DANVILLE, Va. -- After trailing 9-0, Ferrum College scored 30 unanswered points to defeat Averett University 30-9 in USA South Athletic Conference football action Oct. 4 on the road.

Box Score:  Ferrum 30, Averett 9

The Cougars got on the board at 14:25 when Mario Huffman sacked Ferrum QB Matt Dobson for a safety and a 2-0 AU lead.  Averett widened the margin to 9-0 with three-yard run by Dontavi Watson at 9:44 of the second quarter, capping a nine-play, 48-yard drive.

Ferrum answered with an 11-yard scoring strike from QB Marcus Mayo to WR Marques Wilson with 25 seconds remaining in the first half to cut the lead to 9-7.

The second half was all Ferrum, as the Panthers put 23 more points on the board and held the Cougars scoreless.

Ferrum intercepted Averett three times in the fourth quarter.  With Ferrum leading 14-9, the Cougars drove to the Ferrum eight yard line early in the fourth, only to have DB Dennis Hardy pick off Shan Fairbanks' pass at the FC-6 and return it 66 yards to the Averett 28 before being dragged down.  RB Mike Vann scored on the second play, a 30-yard rush and Mayo's two-point PAT put Ferrum up 22-9.

On Averett's next possession, DB Demetrius Brown picked off Fairbanks' on 3rd and 8.  Later in the quarter, John Branch intercepted Matt Mitchell's pass at the FC-25 with 1:48 left to play, and Ferrum ran out the clock from there.

Mayo scored rushing touchdowns of seven and three yards at 8:58 of the third quarter and 4:01 of the fourth, respectively.  RB Mike Vann added a 30-yard TD run in between Mayo's scores, at 10:35 on the fourth quarter.

Ferrum won despite Averett winning the battle of total yardage, 310-277.  The Panthers rushed for 252 yards and threw for just 25.  Mayo led Ferrum with 66 rushing yards and two scores on seven carries.  RB Steven Harris had 64 yards rushing on seven attempts.  Dobson was 0-4 passing.  Mayo was 2-4 for 25 yards and a score.

Averett (1-3, 0-1 USA South) had 125 yards rushing and 185 passing, and was picked off three times.  Fairbanks was 17-30 passing for 161 yards and a pair of interceptions.  Matt Mitchell was 1-3 for 24 yards and one interception.  John Ellison led the Cougar ground game with 57 yards on 11 carries.  Watson had 49 yards and a TD on 15 attempts.

Ferrum (4-1, 2-0 USA South) returns to action Saturday, Oct. 11, at home against USA South opponent Maryville College during Homecoming Weekend.  The Scots spoiled Ferrum's Homecoming in 2006 with a 20-14 win, then beat Ferrum 26-23 in overtime a year ago in Tennessee.  Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at W.B. Adams Stadium.