FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Averett University jumped on Methodist University early and never relinquished the lead for a 31-17 road victory on Saturday.

Methodist overcame a 17-0 deficit to cut Averett's lead to 17-14 early in the third quarter, but the Cougars answered with a 7-yard touchdown run by junior Dontavious Watson (Tampa, Fla./Brandon) with 4:25 to go in the third.

The Monarchs (1-4, 0-2 USA South) countered with a 30-yard field goal from Mario Miralles to close the gap to 24-17. But on Averett's ensuing possession, the Cougars drove 72 yards down the field for another score. Sophomore quarterback Philip Kwiatkowski (Coral Springs, Fla./J.P. Taravella) found junior wide receiver Anthony Squillini (Clayton, N.C./Clayton) for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 12:41 left in the game.

Averett (2-3, 1-1 USA South) held on from there after intercepting Methodist quarterback Erik Teague on the Monarchs' next drive for the fourth time on the afternoon before taking over on downs on Methodist's final two possessions.

Junior safety William Bonilla (Miami, Fla./Miami Christian) got the final pick of the day. Senior linebacker Clyde Robinson (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) had two interceptions and sophomore cornerback Jeremy Clifton (Greenville, N.C./D.H. Conley) had one.

Averett opened the game with a 33-yard field goal from senior Chris Ashcraft (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) on its first possession.

Junior fullback Brian Daniels (Greenville, N.C./D.H. Conley) scored on the Cougars' next two drives on 1-yard touchdown runs to help put Averett ahead 17-0 with 7:20 to play in the second quarter. Methodist scored a touchdown right before the half to cut the Averett lead to 17-7 entering the break.

Kwiatkowski, who had missed the last two games with an injury, returned to the starting lineup and went 16-for-24 with a touchdown and no interceptions. Watson finished with a team-high 84 yards on the ground on 21 carries and scored his fifth touchdown of the season. He has scored a touchdown in each of the last four games. Senior running back John Ellison (Cheraw, S.C//Cheraw) rushed for 80 yards on 16 attempts.

Junior linebacker Mario Huffman (Danville, Va./Tunstall) and sophomore safety Justin McCauley (Kannapolis, N.C./Brown) led the Cougars defense with seven tackles apiece.

Averett returns to action next Saturday at N.C. Wesleyan. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.