Averett thumps Greensboro in USA South opener

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Defensive end Anssi Nevalainen returned an interception 11 yards for a score early in the second half and Averett University withstood a rally by Greensboro College to win 28-17 in the USA South Conference opener for both teams Saturday night at Jamieson Stadium.

“That right there I think put the game away,” Averett coach Mike Dunlevy said. “They still came back … they fought … but anytime you can get that kind of momentum, it really puts a hurting on the other team.”

Averett (4-1, 1-0) quarterback Cody Ladutko led the Cougars to their third consecutive victory since taking over as the starting quarterback, the team’s first three-game winning streak since its conference championship season in 2006. Nevalainen’s score, on Greensboro’s first offensive play of the second half, staked the Cougars to a 28-3 advantage. Averett, which had not scored in the first quarter all season, scored touchdowns on its first three drives of the game.

Greensboro (2-2, 0-1) freshman wide receiver Antwan Thorpe caught eight passes for 131 yards and a pair of second-half scores, one from 55 yards out and another from 32 yards away.

Ladutko completed 15 of 21 passes for 127 yards, a score and his first interception since becoming the starter. He is the first Averett quarterback to win his first two starts, let alone his first three.

Mark Williams scored on a 15-yard rush for Averett’s first touchdown of the game, Donatvious Watson plunged into the end zone from the 7 to stake the Cougars to a 14-3 first-quarter lead and Jeremy Dixon snagged an 11-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter for a 21-3 advantage.

“It’s unbelievable. … We came out, we were firing on all cylinders that first half, and I wouldn’t say we laid a goose egg in the second half, but we really just hit a bump in the road,” Ladutko said. “We really could have done a lot better, but what can you do? We came out with the victory. Our defense did unbelievable.”

Greensboro drove to the Averett 3-yard line seconds before the half but failed to scored as time expired.

Nevalainen, a linebacker last season, intercepted a quick pass into the flat and scored on Greensboro’s first offensive play of the second half to give Averett a stranglehold on the contest.

“It was a surprise to me also,” Nevalainen said. “I’m just glad I caught it. … Next thing I know, I was in the end zone.”

Despite Greensboro’s offensive struggles, the Pride actually outgained Averett in total offense, piling up 324 yards to the Cougars’ 230.

Pride senior quarterback Michael Caparaso was pulled in favor of freshman Seth Adams in the third quarter. Adams tossed a pair of touchdowns to Thorpe, providing a spark to the Greensboro offense, but the Pride failed to capitalize on a number of opportunities down the stretch.

Greensboro senior defensive back Andreas Platt intercepted Ladutko to set the Pride up with the ball at the Averett 41, but the hosts, trailing by two scores with 7½ minutes to play, failed to record a first down. The turnover on downs ended any hope of a comeback.

Averett 28, Greensboro 17
Averett 14 7 7 0 -  28
Greensboro 3 0 7 7 -  17
First quarter
A-Williams 15 run (Klusacek kick), 7:18
G-Wolf 29 FG, 3:01
A-Watson 7 run, 0:35
Second quarter
A-Dixon 11 pass from Ladutko (Klusacek kick), 9:01
Third quarter
A-Nevalainen 11 interception return (Klusacek kick), 12:48
G-Thorpe 55 pass from Adams (Walker kick), 0:14
Fourth quarter
G-Thorpe Antwan 31 pass from Adams (Walker kick), 9:20

TEAM STATISTICS
A 6
First downs 19 17
Rushes-Yards 39-103 23-44
Passing 127 280
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 12-169 11-198
Possession time 32:26 27:34

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Averett-Watson 16-62, Hughes 12-50, M. Williams 4-18, Shedd 1-2, Ladutko 4-2, Dixon 1-0, Team 1-(-31). Greensboro-Martin 9-29, Caparaso 2-8, Lachaux 1-6, Adams 4-5, Beasley 4-1, Richardson 1-1, Team 1-(-3), Thorpe 4-(-3).
RECEIVING: Averett-C. Williams 6-44, Dixon 4-32, Squillini 3-35, Watson 1-9, Oristian 1-7. Greensboro-Thorpe 8-131, Porter 5-45, Richardson 3-64, Martin 3-35, Dalton 1-3, Scott 1-2.
PASSING: Averett-Ladutko 15-21-1-127. Greensboro-Adams 10-23-0-154, Caparaso 10-17-1-81, Stallings 1-1-0-45, Thorpe 0-1-0-0.
RECORDS: Averett 3-1, 1-0; Greensboro 2-2, 0-1