DANVILLE, Va. – Shenandoah University suffered its worst loss of a difficult 2005 season to lose for the first time ever to USA South Conference rival Averett University.
Averett (5-3, 4-2 USA South) took a 51-19 decision before a homecoming crowd to win for the first time in six career meetings with the Hornets (1-7, 0-5).
The Cougars held 14-7 after one and 28-13 by halftime, but really opened it up in the final 30 minutes of play. AU scored 10 points in the third quarter and 13 more in the fourth while holding Shenandoah to just one second half touchdown to secure the victory.
For the Hornets, the 51 points given up was second only to 52 points surrendered to Salisbury during the 2000 season. The 32-points also represents the largest loss since the Sea Gulls were 42-7 winners in Winchester in week 10 of the 2004 season.
Shenandoah started off the game on a strong note by driving 72 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead at the 10:03 mark. Senior Anthony Frates capped the drive with a two-yard run on 2nd and goal, but that was not his most significant carry of the series.
On 1st and 10 from the Averett 13, Frates ran for an 11-yard gain to set up the first and goal. This carry pushed him past Anthony McGhee '03 as the all-time rushing leader at Shenandoah, giving him title to every significant school rushing career record.
Averett took control of the contest with a pair of touchdowns in each of the first two quarters. After Jeff Hughley tied it for the Cougars on a 39-yard reception from quarterback Todd Parsons, Parsons gave his club a lead they would not relinquish on a six-yard TD run with 50 seconds to play in the first.
This fourth and four run came as Parsons rolled left and elected to hold onto the ball rather than tossing it to his open receiver in the end zone. AU had taken the ball over on the Hornets 12 after they recovered a fumbled exchange between Frates and quarterback Blake Derby.
Just over seven minutes later, Averett converted another fourth and short from deep in SU territory to make it 21-7. Thamar Davis completed this seven-play, 33-yard drive with a 2-yard run on 4th and 1.
Shenandoah answered this touchdown with its second 72-yard drive of the game – this 12-play drive also ended with a Frates touchdown run but featured a pair of big third down conversions by junior running back Brandon Lacey. He picked the first on a eight yard completion to bring give SU a first and 10 on the 50, and then and a 20-yard run on third and seven that gave the Hornets a 1st and goal on the AU 4.
One play later, Frates bulled in for what would prove to be the second of his three touchdowns on the day.
Averett's final three touchdowns came on passes of 24, 27 and 55 yards, the last a freshman Shan Fairbanks to Antonio Hammond hookup with 47 seconds remaining.
The Cougars finished the day with 371 yards in total offense, 264 of which came through the air. In addition to Parson's 13 for 20, 203 yard afternoon and Fairbanks completing his only pass, senior Scott Swann returned to action for the first time since week 1 with a 3 for 5 afternoon that included an interception.
Frates capped the visitors scoring with a 1-yard plunge at the 12:39 mark of the fourth. His school record tying third touchdown of the game came on 4th and 1.
Frates finished with 129 of his team's 277 yards in total offense while Lacey added 55 on 13 carries.
Shenandoah completes its 2005 home schedule next Saturday with a 1:00 contest against Maryville College.
