DANVILLE, Va. – The Brevard College football team (0-3) closed out the non-conference portion of its 2022 season, dropping a 23-6 decision to Averett University (2-1) on Saturday in Danville, Virginia.
Averett held the Tornados scoreless through the first 50 minutes of the game en route to the 17-point victory, avenging a 42-3 win by Brevard last season at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
Eli Carr got the start under center for the Tornados, going 16-for-26 with 126 yards, but with three costly interceptions. Late in the fourth quarter, senior quarterback Thomas Kraemer completed the first three passes of his Tornado career with a long of 13 yards and 20 yards total.
BC's rushing attack was held in check throughout the contest, as the Tornados were only able to muster 30 net rushing yards while also turning the ball over on the ground with a fumble. Senior tight end Jaden O'Leary led all receivers with seven receptions for a career-high 72 yards, while Dalton Cole added four catches for 40 yards. Eight different Tornados caught passes in the game.
Senior linebacker Toby Naylor led all Tornados with eight tackles (four solo, four assisted) and a team-best 1 ½ tackles-for-loss. Tyler Harrison logged six tackles with Wyatt Lankford, Montrell Stinson, and James Woods all adding five tackles each. Trey Williams logged BC's only sack of the game. BC's secondary broke up six passes in the game.
Special teams was the main highlight for the Tornados in the contest, with Cooper Hogan returning a career-long 44-yard kick return for Brevard, while Woods came up big in the fourth quarter with a scoop-and-score blocked punt return TD that got Brevard back into the contest.
Averett's Bryce Jackson went 20-for-37 for 212 yards and a TD passes, while Shuheim Watlington rushed for 75 yards on 15 carries. Tavien Goffigan led the receiving core with six catches for 70 yards while Marquise Woodruff added four receptions for 66 yards. Cody Britt, Isaiah Sharper, and Triston Spencer all had interceptions, while Jonathan Terrell recovered the BC fumble.
Averett gained 20 first downs to Brevard's nine and converted 10-of-18 (56%) of its third-down conversions to BC's 5-of-13 mark (38%). The Cougars outgained BC 327-179, including a 115-22 margin on the ground. AU's defense forced four turnovers while Brevard was unable to get a takeaway, and Averett dominated time of possession 36:48 to 23:12.
The hosts set the tone early with a lengthy 15-play, 81-yard drive that ate up 8:29 off the clock, ending with a 20-yard field goal to make it 3-0 midway through the first quarter.
Brevard was set up with great field position after Hogan's 44-yard kick return and got the first down, but the first Cougar pick of the contest halted BC's promising drive.
The Cougars took the ensuing drive into the second quarter, once again settling for a field goal after another red zone stand from the BC defense. The Tornados had an eight-play drive that got to midfield but stalled, as the Tornados punted for the first time in the game.
Averett was forced to punt on its next possession before BC used an 11-play, 32-yard drive to get within field goal range, but Stamati Damalos' 49-yard attempt sailed right as the Cougars took a 6-0 lead into the intermission.
Brevard got the ball to begin the second half but went three-and-out, and the hosts took advantage. Averett once again used a long offensive possession – a 15-play, 57-yard drive – to get within field goal range as Will Caviness made a 37-yarder to put the Cougars up by two possessions, 9-0, with 6:29 left in the third quarter.
Both teams traded punts going into the early stages of the fourth quarter, but Carr had his second pass picked near midfield to begin the fourth quarter. The Cougars needed just two rushing plays to score the first touchdown of the contest, as Averett held a 16-0 lead.
Brevard fumbled the ball on its next possession but forced a three-and-out on the Averett drive before Woods' blocked punt and return touchdown, as the Tornados were suddenly back in the ballgame. However, the two-point conversion was unsuccessful and Averett maintained its two-possession lead, 16-6.
Averett ate some clock up with a 13-play, 49-yard drive, giving the Tornados the ball down 10 with 2:49 left in the fourth quarter. Averett's defense sealed the deal with a sack and a pick-six that pushed the lead to three possessions, 23-6, as the hosts took the non-conference win.
The Tornados will rest up on their bye week before opening USA South Conference play on Saturday, October 1 vs. Greensboro College at 2 p.m. at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
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-BC-