DANVILLE, Va.— Averett University football used a fast start to beat LaGrange College 31-22 in USA South Conference play Saturday, giving the Cougars' seniors a victory in their final home game of the season on Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.

Averett (5-4, 4-3 USA South) jumped out to a big 24-0 lead in the first quarter. Freshman Bryce Phipps rumbled in for a 7-yard touchdown to open the scoring for the Cougars, and junior Will Caviness added a 23-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 6:33 to play in the first quarter. Junior quarterback Bryce Jackson added a 9-yard rushing touchdown on the Cougars' next possession. Averett's defense then got in on the scoring action. After LaGrange reeled off a 40-yard run, the Cougars' junior Johnathan Terrell forced a fumble on the next play that senior Nicholas Mintz picked up and returned 66 yards for a touchdown to increase the lead to 24.

LaGrange (2-7, 2-5 USA South), however, chipped away at Averett's big lead in the second quarter. The Panthers took advantage of an interception and drive down for their first score, a 13-yard rush by Tyler Coleman. LaGrange got the ball right back after forcing a fumble on Averett's first play from scrimmage on its next drive. That led to a 29-yard field goal to get LaGrange within 24-10. LaGrange added a 6-yard touchdown run by Shedrick Lindsey just before the half to help cut the Averett lead to 24-16.

In the second half, Averett added some insurance points in the third quarter as freshman running back Shawn Watlington broke a 38-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.

That addition score proved to be helpful as LaGrange added a passing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to pull within 31-22 following the failed two-point conversion attempt. An Averett fumble early on its ensuing drive gave LaGrange an opportunity to get closer, but Averett's defense held strong and the Panthers turned it over on downs with 4:12 remaining in the game.

The Cougars were able to hold off LaGrange the rest of the way to secure the win.

Senior defensive end Tristin Quick turned in a record-breaking performance with 4.5 sacks, breaking the old mark of 3.5 held by Zack Morton from 2007. In the process, Quick broke the single-season sacks record. With one game to go, he has 10 sacks, eclipsing the old mark of nine. He also shattered the career sacks mark of 15.5 and now has 18.0 for his career. Quick led the team with seven total tackles while also forcing a fumble and adding a quarterback hurry. Seniors David Payne, Conner Showalter and Damarius King also had six tackles each. Senior Terrell England had five tackles and three pass breakups. Sophomore Shayne Parham also had a blocked punt that helped set up the Caviness field goal in the first quarter.

Watlington shined on offense, rushing a career-high 26 times for a career-best 154 net yards. Senior Isaiah Grice had a 52-yard catch to lead the receivers.

Prior to the game Averett honored its largest senior class with a Senior Day Ceremony.

Averett finishes the season with a road game at Brevard College on Saturday, Nov. 13.