DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University football led Randolph-Macon College for more than 58 of the 60 minutes of play, but a late fourth quarter rally helped the Yellow Jackets escape with a 30-27 win over the Cougars Saturday night on Daly Field and Frank R. Campbell Stadium.

Randolph-Macon (1-1), the favorite to win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and preseason No. 24 team in the country, scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead 33-yard touchdown run by Tre Frederick with 1:14 to play. Until that point, Averett (1-1) had held the lead since the opening kickoff.

Averett began its first home game of the season with a bang as senior Joshua Tapscott returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown — his second kickoff return for touchdown in as many weeks — to propel the Cougars to an early 6-0 advantage.

Although Randolph-Macon missed its first field goal attempt, the Yellow Jackets nailed a 31-yarder with 3:11 left in the first quarter, trimming Averett's lead to 6-3. However, the Cougars responded with a scoring drive early in the second quarter when senior quarterback Jacob Wright found junior D'ante Lambright in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown catch, increasing the Averett lead to 13-3.

Averett used another big play to add to its lead with a little over four minutes left in the first half. With Randolph-Macon driving deep in the Averett red zone, junior cornerback Terrell England picked off a pass just outside the end zone and weaved through traffic 99 yards for an interception return for touchdown.

With Averett ahead 20-3, Randolph-Macon took some momentum into halftime thanks to a late 15-yard touchdown pass in the final minute to trim the deficit to 20-9 at the break.

Randolph-Macon's opening drive of the third quarter put the Yellow Jackets deep into Averett territory, but the drive stalled. A high snap on the field goal attempt led to an incomplete pass. On Averett's ensuing drive, the Cougars marched 88 yards on 13 plays for a 6-yard rushing touchdown to push the Averett lead to 27-9 with 2:39 left in the third quarter.

Randolph-Macon capitalized on its next drive, which spanned the quarter change, and the Yellow Jackets found the end zone on a 10-yard pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to pull within 27-16.

Averett nearly stole the momentum right back as Wright rushed 79 yards for a touchdown two plays later, but the score was negated by a holding penalty. Averett was forced to punt to plays later.

After each team had drives halted by strong defensive efforts, Randolph-Macon inched closer thanks to a 75-yard pass from Burke Estes to Jordan Foster down the right side, pulled the Yellow Jackets within 27-22 with 6:50 remaining. Averett's next drive went three-and-out, giving Randolph-Macon the ball with 4:34 left on the clock. The Yellow Jackets ran on seven of eight plays to get down to the Averett 33-yard line. That set up Frederick's game-winning run to the left side for the go-ahead score with 1:14 — Randolph-Macon's first lead of the game.

Averett got to midfield on its first play from scrimmage, but Rnadolph-Macon forced a fumble and recovered it, allowing the Yellow Jackets to run out the clock and give the Cougars a heart-breaking loss in its home opener in front of more than 1,800 fans.

Frederick, a D3football.com Preseason All-America selection, rushed for 198 yards on 29 carries. Estes, meanwhile, threw for 250 yards despite being sacked five times.
Wright led Averett's offense with 59 net yards on the ground and 173 passing yards after going 10-for-14 in the pocket.

Senior Conner Showalter and junior Diaunte Neufville led the defense with 12 tackles and 11 tackles, respectively. Sophomore Joseph Ledbetter added eight tackles, including 2.5 sacks. Juniors Nicholas Mintz and JaVon Lofton also had eight tackles.

Averett returns to action on the road against non-conference rival Ferrum College on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.