ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Averett University football held off N.C. Wesleyan College late for a 33-29 conference victory on Saturday to give first-year head coach Patrick Henry his first win at the helm of the Cougars.

With Averett (1-2, 1-1 USA South) ahead 31-23 late in the fourth quarter, N.C. Wesleyan (0-3, 0-2 USA South) drove down and scored a 23-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to pull the Battling Bishops within 31-29 with 1:42 remaining. Down two, N.C. Wesleyan elected to go for the potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt. After a delay of game penalty moved the Bishops back 5 yards, Averett's defense came through with a huge stop as senior Tristin Quick stripped quarterback Terrence Craig and returned the failed two-point conversion attempt the length of the field for two points for the Cougars, extending their lead to 33-29.

N.C. Wesleyan couldn't convert a successful onside kick attempt and Averett was able to run out the clock to secure the win — its first of the season.

Averett had to overcome a second-half deficit to get the road victory over the Bishops. Down 13-10 at halftime, the Cougars gave up a rushing touchdown at the start of the third quarter to fall behind 20-10. They answered immediately with a drive that culminated in a 6-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Bryce Jackson to senior receiver D'ante Lambright with 9:49 left in the third quarter to get Averett back within 20-17.

After N.C. Wesleyan added a field goal to push its lead back to six points, Averett surged ahead 24-23 on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to junior Jarrod Mosby with 2:46 left in the third quarter. The Cougars then added some distance early in the fourth quarter when junior Jaleel Webster broke away for a 59-yard touchdown run with 9:49 to play to extend Averett's lead to 31-23 and set up the exciting finish.

Averett led 3-0 following sophomore Will Caviness' 18-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter. N.C. Wesleyan answered with its first score of the day, a 6-yard run by Garry Daies early in the second quarter. Craig's 35-yard touchdown pass to Jai Irvin gave the Bishops a 13-3 lead with 1:07 to play. However, that left Averett time to put together one last scoring drive before the half. Aided by a 27-yard reception by senior Isaiah Grice to get the Cougars in the red zone, Jackson later found junior Chase Nixon for a 10-yard touchdown reception with seven seconds remaining before the half to get Averett within 13-10 at the break.

Jackson put together his best collegiate game, completing 21 of 36 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Meanwhile, helped by his big touchdown run, Webster led the Cougars' ground attack with 15 rushes for 105 yards and a score, while junior Delquan Bigelow also had a big day with 13 carries for 99 yards. Grice was the leading receiver with seven catches for 103 yards, while Nixon had six catches for 70 yards.

Defensively, Quick and seniors Nicholas Mintz and JaVon Lofton were among several Cougars who gave the Bishops trouble all day. Mintz had a team-high eight tackles, while Quick and Lofton each had six tackles apiece. Quick finished with two sacks in addition to his two-point conversion return. Senior Tyler Redmond added an interception.
 
Averett will travel to face Maryville College on Friday, April 2, at 3 p.m.