DANVILLE, Va. — Huntingdon College used a strong second half performance to pick up a 42-14 victory over Averett University in USA South Conference football action on Saturday afternoon on Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.
 
Sophomore running back Sean Bowman entered Saturday's game one rushing touchdown away from tying the Cougars' single-season record of 14 held by Kyle Wilson (2005). Bowman tied the mark midway through the second quarter when he found some space and ran 14 yards for a score to get Averett (4-5, 3-3 USA South) within a score at 14-7. He then broke the record when he ran for a 14-yard score that made it a two-possession game with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Bowman finished the afternoon with 97 yards on 14 carries to go along with his two scores. His performance gives him 1,058 yards for the season, making him only the second Cougar to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
 
Huntingdon (9-1, 6-1 USA South) scored 21 points after the break to open up a close game going into the half en route to winning the 2016 USA South title. The Hawks' opened up the scoring on their second possession of the third quarter when Luke Bailey found space and took the ball in for an 8-yard touchdown run to put Huntingdon up by three scores with 5:57 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Averett answered right back on its next offensive possession to get back in the game. The Cougars capped off a 65-yard drive with Bowman's second touchdown of the game, a 4-yard scamper, to make it 28-14 late in the third period.
 
However, the Hawks would rattle off 14 straight points to establish some space. John Iwaniec scored on runs of 12 and 1 yard to lead to the final tally.
 
Bailey got things started for Huntingdon when he found Jamichael Bibb for a 66-yard touchdown pass to put the Hawks up by a touchdown. Huntingdon would increase its lead late in the first quarter when Bailey found Mark White on an 8-yard toss.
 
The Cougars got on the board in the second quarter thanks to Bowman's 14-yard run.
On Huntingdon's first drive of the second half, Averett appeared to gain some momentum when freshman Ronnie Beatty stepped in front of a pass from Bailey in the end zone to give the ball back to the Cougars. Averett managed to move the ball down the field on its ensuing possession, but Huntingdon's defense stepped up and forced the Cougars to punt.
 
Sophomore quarterback Joshua Long turned in an 18-for-35, 137-yard performance in his second collegiate start. Sophomore Marcus Terry led the Cougars' receiving attack, finishing with 36 yards on three receptions.
 
Defensively, Averett forced three Huntingdon turnovers, including a pair of interceptions from Beatty and sophomore A.J. Cheeks.
 
Prior to the start of the game, Averett celebrated the playing careers of its senior class.
 
As part of Averett University's Military Appreciation Day, Sgt. First Class (Ret.) Dana Bowman parachuted in prior to kickoff to deliver the game ball.
 
Averett concludes its regular season on Nov. 19 when it travels to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to take on Methodist University at 1 p.m.