BUENA VISTA, Va. – Averett University football utilized a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a record-setting 73-yard scoring run from sophomore quarterback
Brandon Saunders, to pull away for a 41-34 victory over Southern Virginia University on Saturday evening at Knight Stadium.
Head coach Matt Quinn recorded his first collegiate win in the process. Along with that win, it marked Averett's first September triumph since 2024, and first non-conference away win in that same time frame.
After a scoreless third quarter, Southern Virginia (0-2) rattled off a scoring drive and regaining the lead when quarterback Devin Watson linked up with wideout Brandon Dupaix for a 12-yard score, as the Knights went back up 27-26.
In methodical fashion, Averett (1-1) answered back with conviction. Saunders converted back-to-back third down plays to move the Cougars into the visiting red zone. Tasked with a fourth and long, Saunders found sophomore wide receiver
A.J. Williams for a 21-yard reception that helped to turn the tide on the drive.
Two plays later, redshirt junior running back
Jaylin Neal punched the ball through from a yard out, then succeeded on the two-point play right after to place the visitors up by a touchdown.
Southern Virginia's next drive came up short. With urgency to keep up with the surging Cougars, the Knights went for broke on a fourth down in their own territory, and junior defensive back
Jeremiah Marks broke up the ensuing pass that gave Averett prime field advantage at its on 46-yard line.
Both teams punted on their own next offensive sets, then Averett got the ball back close to the three-minute mark, still with the 34-27 lead. At its own 27, Saunders called his own play, and scrambled effortlessly past pursuing Southern Virginia defenders, all the way for a 73-yard score that flipped the game on its head.
The 73-yard touchdown lit up in the Averett record books; Saunders' run was the fifth-largest run from scrimmage in school history, and the quarterback set a new school record for longest run from scrimmage by a quarterback.
With the game nearly at its conclusion, the Knights had a few last gasps, one of which was an eventual 53-yard short pass, catch, and running score by receiver Jax Vanchiere to cut the Cougars' lead back down to seven. With 1:36 to go, Averett nearly iced the contest on its next possession, but came up short on a fourth-down conversion that gave the home side one last chance at glory.
A 26-yard passing completion on Southern Virginia's final possession gave the Knights a Hail Mary from their own 43-yard line. The ensuing heave had the distance to fall into the endzone, but out of reach of a single Southern Virginia player, and Averett had its signature win in 2026.
Capped off by that aforementioned long scramble touchdown, Saunders completed his most prolific contest in an Averett uniform. The quarterback completed 18 of 30 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. The 297 yards in the air vaulted into the Cougar record books as the 8th-most passing yards in single game by an Averett signal caller. Along with a team-leading 110 rushing yards on 10 attempts, Saunders' 407 yards are the second-most yards by an Averett quarterback in team history.
Saunders' 11.0 yards per rush became the most by any Averett player in a single game in team history, dethroning Sean Bowman '19 and his 9.5 yards per rush on Oct. 13, 2018 versus N.C. Wesleyan. Saunders' 297 passing yards, 110 rushing yards, three passing touchdowns and the 73-yard rush all set new career-highs for the sophomore signal caller.
Along with Saunders, freshman wideout
Zymarcus Stover one-upped his collegiate debut with seven receptions for 84 yards. Williams added three catches with 70 yards, and redshirt sophomore
Amontrae Scott hauled in two touchdown receptions to add along with 63 yards receiving. Scott's two receiving scores were the first since
Jamarrie Lumpkins last September versus the same Knights. Freshman wide receiver
Tre'Sean Suber scored his second touchdown in two weeks, with 35 yards.
On the defensive line, senior
Chavis Martin and freshman
Tykeem Ross each recorded sacks, while Marks had three PBUs on the night. Freshman defensive backs
K'Jaceon McInnis and
Jahlil Bryant both notched their first career interceptions for the Cougars.
Freshman defensive back
Desmond Hunter wrote himself into the record books, as he became only the 13th player in team history with 18 or more tackles in a single contest. His 18 tackles were the most by a Cougar defensive player since Anthony Morris '05 on Oct. 9, 2004 versus Methodist. Two more Averett players joined Hunter in the 10-plus tackle stat, as freshmen linebackers
Daniel Gee and
Charles Hatcher III went for 11 and 10, respectively.
As a team, the Cougars finished with a higher rushing average, 4.8 to 4.3 yards per rush, and went for more yards per play, 7.14 to 6.00.
Averett returns back home to Daly Field at Frank R. Campbell Stadium for Family Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 19, as the Cougars face Gallaudet University. Kick-off is set for 3 p.m.
