FERRUM, Va. — Averett University football's season ended with a 35-6 road loss to rival Ferrum College in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action on Saturday.
 
Ferrum (5-5, 3-4 ODAC), which took an early 7-0 lead thanks to a rushing touchdown in the opening minutes, used its defense to increase its lead in the first half. Twice, the Panthers forced fumbles and returned both for touchdowns. The first came in the final seconds of the first quarter when Davon Simpkins recovered the fumble and returned it 21 yards for the scoop and score. To make it 14-0 with 16 seconds left in the quarter. Two plays later, on the first play of the second quarter, Ferrum's Peja Brent picked up another fumble and returned it for another score to help the Panthers go up 21-0.

Up three scores entering the second half, Ferrum added to its lead in the third quarter. The Panthers, who gained possession on another fumble recovery, eventually found the end zone again on Jahylen Lee's 50-yard touchdown run with 9:53 left in the third quarter as Ferrum went up 28-0 on Averett (3-7, 1-6 ODAC). The Panthers picked off a pass on the Cougars' ensuing drive and later rushed in from 18 yards out to extend their advantage to 35-0 with 4:04 to go in the third.

Averett scored early in the fourth quarter when junior Louie De Iulio rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown, but a missed extra point kept the score at 35-6 with 10:43 remaining in the game.

The Cougars made history on special teams as freshman Mikhail Iakovlev booted a program-record 77-yard punt, surpassing the old mark of 69 yards shared by Cole Westberry and Zachary Richman.

Junior running back Gaby Soto had 16 rushed for 63 yards for the offense.

Averett's defense was led by junior linebacker Anthony Brunelli's seven tackles. Freshman cornerback Joziah Campbell, the reigning ODAC Defensive Player of the Week, added to his conference-leading interception total in the second half. He picked off his sixth pass of the season and returned it 52 yards.

Saturday's matchup wasn't just the end of the season for both teams — it was likely was the end of an era between the two long-time rival schools. With Ferrum moving to NCAA Division II next academic year, it was likely the final meeting on the gridiron between the two schools — at least for the foreseeable future. The two programs' rivalry goes back to 2000 when Averett's football program began. The two have met every season since, except for the COVID 2020-21 spring season (that game was canceled).


 
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