Blue & Gold fall to Averett in Homecoming game, 24-20

Rocky Mount, NC - The Blue & Gold football squad of North Carolina Wesleyan had its 2006 Homecoming spoiled by Averett University on Saturday, falling to the Cougars by a 24-20 score in front of more than 1600 fans at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.  Wesleyan, which led 10-7 at the half and 13-10 going into the fourth quarter, saw a costly fumble with less than two minutes remaining end a promising drive and any thoughts of a last-second victory. 

The Bishops are now 2-4 on the season, 1-2 in USA South play.  Averett improves to 4-2 overall with is undefeated in conference action at 3-0.

Wesleyan jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 39-yard Brian Vaughn field goal and a Teron Bush 6-yard touchdown scamper.  Bush's run capped a 5-play, 31-yard drive that began with a Davon Collins interception of AU quarterback Todd Parsons.

Averett managed a touchdown in the second quarter on a Kyle Wilson 10-yard run.  Chris Ashcraft's point-after made the score 10-7 at intermission in favor of the Bishops.

The third quarter saw Vaughn and Ashcraft trade 24 and 23-yard field goals, respectively, and the period ended with the Cougars inside the NCWC 5-yardline.

AU wasted no time moving that five yards in the fourth as Parsons connected with Watson for the touchdown just 42 second in, giving Averett its first lead of the game at 17-13.

Wesleyan, however, answered immediately.  On the Bishops' very next play from scrimmage, junior quarterback Cedric Townsend tossed a 70-yard TD strike to Mish Gilliam.  Vaughn's kick once again gave NCWC a 3-point lead at 20-17 with 13:34 remaining.

The Cougars countered with an impressive 7-play, 65-yard drive on the ensuing possession.  Parsons capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown rush that proved to be the game-winning score.

Back-to-back punts from each squad gave Wesleyan the ball down 24-20 with 4:50 remaining.  The Bishops picked up two first downs and had the ball at their own 40, only to see Travis Boyd force and recover the costly fumble that gave AU the ball with less than two minutes left in regulation.  The Cougars effectively ran out the clock to secure the victory.

Parsons finished 14-of-22 for 156 yards in the air for Averett, which netted 354 yards of offense on the day.  Wilson managed 108 yards on the ground, and Jeff Hughley caught four passes for 65 yards.

For Wesleyan, Townsend was 15-of-25 for 145 of the Bishops' 383 total yards.  Bush recorded 98 yards and a TD on 15 carries, while Gilliam led NCWC receivers with four catches for 145 yards and a touchdown.  Wesleyan was only 1-of-9 on third down conversions.

Defensively, AU's Jermaine Moore recorded a game-high 10 tackles to go along with an interception, forced fumble, and sack.  Bo Brown led the Bishops with 7.5 tackles on the day.

Wesleyan continues USA South play next weekend when they travel to Shenandoah University for a 4:00 p.m. match-up with the Hornets.