FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Methodist football dropped a 31-21 decision to Averett in Saturday's Homecoming game at Monarch Stadium.
 
The Monarchs slipped to 5-3 on the season, and 4-2 in league play, while the Cougars improved to 2-6 overall and 1-5 in the USA South.
 
Methodist had taken a 21-17 lead into halftime, but Averett's defense held MU off the scoreboard in the second half and forced the Monarchs into a season-high five turnovers. The five turnovers offset a 518-382 advantage in total offense for MU.
 
The Cougars opened the scoring in the first half as Terrance Owens hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Drew Evans at the 8:36 mark to cap a 12-play, 67-yard drive that chewed up 6:24 of clock. Methodist answered quickly with a 70-play that resulted in a five-yard touchdown pass from Max Reber to Anthony Radke at the 5:19 mark that tied the game a 7-7 following Jordan Rieling's PAT.
 
Averett regained the lead on its next possession as Hobie Proctor booted a 21-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead at the 2:21 mark. However, the lead was short lived as the Monarchs needed just 2:01 to take a 14-0 lead as Noah Shuler scampered in from nine yards out to put the Monarchs back on top, 14-10.
 
After getting the ball back, MU looked to extend its lead, but Reber was picked off by Dontae Gilbert, one of his two picks on the day, and he returned the ball 58 yards to the MU 16 yard line. Three plays later, the Cougars took a 17-14 lead on Travis Jones' three-yard run.
 
Late in the half, Methodist regained the lead, 21-17, on a six-yard run by Reber, and with under 30 seconds to play put themselves in position for another score following a D.J. Payne intercpetion, but a Hail Mary pass on the half's final play was picked off by Gilbert once again.
 
Averett scored on an Xavier Morgan 67-yard run in the third quarter to regain the lead 24-21 and held on down the stretch for the upset victory. After Owens scored on a 57-yard reception following a missed field goal try, the Cougars forced two more MU turnovers in the fourth quarter and blocked a field goal attempt.
 
For Methodist, Reber finished 24-of-41 passing for 318 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Radke had 114 yards receiving on nine receptions, and Shuler gained 99 yards on 15 carries, and John Papillion added 84 yards on 13 carries.
 
On the defensive side, B.J. Minter had a season-high eight tackles, including 2.0 for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Kyle Colborn and Bryan Bing each had eight tackles, and Marcus Jordan and Brandon Boyd added seven apiece.
 
For Averett, Evans was 21-of-31 through the air for 215 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Morgan finished with 116 yards rushing on 14 carries, and Owens had 100 yards receiving on six grabs with the two scores.
 
Michael Reives led AU's defense with 10 tackles and a sack. Gilbert supplemented his two interceptions with nine tackles and a blocked field goal, while Ben Harris added nine tackles (2.0 for loss), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a sack.
 
The Monarchs are in action on Saturday at Ferrum beginning at 1:00 pm.