NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A trio of Christopher Newport University football student-athletes received recognition Monday from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). Junior quarterback Matt Dzierski was named the Offensive Player of the Week, freshman cornerback Yasir Geter was selected the Defensive Rookie of the Week, and freshman wide receiver Colin Hart was honored as the Offensive Rookie of the Week.

The accolades were handed out after the Captains opened the NJAC season Saturday with a 20-14 home victory over Rowan University. The triumph improved CNU's overall record to 3-2 at the halfway mark of the season, and also was the second straight for Paul Crowley's squad.

Dzierski, from Lorton, Va., accounted for all three scores Saturday by running for two touchdowns and also throwing for one. Dzierski, the Offensive Player of the Year in the NJAC last season, opened the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and ran for a one-yard score in the second quarter. His 61-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter proved to provide the winning margin for the Captains in the six-point victory. He finished the day 13 of 16 passing for 184 yards, and rushed the ball 25 times for 132 yards.

Geter, from Suffolk, Va., made a start at cornerback and delivered for the Captains defense. He intercepted a pass late in the second quarter, the game's only interception, and also accounted for five tackles. Three of his five stops were solo tackles.

Hart, from Ashburn, Va., led the CNU offense in receiving with four catches for 122 yards. He scored the game's first TD on a 34-yard scoring strike from Dzierski, his second touchdown reception of the season. Hart also caught a 65-yard pass from Dzierski early in the second quarter that led to CNU's second touchdown of the day.

Christopher Newport has now collected seven weekly NJAC honors over the first five weeks of the season. This marks the second time Dzierski has been named Offensive Player of the Week. The weekly awards for Geter and Hart are their first conference honors.

The Captains are off this week, and will return to action on Saturday, October 15th. CNU will travel to Union, New Jersey, to take on the Cougars of Kean University in a 12 noon kickoff.