Week 2: Connor Barry and Colin Hart, Christopher Newport

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Christopher Newport University quarterback Connor Barry and wide receiver Colin Hart, who played for two of the top high school teams in Northern Virginia, have been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Players of the Week after leading the Captains to a season-opening 38-7 win over Trine.

courtesy christopher newport athletics

Barry, who played at Madison High in Vienna, completed 14 of 17 passes for 271 yards and five touchdowns. Four of the scores went to Hart, who played at Stone Bridge High in Ashburn. He finished with seven catches for 199 yards and three touchdowns.

“You couldn’t ask for a better start, right?” Christopher Newport Coach Paul Crowley said. “We feel like those two guys are pretty special with their talent.”

Barry began his collegiate career at Appalachian State before transferring to Christopher Newport, which is located in Newport News, Va. He played in nine games as a freshman then was thrust into a leading role last season after starter Matt Dzierski was injured early in the season. Barry earned first-team all-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors. He returned to the starting role this season, with Dzierski – a three-time first-team All-NJAC performer and two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Year, moving to wide receiver.

Hart has been a three-time first-team All-NJAC honoree. He entered the season fifth among active NCAA Division III players in receiving yardage and his 23 career touchdown catches are second in school history.

“It was pretty clear a few days into practice his freshman year that, ‘Okay, this kid moves a little differently than everybody else and he has elite ball skills,’ ” Crowley said. “And with Connor, his arm strength was pretty special. He just happened to have Matt in front of him at the time.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Football Player of the Week honor roll:

  • Bowie State DB Samuel Graham (North County) made nine tackles, had a sack and forced a fumble that he returned 53 yards for a touchdown in his first collegiate start as the Bulldogs beat Shippensburg, 23-7.

  • Navy CB Phillip Hamilton made a career-high four tackles, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in the end zone as the Midshipmen beat UAB, 38-24.

  • Rhode Island RB Antwain Littleton Jr. (St. John’s) rushed 21 times for 122 yards and one touchdown as the Rams beat Stony Brook, 31-17.

  • Franklin & Marshall DL Quincy Long (Georgetown Prep) made nine tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks as the Diplomats beat Lebanon Valley, 31-21.

  • Penn State LB Tony Rojas (Fairfax) made a career-high 10 tackles as the Nittany Lions beat Florida International, 34-0.

  • Georgetown LB GianCarlo Rufo made 14 tackles with 1 ½ sacks as the Hoyas beat Wagner, 31-20.

  • Maryland LB Daniel Wingate (Pallotti) made a career-high 14 tackles as the Terrapins beat Northern Illinois, 20-9, marking the first season since 2001 that Maryland has held its first two opponents to fewer than 10 points.

  • Indiana LB Kellan Wyatt (Spalding) made nine tackles with 2 ½ tackles for loss as the Hoosiers beat Kennesaw State, 56-9.