October 7, 2006
Averett Comes Back to Defeat Monarchs 28-25
Mike Hill scores three touchdowns in loss

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  The Monarchs kicked off first and Averett's 73 yard drive on their first possession turned into their first touchdown of the game.  With a Cougar touchdown in each quarter, the Monarchs improved offense was not enough.  The Monarchs fall to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference while Averett moves to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

Jeff Hughley started things off for Averett with a 27 yard kickoff return.  A 12 yard pass to Anthony Squillini from quarterback Todd Parsons and another 47 yard completion to Hughley and the Cougars were already on the Methodist 11 yard line.  A short gain for Dontavious Watson and then a 10 yard run by John Ellison gave Averett the lead.

The Monarchs did not let Averett's offense determine the game.  George Sands had an 18 yard kickoff return before freshman Brandon Parks made his first collegiate start at quarterback.  He gave the ball off to Mike Hill for a short run before connecting with Patrick Doleman for a 14 yard gain.  Chuck Howard had a big run on top of a Parks' 15 yard pass to Clarence Baker and Methodist was on the Averett 17 yard line.  Three runs by Mike Hill with an Averett penalty and the Hill tied it up with the first Monarchs touchdown.  Patrick Larkin's extra point tied the game 7-7.  Each team had two possessions to fill the first quarter, but the defense stepped up on both sides of the field to allow 10 yards offense total.

The second quarter opened with a Methodist drive to the Averett 7 yard line.  Patrick Larkin converted a 24-yard field goal to give the Monarchs the 10-7 lead with 11:33 remaining in the quarter.  The Monarchs had another chance to score when they reached the Averett 19 yard line, but an incomplete pass intended for Mularski and a Parks' fumble left the Monarchs to punt from the Averett 40 yard line.  Averett had a couple of chances, but couldn't find anything until the waning minutes of the quarter.  Quarterback Todd Parsons led the Cougars across the 50-yardline and into Methodist territory with a 10-yard pass to Shannon Short followed by a long 43-yard completion to Jeff Hughley.  With second and goal from the 7 yard line, Parsons found Antonio Hammond for Averett to regain the lead. 

The first half ended and the Monarchs came back to receive in the third quarter, but couldn't move into Cougar territory.  On their next possession, they had to punt from their own 13 yard line after faced with 4th and 26.  Larkin's 40-yard punt was returned 16 yards by Jeff Hughley to set up a 37 yard pass from Greg Harbaugh to Jeff Hughley for a touchdown.  Chris Ashcraft's extra point gave the Cougars the 21-10 lead.  Methodist had their own chance to score on their next drive, but Parks' pass from the Averett 15 yard line was picked off by Travis Boyd in the endzone.  Methodist started their next possession with 1:20 remaining in the quarter and reached the Averett 25-yard line after two runs by Hill and a 7 yard pass from Parks to Doleman.  When the fourth quarter began, the Monarchs capitalized on an Averett penalty to reach the 15 yard line and Hill ran the ball into the endzone for a touchdown.  Parks found Andrew Gurley in the endzone for two extra points.  The Monarchs were within three and still had more than 14 minutes remaining in the game.

Both teams traded possessions in the fourth quarter before the Monarchs received the ball at their own 5-yard line and started pushing Averett back with the combination of Brandon Parks and Mike Hill.  Hill found the first down on two runs to the 16 yard line and Parks found his own space for a 30 yard run.  Doleman caught a 22 yard pass and Hill gained 17 yards on two carries.  With the Monarchs set up on the Averett 15 yard line, Hill finished things off with a 15 yard run for a touchdown and the lead.  Larkin's kick was good and the Monarchs had the 25-21 lead with a little more than five minutes remaining.

Averett wasn't going to lay down and they were able to capitalize on the Monarch penalties to find their own offense when time was running out.  A 15 yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after the Methodist touchdown had Larkin kickoff from the Methodist 20.  Averett received the ball on the 20 and Duane Alson had a 19 yard return to reach the 30 yard line.  After a 2 yard rush from Kyle Wilson and an 11-yard pass from Parsons to Andrew Shipman, the Cougars had a first down on the Methodist 48.  Parsons was incomplete to Squillini and then found Shannon Short that should have placed Averett on the Methodist 44 with 3rd down and 6, but Methodist was received a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer, giving Averett the first down on the Methodist 29 yard line.  Parsons found Wilson for a short gain and then Wilson took over running the ball.  He had 23 yards in three plays and then another Monarch unsportsmanlike conduct penalty set Averett up on the 1 yard line and Wilson found a gap for another touchdown.  Ashcraft finished it off with the extra point for the 28-25 lead.

The Monarchs tried to use the remaining 1:21 to their advantage but Parks was picked off by Eric Sicre at the Averett 45 yard line.  Methodist had one final chance with 10 seconds remaining, but Parks final two passes were incomplete.  Averett won their second conference game while Methodist finds themselves 0-2.  Despite the loss, Parks had a strong first start throwing 12-for-27 with 136 yards.  Mike Hill rushed for 140 yards and Blake Farrell led the Monarch defense with 9 tackles.  Averett quarterback Todd Parsons went 14-for-29 for 164 yards and Jeff Hughley finished with 146 yards receiving.  Kyle Wilson ran for 68 yards and Cougar Jermaine Moore had 10 tackles for Averett.

The Monarchs will be back at Monarch Stadium on Saturday to face conference foe Ferrum at 1 pm while Averett travels to NC Wesleyan.