DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University football held off conference foe Maryville College late for a 12-7 victory Saturday in its home finale on Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.

Sophomore kicker Cole Westberry went 4-for-4 on his field goal attempts to account for all of Averett's points. The defense, meanwhile, came away with three turnovers and several big stops to limit Maryville's offense all day.

Averett (4-4, 4-2 USA South) fell behind early thanks to a costly turnover. Maryville (4-4, 2-3 USA South) picked off the Cougars for a big return. Two plays later, running back Elijah Hairston found the end zone from 5 yards out to help the Scots take a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Westberry got the first of his four field goals early in the second quarter, drilling a 47-yard field goal to put Averett on the scoreboard. He added a 22-yarder with 5:12 left in the half to close Maryville's lead to 7-6 by the break. Both of Averett's scoring drive in the first half were set up by turnovers. Senior Kevin Norcott's pick near midfield led to Westberry's first field goal, while the second scoring drive was set up by junior Bradley Jefferson's interception. Jefferson also had a fumble recovery earlier in the game.
Averett's defense shut down the Scots' offense on 12 of their 14 third down plays. Maryville was left to settle for field goals, which they couldn't convert. The Scots missed a 28-yard attempt as time expired in the first half, and they missed a 46-yard field goal try on the first drive of the third quarter. Those proved costly as Averett hung around, waiting to strike.

Westberry gave the Cougars their first lead of the game with a 35-yard field goal with 11:36 to play in the fourth quarter. Maryville, again, couldn't answer as it missed its third field goal of the day — a 49-yard attempt on its ensuing possession.

Averett took advantage as the Cougars used a nine-play, 66-yard drive to chew up nearly five minutes. Although Maryville halted Averett's drive near the goal line, Westberry connected on a 19-yard field goal to extend the Cougars' lead to 12-7 with 4:55 to play.

Maryville connected for a 23-yard pass to get into Averett territory, and later converted a 20-yard pass on fourth-and-10 to keep the drive going. However, the Cougars' defense clamped down. Jefferson broke up a pass on fourth down inside the Averett 25-yard line to get the ball back with 2:34 remaining. From there, junior running back Sean Bowman converted a third down run for a first down, allowing Averett to run out the clock and end a seven-game skid against Maryville.

The four field goals gives Westberry 10 for the season, matching the program's individual single-season record that he set last season.

The Averett defense held Maryville, which was averaging 425.4 yards of offense this season, to just 206 total yards and only 84 yards rushing. Junior Dejon Brooks led the Cougars with 11 total tackles, while sophomore Hunter Hinson had nine. Senior Don Warren finished with six tackles, while sophomore A.J. Cheeks, Jefferson, senior Nathaniel Lake and senior Kenneth Covington each had four tackles. Covington and senior Victor Miller each had a sack, and senior Tymondre Isaac forced a fumble.

Offensively, senior Myles Bennett had seven catches for 81 yards.

Averett finishes its season with two games on the road, beginning next Saturday at Brevard College.