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DANVILLE, Va. — Averett's defense held Hampden-Sydney College in check for most of the game, but a few big plays helped the Tigers break through for a 20-6 win over the Cougars to open the season on Saturday at the Cougar Den.

After a scoreless first quarter, Hampden-Sydney (1-0) finished a drive at the start the second quarter with a 27-yard field by Max Antwerpes to put the Tigers ahead 3-0. Later in the quarter, Hampden-Sydney only needed two big plays — A 32-yard pass from Nash Nance to Michael May and a 24-yard pass from Nance to Evan King — to find the end zone, pushing the Tigers' lead to 10-0 with 7:00 to play before the half.

Antwerpes hit a 34-yard field goal in the final minutes of the half to give Hampden-Sydney a 13-0 lead over Averett (0-1) entering halftime. The damage could have been worse if not for interceptions by safeties Brian Fuquay and Stefan Varner, as well as a pair of stops by the defense on fourth downs — both deep in Averett territory.

Hampden-Sydney, the preseason favorite to win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, used another big play to go ahead 20-0 early in the fourth quarter. King broke off a 27-yard run up the sideline for a touchdown with 13:49 to play.

Averett's offense got on the board midway through the final quarter. A crucial fourth-down pass from quarterback Kirkland Brown to August Jones helped set up another fourth-down play moments later. Brown found tight end Chaz Norman for a 1-yard score, but the Cougars had to settle for a 20-6 deficit after missing the extra point.

The Cougars' defense shut down Hampden-Sydney on its next drive, but Averett ran out of time for a comeback.

Both teams' defenses played well. Averett limited the Tigers to 3-for-18 on third down, while Hampden-Sydney allowed just three third-down conversions to the Cougars.

Ke'Von White led Averett's running attach with 19 carries for 61 net yards. Brown was 14-for-28 for 142 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
King led Hampden-Sydney with 134 net yards. Nance finished 16-for-39 for 169 yards and two picks.

Averett's defense was paced by Tyler Robertson's eight tackles.

The Cougars play at Randolph-Macon College next Saturday at 1 p.m.