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DANVILLE, Va. — Averett’s run for a second USA South Conference championship fell short on Saturday. The Cougars lost to N.C. Wesleyan College 49-27 on Senior Day at the Cougar Den in the team’s season finale.
Averett (7-3, 5-2 USA South) challenged the Bishops’ high-scoring offense early, but in the end N.C. Wesleyan’s offense was too much. The Bishops (8-2, 7-0 USA South) outscored Averett 21-6 in the second half as they pulled away to finish off an undefeated run the conference to earn their second outright USA South title in three seasons.
N.C. Wesleyan quarterback Bo Jordan rushed for five of the Bishops’ seven touchdowns in their third consecutive win over Averett.
Although N.C. Wesleyan pulled away in the second half, it was far from a one-sided game in the first half as the two teams matched each other early on.
The Bishops struck first, quickly marching down the field on the opening possession. Jordan capped off the 11-play, 70-yard drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to give N.C. Wesleyan a 7-0. Averett wasn’t phased. A 40-yard kickoff return by junior
Jeremy Dixon put the Cougars well into N.C. Wesleyan territory. That set up a 3-yard run by freshman
Anthony McCall on fourth down, which tied the game.
The Bishops counted with another Jordan rushing touchdown, this time from 7 yards out. Yet, once again, the Cougars answered right back. Dixon returned the kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, his second kickoff return for a score this season.
Averett took its only lead at the start of the second quarter thanks to solid field position. The Cougars defense backed N.C. Wesleyan deep into the Bishops’ own territory, which proved to be helpful when N.C. Wesleyan was forced to punt. Averett got the ball on the Bishops’ 34-yard line after a 9-yard return by Dixon. After junior quarterback
Cody Ladutko found Dixon for a 13-yard gain, Ladutko rolled right on a naked bootleg for a 15-yard score to put Averett ahead 21-14.
N.C. Wesleyan eventually knotted the score on a Jordan touchdown run from 7 yards out. On the ensuing kickoff, the Bishops kicked the ball short. It paid off as the Cougars muffed the return and N.C. Wesleyan recovered it with 2:49 left in the first half. It proved to be the turning point in the game.
The Bishops took a 28-21 just before half and never looked back. They avoided kicking to Averett’s dangerous return guys — Dixon and senior
Anthony Squillini — and it paid off. The Cougars offense sputtered until a late touchdown pass to Dixon from Ladutko. But by then, N.C. Wesleyan had already put up three second-half touchdowns to pull away.
The Bishops outgained Averett 529-239 in total offense and dominated time of possession 39:17-20:43. N.C .Wesleyan also won the turnover battle, which had been one of Averett’s strong points this season, 3-0.
Averett’s 15 seniors finished their careers with a second-place finish in the USA South Conference and helped the Cougars tie the program record for their best single-season record at 7-3.
Senior
Dontavious Watson led the Cougars on the ground with 11 carries for 68 yards, moving into second place on Averett’s career rushing yardage list. Dixon had five catches for 80 yards and a touchdown to go along with his two kickoff returns for 126 yards and a score.
Seniors
Mario Huffman and
Zane Cooper led the defense with 9.5 and 8.0 tackles, respectively. Senior
Zack Morton added a sack in his final game at the Cougar Den.