DANVILLE, Va. — Despite several big scoring plays early in the second half, Averett University football couldn't overcome its first-half deficit in a 49-28 non-conference loss to Randolph-Macon College at a packed Daly Field on Saturday night.

Trailing 28-7 at halftime, Averett (1-1) quickly stole the momentum at the start of the third quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, sophomore running back Travis Jones broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run, and the Cougars ran in the two-point conversion to trim Randolph-Macon's lead to 28-15 in a matter of 15 seconds.

Randolph-Macon (1-1) answered with a quick drive that put the Yellow Jackets inside Averett's 5-yard line, but quarterback Joseph Vairo fumbled and Averett sophomore safety Elijah Harris scooped up the loose ball and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown to get Averett within 28-21 with 12:45 left in the third quarter.

Randolph-Macon used another big play on its ensuing drive — a 41-yard pass from Vairo to Eric Hoy — to get into the red zone. Vairo found the end zone from 9 yards out two plays later to extend the Yellow Jackets' lead to 35-21.

Averett didn't blink. Hall found sophomore wide receiver Myles Bennett for a 37-yard touchdown to cap off a five-play, 66-yard scoring drive and get the Cougars back within a touchdown.

However, the Cougars' offense couldn't find the same magic over the final 23 minutes. Randolph-Macon added another rushing touchdown late in the third quarter and a final passing touchdown in the final two minutes of the game to give them a three-score margin of victory.

Randolph-Macon finished with 701 total yards of offense.

The Yellow Jackets built a 21-0 lead before Averett got on the scoreboard. Hall, who came in to replace senior Drew Evans, who exited with an injury, led a seven-play, 68-yard drive that culminated with Hall diving into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:51 left in the second quarter. Yet, Randolph-Macon quickly answered. After a good kickoff return, Vairo completed a 28-yard pass, then scampered for a 27-yard touchdown run up the middle to push Randolph-Macon's lead to 28-7 with 1:24 left in the half.

Hall came in to complete 17 of 23 passes for a career-high 214 yards. Junior Michael Barbour Jr. caught eight passes for 90 yards, while Bennett had six receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. Jones led the Averett ground game with seven rushes for 104 yards and a touchdown, his third career 100-yard rushing game.

Averett's defense was led by junior Jake Salisbury and sophomore Hunter Shepherd, who each finished with 11 tackles, and senior Michael Reives, who totaled 10 tackles.

Averett travels to Guilford College for its final non-conference game next Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.