GREENSBORO, N.C. — Junior receiver Shawn Watlington set a program record as Averett University football dominated Guilford College for a 34-13 conference road win Saturday in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action.

Watlington caught three touchdowns to give him 13 receiving scores this season, surpassing the previous program single-season record of 12 in 2005 by Averett Hall of Famer Jeff Hughley. All three helped Averett (4-5, 1-5 ODAC) end a five-game skid while handing Guilford (2-7, 0-6 ODAC) its sixth consecutive loss this season.

The Quakers had the early momentum after returning the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown to take a 6-0 lead just 16 seconds into the game. However, Averett didn't waver. The Cougars marched down the field on their second possession of the game, and fifth-year quarterback Bryce Jackson found Watlington for a 2-yard touchdown pass across the middle to help Averett take a 7-6 advantage.

From there, Averett's defense took over. Three plays later, junior cornerback Kendall Spriggins picked off a Guilford pass and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown to extend the Cougars' lead to 14-6 with 6:30 left in the first quarter.

Although Guilford passed for a 29-yard touchdown on its next drive to close the gap to 14-13 with 2:13 left in the first quarter, Averett's defense clamped down from there. The Cougars limited the Quakers to 1 yard of net rushing for the game and totaled five sacks — including three alone by fifth-year defensive end Jahlin Russell, who leads the ODAC in that category.

With the defense controlling Guilford, Averett's offense continued to add points on the board. Jackson and Watlington connected for their second touchdown of the day with a 28-yard short pass across the middle that allowed Watlington to tie Hughley's program record early in the second quarter while pushing the Cougars' lead to 21-13.

Guilford was driving in the Averett red zone just before the half but sophomore cornerback P.J. Hopped picked off a pass to end the threat as the Cougars kept a 21-13 advantage entering halftime.

Fifth-year kicker Will Caviness hit a season-long 41-yard field goal in front of his hometown crowd to give Averett a 24-13 lead early in the third quarter, and he added a 39-yard field goal as well in the fourth quarter as the Cougars pulled away 27-13.

Watlington broke Hughley's record with under a minute to play as fifth-year quarterback Sa'Quan Harrison found Watlington for a 7-yard score to help give Averett the 21-point victory over Guilford.

Watlington was efficient, scoring his three touchdowns on five total catches for 60 yards. The three receiving touchdowns in a single game is the second-most by a Cougar in the record book, one shy of the record. Jackson completed 12-of-25 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown with only one interception before Harrison finished the game. Sophomore running back Isaiah Lytton led the ground attack with 28 carries for 129 net yards.

Russell led Averett's defense with nine tackles, including four tackles for loss and his three sacks —one of which was a strip sack that caused a Guilford fumble. Russell is on the verge of breaking the program's single-season sack mark of 10 from 2021 held by Tristin Quick. Fifth-year linebacker Qumar Price and junior linebacker Nazier McDonald each had a sack, and fifth-year safety Carey Dickinson added an interception in the fourth quarter as the Averett defense put up another strong performance. Price also forced a fumble.

Averett returns home to face rival Ferrum College on Saturday, Nov. 11, on Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day to finish the regular season.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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