HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. — Hampden-Sydney College held off Averett University football 20-17 late as both teams opened the season on Saturday afternoon.

Averett (0-1) led 17-14 entering the fourth quarter, but Hampden-Sydney (1-0) scored early in the fourth frame to retake the lead. Quarterback Alex Cobb found receiver Major Morgan for an 8-yard touchdown with 13 minutes to go in the game. However, Averett blocked the extra point attempt, which nearly came into play.
 
On Averett's ensuing possession, the Cougars' offense marched into Tiger territory until the drive stalled at the Hampden-Sydney 27-yard line. On fourth down, the Averett set up for a field goal, but the play went awry and the Cougars came away with no points. A made field goal would have tied the game.

Although Averett got the ball back, that drive, too, stalled and the Cougars were forced to punt. With just under five minutes to play. Hampden-Sydney's offense didn't give it back as the Tigers converted four first downs to run out the final 4:46 on the clock and preserve the victory.
 
Hampden-Sydney led 6-0 after the first quarter before Averett's offense found some rhythm. Sophomore Cole Westberry nailed a program-record 51-yard field goal with 12:55 left in the second quarter to put the Cougars on the board, down 6-3.

Averett's defense shut down Hampden-Sydney on its next possession, giving the Cougars good field advantage on the punt. Two plays later, freshman running back Delquan Bigelow found a hole and ran 26 yards into the end zone to put Averett ahead 10-6 — a score that held through halftime.

Hampden-Sydney inched ahead 14-10 midway through the third quarter on Mike DeMasi's 2-yard rush, and Cobb found Morgan for the two-point conversion. Yet, Averett answered with a go-ahead score on a 13-play, 68-yard drive that culminated with junior running back Sean Bowman scoring from 1 yard out to help put the Cougars in front 17-14 with 26 seconds to play in the quarter.

Bowman finished with 127 yards on 24 carries, while Bigelow had 59 yards on 12 rushes to lead the Averett offense.

Junior Dejon Brooks led the defense with a career-high 15 tackles, including 0.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. Seniors Kenneth Covington, Shareef Boddie and Don Warren also had sacks.

Westberry, who set the individual program single-season records last season for field goals made and extra points, became the first Cougar to hit a 50-yard field goal or longer in the program's 18-year existence. The former record was 47 yards, shared by James Thurnes and Sean Sullivan.

Averett opens its home slate on Sept. 9 when the Cougars play host to non-conference foe Randolph-Macon College at 6 p.m. on Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.