the third-highest point total in program history, and the most points ever during Head Coach Paul Crowley's three-year tenure. The eight total touchdowns scored in the game matched a team's all-time record. Johns Hopkins is the only mutual opponent these two teams have faced. The Captains, who scored 42 points in a season-opening road victory over Trine University in Indiana, were held to just a first-half field goal in their home opener by the Blue Jays, who improved to 2-0. The Sea Gulls took down John Hopkins on the road 41-13 in their last outing picking up its second-ranked win in a row which was heavily relied on shutting out Johns Hopkins in the second half.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 199 conference championships, and 50 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
