ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Averett University football dropped its season-opening matchup at North Carolina Wesleyan University 64-12 on Thursday night as the two former conference foes met in a non-conference battle.

A year after Averett (0-1) hit for a long touchdown on the first play of scrimmage against the Battling Bishops to open the 2024 season, N.C. Wesleyan (1-0) returned the favor by connecting on a 75-yard touchdown pass on its first offensive snap of the game to go up 7-0 in the opening seconds.

Averett, however, answered back thanks to an N.C. Wesleyan miscue. After Averett was forced to punt on its first possession, the Bishops muffed the punt and Averett collected the loose ball on the N.C. Wesleyan 11-yard line. Moments later, redshirt sophomore quarterback Ethan Ross scampered in through the middle for a 10-yard touchdown. A failed extra point attempt allowed N.C. Wesleyan to keep a 7-6 edge.
 
N.C. Wesleyan added a 1-yard rushing touchdown, then upped its lead to 16-6 thanks to a safety on a bad snap on a punt attempt. The Bishops again used a big play to add to its lead, connecting on a 73-yard touchdown to give them a 23-6 advantage by the end of the first quarter.
 
The Bishops held Averett's offense of the scoreboard while tacking on two more touchdowns and two field goals by halftime to take a 43-6 advantage into the break.

After N.C. Wesleyan added another touchdown thanks to a short field from an interception, Averett found the end zone again. Ross notched his second rushing touchdown of the game. However it wasn't enough to catch up to the Bishops, who totaled 627 yards of total offense.

Ross threw for 138 yards in addition to his two rushing touchdowns. Redshirt senior receiver Andre Francois led the Cougars with 48 receiving yards on four catches.

Averett's defense was led by senior linebacker Anthony Brunelli, who had eight total tackles with one tackle for loss. Redshirt freshman safety Caden Thorne added seven tackles in his collegiate debut. Freshman linebacker Bo Blankenship also recovered a fumble for the Cougars.

The two teams were the first NCAA Division III game to kick off the 2025 season in Thursday's 13-game slate across the country.

Averett returns home to play Southern Virginia University on Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. on Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium.



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