Cougars open USA South Conference schedule at home against Ferrum College
The Averett University Cougars, under the guidance of seventh-year head coach Mike Dunlevy, take on conference foe Ferrum College on Saturday. The Panthers hold a 6-2 advantage in the series, but the Cougars have won the last two meetings in Danville.

Ferrum (3-1, 1-0 USA South) opened conference play with a 14-12 win over Shenandoah last weekend. Averett (1-2, 0-0 USA South), meanwhile, is coming off a 31-23 loss to Washington & Lee.

For live statistics between Averett and Ferrum, click here during the game. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.


Last time they met
Ferrum running back Mike Vann helped the Panthers beat Averett 48-20 when the two teams met last season on Sept. 29. Vann accounted for five touchdowns on the afternoon and totaled 327 all-purpose yards. He had three rushing touchdowns, including one for 94 yards which ranks as the longest rush ever by an Averett opponent. Vann also caught a touchdown and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score.

Averett trailed 35-7 at halftime, but the Cougars added two scores after the break. Quarterback Shan Fairbanks hit Blake Nuzzo for a 41-yard score, and Jeremy Dixon added a 6-yard touchdown run as time expired. Dixon had two rushing touchdowns on the day.

Ferrum only attempted five passes, opting to run the ball 56 times for 444 yards. Averett had 31 carries for 108 yards.


How they stack up this season
Averett saw a lot of running plays from Washington & Lee last week, and the Cougars will likely see the same on Saturday against Ferrum. The Panthers are averaging 247.5 rushing yards a game through four contests this season. Running back Mike Vann and quarterback Matt Dobson have both run for more than 200 yards apiece this season, and Ferrum has five players who have run for at least 100 total yards so far.

Averett's defense has held opponents to 136.7 rushing yards a game this season. The Cougars' ability to stop Ferrum's ground attack will be crucial to their success.

Averett, on the other hand, has enjoyed a balanced attack through the air and on the ground this season. Through their first three games, the Cougars are averaging 143.0 rushing yards and 185.3 passing yards a game. Averett will need another good effort from running back Dontavious Watson and his fellow tailbacks in order to break past a Ferrum defense that is allowing only 99.5 rushing yards a game.

Although Averett and Ferrum have varied styles of play, both teams are averaging about the same point production a game. Averett is averaging 22.3 points a contest, while Ferrum has averaged 22.5 points per game.


High-scoring history between Averett and Ferrum
In the eight games between Averett and Ferrum, the winning team has scored at least 46 points five times. That was certainly the case in arguably the best game between the two schools to date. When the two teams squared off on Oct. 2, 2004, it was a game that went down to the wire. The Cougars prevailed 46-44 in triple overtime.

After Ferrum scored the first touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone, the two teams were within one touchdown of each other for the rest of the game. The score was tied at the half, and Ferrum took the lead in the fourth when Terrell Mulford capped a 90-yard drive. The Cougars scored last in regulation, tying the game at 28-28 on another Scott Swann touchdown pass to Jeff Hughley. In the first overtime, each team managed a field goal, including a 40-yarder by James Thurnes. In the second overtime, each team scored a rushing touchdown. In the final frame, Robert Mack scored for the Panthers, but Anthony Morris intercepted the required two-point conversion. Averett answered with a touchdown from Sadane Munoz, and then Swann and Hughley connected again for the winning two-point conversion. 


For more on Saturday's game between Averett and Ferrum, click here to view the complete game notes.