Stallings Breaks Career Tackle Record in 42-21 Loss to Averett

Even in defeat, the Greensboro College football team was able to find some positives on Saturday against Averett. The Pride lost 42-21 but saw senior linebacker Allen Stallings shatter the all-time school career record for tackles. Stallings needed 14 stops to surpass Brick Crowder’s mark of 294 tackles set from 2006-08. Not only did he get the 14 tackles, but he added an extra six to end the day with 20 total tackles and reach 300 for his career.

In addition, the Greensboro offense had a breakout day, finishing the game with a season high 351 yards of total offense, 297 of which came through the air.

Freshman quarterback Ryan Throndset completed 31-45 attempts for 297 yards and three touchdowns. His main target was Dexter Russell, who grabbed 12 catches for 137 yards and a score. Also finding the endzone in the receiving game were tight end Tripp Honeycutt and running back Robert Byrd. Overall, ten players caught passes for The Pride.

Warren Scott, meanwhile, paced the ground attack with 80 yards on seven carries, including a long of 27 yards.

Despite the final score, The Pride had numerous opportunities to make it a game. Greensboro moved the ball for much of the contest, but saw penalties and turnovers stall a few promising drives.

Special teams also played a role in the loss, as Averett converted a big fourth down fake punt en route to a score and later blocked a fourth quarter Donnie Leopold punt and ran it back.

Averett’s Ke’Von White opened the scoring with a ten-yard touchdown run just over four minutes into the game. White padded the lead with his second score from six-yards out with five minutes remaining in the opening frame.

After the Cougars extended the lead to 28-0, The Pride found the scoreboard when Throndset hooked up with Honeycutt for a three-yard touchdown with a minute left in the half. The scoring drive spanned 68 yards in seven plays.

Averett responded with a touchdown of its own before Throndset connected with Robert Byrd in the endzone from 12-yards out with under a minute to go in the third. The score concluded a ten play, 77-yard drive.

The final score of the day for Greensboro came with 4:57 left in the game when Throndset again found Russell, this time for a 43-yard touchdown to leave the score at 42-21.

The Pride will be back in action for Homecoming next Saturday against North Carolina Wesleyan. The game will begin at 1 p.m. at Jamieson Stadium on the campus of Grimsley High School.

(Greensboro College Press Release)