FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Averett University football team upended Methodist University in a strong 31-21 performance to capture its first conference win of the season.  
 
The Cougars crept their way up the field in the opening drive of the game with the help of three consecutive offside penalties from Methodist (5-3, 4-2 USA South).  With freshman running back Travis Jones returning to the starting lineup after sitting out four games due to an elbow injury, Averett (2-6, 1-5 USA South) was able to run past the Monarchs' defense landing the Cougars at the Methodist 12-yard line. Eighteen of Jones' 31 rushing yards came in the opening drive. Junior quarterback Drew Evans then connected with junior wide receiver Terrance Owens II for a 12-yard touchdown pass to put the Cougars ahead early, but the Monarchs answered with a touchdown three minutes later.
 
With 2:21 left in the first quarter, Averett's junior kicker Hobie Proctor nailed a 21-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead after Methodist had answered the Cougars' first touchdown.
 
But again, even with little time, Methodist scored as Noah Shuler ran 9 yards to the end zone to put the Monarchs ahead of the Cougars for the first time in the game, 14-10.
 
With both teams scoring one touchdown in the second quarter, the Cougars trailed 21-17 at the break. Though Methodist went into halftime with momentum after scoring on quarterback Max Reber's 6-yard rush and snagging an interception returned by D.J. Payne for 32 yards, the Cougars managed to control the second half, shutting out the Monarchs while regaining the lead.
 
"We knew what we had. It just came down to execution, and we talk about that all the time," Cleive Adams said after winning his first conference game as Averett's head coach. "We've just been trying to maintain and stick to the little things."

In the first play of the Cougars' second drive of the third quarter, junior running back Xavier Morgan maneuvered his way past the defense for a 67-yard touchdown run to put Averett back on top at 24-21. Morgan finished with 116 rushing yards.

Methodist had a chance to tie the game early in the fourth quarter with a field goal, but Cody Ausherman's 41-yard attempt sailed wide left of the post. Though still in the lead, Averett wasn't finished displaying its offensive ability.  Evans launched a 57-yard touchdown pass to Owens to stretch the lead to 10 and secure the second win of the season for the Cougars. Evans completed 21 of 31 passes for 215 yards, and Owens grabbed six receptions for 100 yards.
 
Averett's defense, led by junior safety Michael Reives with 10 tackles, halted Methodist's scoring in the second half as the offense continued its rhythm.
 
Jones finished with 126 all-purpose yards including his 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Junior cornerback Dontae Gilbert paced the Cougars' defense with nine tackles and a pair of interceptions as Averett forced five total turnovers.
 
Averett travels to Montgomery, Alabama, next Saturday to play Huntingdon College (5-3, 4-2 USA South) at 2 p.m. before returning to Daly Field on Nov. 15.