FERRUM, Va. — Big plays by the defense and special teams propelled Averett University football to a 19-7 road win at Ferrum College on Saturday afternoon as both teams opened conference play.
 
Averett (1-2, 1-0 USA South) and Ferrum (2-1, 0-1 USA South) were locked into a scoreless defensive battle well into the third quarter. With the Panthers driving into Averett territory, senior cornerback Tyriek Able picked off Zack Clifford's pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown to give the Cougars a 6-0 lead with 6:08 remaining in the third frame.
 
Averett's defense, which was dominant all day, forced Ferrum to go three-and-out on its ensuing drive. Cullen King's punt was blocked by freshman Nicholas Mintz and recovered by sophomore Romello Herbin on the Panthers' 3-yard line. Two plays later, senior Christian Miles found junior tight end Jeremiah Smith for a 3-yard touchdown pass to give Averett a 12-0 advantage.
 
Special teams once again came through for Averett early in the fourth quarter. Mintz again blocked King's punt and senior B.J. Robbins returned it 57 yards for a touchdown to extend the Cougars' lead to 19-0 with 13:14 remaining.
 
Although Ferrum eventually found the end zone on a 41-yard pass from Clifford to Dre Davis with 5:57 to play, Averett's defense slammed the door on its conference rival. Able picked off Clifford a second time with just over a minute to play, and the Cougars kneeled out the clock to earn their first win of the season.
 
Senior Nathaniel Lake and junior Dejon Brooks led Averett's defense with 10 tackles apiece. Averett's defense limited Ferrum to just two third down conversions on 18 attempts.
 
The win was Averett's second consecutive road win at W.B. Adams Stadium after winning on an overtime field goal in 2015. The rivalry, which dates back to Averett's first year of football in 2000, faces an uncertain future with Ferrum's move to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference next season.

Averett returns home next Saturday for a meeting with Methodist University at 6 p.m.