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DANVILLE, Va. — Ferrum College handed Averett a 49-28 defeat on Saturday afternoon in both teams' USA South Conference opener at the Cougar Den.

While the end result favored Ferrum (3-1, 1-0 USA South), it was not indicative of the tightly contested first half, which ended with a bit of controversy that swung the momentum in the Panthers' favor as the teams entered the locker rooms.

After both teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter, Ferrum had taken a 14-7 lead thanks to quarterback Tim Reynolds' second rushing touchdown of the day midway through the second quarter. Averett (0-4, 0-1 USA South) was driving in the final minutes before an interception gave Ferrum the ball with 36 seconds before halftime. A Reynolds run moved Ferrum to Averett's 37-yard line, setting up the controversial play.

With the clock stopped so the chains could move, Ferrum hiked the ball what appeared to be a split second before the referee whistled that the ball was ready for play to start the game clock. A flag few in from the sideline — ultimately Averett had 12 men on the field — but the whistle led to confusion on both sides of the ball as some players stopped. Reynolds kept the play going, however, and found Wesley Franklin all alone in the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left in the half. Averett's coaching staff argued that the play should have been whistled dead, but to no avail.

Instead of what might have been a one-possession game to start the second half now two possessions, Ferrum used that lift to open the third quarter with an 18-play, 81-yard drive for another touchdown. Running back Tyler Brubaker found Derrick West for a 6-yard pass to push Ferrum's lead to 28-7. The Panthers' defense held Averett to three-and-out, and Brubaker's 38-yard punt return put Ferrum back in Averett territory. Reynolds added his third of four rushing touchdowns to increase Ferrum's lead to 35-7 with 6:38 left in the third quarter.

Ferrum added two more quick touchdowns within a little more than a minute of each other to start the fourth quarter with a 49-7 advantage.

Averett, however, didn't stop fighting. The Cougars put together three scoring drives in the final frame. Freshman quarterback Martin Smith found August Jones for a 7-yard touchdown pass, then found sophomore Anthony Terry for a 44-yard touchdown pass on Averett's next drive. Freshman Ray Brown added a 1-yard rushing touchdown late.

The Cougars' other score, which tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter, came on Smith's 21-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Wynton Stephens.

Ferrum dominated the time of possession 37:55-22:05.

The Cougars' defense, which was missing several starters due to injury, was led by sophomore Nico Peterson's 10 tackles.

Averett will look to bounce back at LaGrange College next Saturday at 1 p.m.