Football | 11/3/2012 6:28:00 PM

Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist football team won its second straight game in overtime as it edged Averett, 33-27 in two overtimes at Monarch Stadium on Saturday afternoon's homecoming affair.

Darius Page's five-yard run in the second overtime period proved to be the game winning effort as both teams squandered an opportunity to win the game in the first overtime period.
 
After Averett (1-8, 1-5, USA South) took a 27-21 lead on a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown by Calvin Williams with 9:46 left to play, J.D. Stalvey blocked the ensuing extra point in what would prove to be a pivotal play in the game.

The Monarchs failed to convert on fourth down from the Averett 40-yard line on their ensuing drive and the Cougars regained possession of the ball clinging to their six-point lead and 6:07 showing on the clock. MU then forced a three and out and D.J. Payne returned the ensuing punt 70 yards to Averett five-yard line putting the Monarchs in position to tie or take the lead with under five minutes to play. Two plays later, John Flanagan plunged in from two-yards out to knot the game a 27-27. Looking to take a one-point lead, the Monarchs missed the PAT attempt, leaving the score deadlocked at 27-27.
 
On the Cougars ensuing drive, Averett managed to move the ball just 40 yards in 15 plays and a Hail Mary pass on the last play of regulation was batted down by MU's Keltcey Richardson to send the game into overtime.

MU started with the ball in the first overtime and on its first play from scrimmage Flanagan fumbled and the loose ball was recovered by AU's Stefan Varner, meaning all Averett had to do was score points of any kind to seal the win. A 22-yard run by Ke'Von White on 2nd-and-15 set the Cougars up with 1st-and-goal from the eight and as Ryan Ristaino trotted out on second down to attempt a 26-yard field goal, it appeared Averett had survived. However, his kick sailed wide left and the teams advanced to a second overtime.
 
This time the Cougars began with possession, and following a rush for a loss of one and a sack that pushed them back seven more yards an incomplete pass on 4th-and-11 gave the ball to Methodist with a chance to win the game. Following a delay of game penalty that made it 1st-and-15, Darius Page ripped off a 27-yard run over left tackle down to the Averett three-yard line and two plays later he plunged over the goal line for the game-winning touchdown.

MU opened the scoring on a 9-yard pass from Max Reber to James Bevans just before the end of the first quarter before Averett answered on its first drive of the second period, moving 32 yards in four plays capped by a 1-yard run by quarterback Martin Smith. Following punts by both teams, MU inched ahead 14-7 on a 25-yard pass from Reber to Vaughn Cross with 8:01 to play in the half.
 
Averett's Nathan Driver then scored from eight yards out just 53 second before the intermission to make it a 14-14 game heading into the break.

In the third quarter, the two teams traded short touchdown runs, a 1-yard plunge by Averett's Terence Brandon followed by a 3-yard run by Reber make it a 21-21 game heading into the fourth quarter and set the stage to the wild conclusion.

Methodist outgained Avreett 375-270 and picked off a pair of passes, but kept Averett within striking distance by committing 18 penalties for a whopping 222 yards.
 
Reber finished the day 12-of-29 for 160 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. He also gained a team-high 73 yards on the ground on 16 carries. Flanagan finished with 53 yards and a score on 16 carries, and John Papillion added 46 yards on nine carries as MU racked up 215 rushing yards. Cross finished with 64 yards receiving on four catches
 
Defensively, Jacob Hunt totaled a game-high 11 tackles, including one for loss. Bryan Bing added 10 tackles and Brad Wade chipped in seven tackles and added 3.0 sacks, bringing his season total to 13.5, just a half sack away from tying for the single-season record at Methodist.
 
Smith ended the day 15-of-33 passing for 132 yards and threw two interceptions. Ke'Von white gained 106 yards on 28 carries to lead Averett's ground game. Justin Gillespie matched Cross' 64 receiving yards as he made six grabs.
 
Defensively, Brent Skipper and Tyler Robertson each totaled eight tackles to lead the Cougars. Robertson added 3.5 tackles for loss, including on of AU's four quarterback sacks.
 
The Monarchs will wrap up their 2012 season next week as they travel to Christopher Newport for a 7:00 pm contest.