College Football Final – Guilford 30, Averett 28:K. Miller and Bell lead Quakers to 9th straight win/Cuthbertson sparks Quaker defense

DANVILLE, Va. – Karsten Miller threw three touchdowns and ran for another in Guilford College’s 30-28 comeback win at Averett University Saturday night. The win marked the Quakers’ school-record ninth straight, dating to last season.

Guilford running back De’Eric Bell ran 27 times for a game-high 146 yards, 101 of which game in the second half. His 36-yard fourth-quarter run sparked a seven-play, 57-yard drive capped by Miller’s five-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Woodruff. Erick Fuentes added the point-after attempt for a 30-21 Guilford lead with 3:08 to play, the Quakers’ largest of the game.

Averett came right back down the field as Hall directed an eight-play, 77-yard drive aided by 30 yards of penalties against Guilford . He found Terrance Owens II for a 21-yard scoring pass with 3:08 remaining. Cole Westbury’s point-after-kick brought the Cougars back to within 30-28.

The Quakers ran out the clock on the ensuing possession thanks to a 10-yard scramble by Miller on third-and-nine from Guilford’s 37-yard line. A referees’ measurement with 1:30 remaining confirmed the first down.

Miller completed 27 of 43 passes for 291 yards, all career highs. He hit Rontavius Miller from 14 yards out for the Quakers’ first score of the game and his 13-yard strike to Bou Howard with 4:29 left in the third quarter gave Guilford its first lead of the game. His one-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter capped an 11-play drive that knotted the game at 14-14.

Tyriek Russell was Miller’s favorite target as the rookie caught 15 passes for 136 yards, both game highs. Woodruff finished with six grabs for 69 yards and Rontavius Miller added three catches for 52 yards. Julian Cuthbertson’s career-high 10 tackles led the defense.

Averett (1-2) held a 14-7 halftime lead thanks to two of Kelly Hall’s three touchdown passes. He hit Michael Barbour, Jr. with a perfectly placed 18-yard scoring strike on the Cougars’ opening drive. A personal foul penalty against Guilford aided Averett’s second scoring drive, which Hall capped with a 13-yard strike to Myles Bennett.

Hall completed 13-of-19 passes for 146 yards and three scores. Sean Bowman carried 13 times for 111 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter that gave the Cougars a 21-20 edge. Bennett finished 80 receiving yards on four catches.

Following a bye week, Guilford opens Old Dominion Athletic Conference play at home October 1 against Catholic University of America at 1:00 p.m.

# Q U A K E R S #

Dave Walters
Guilford College Athletics