Broken Pride: Averett trumps Greensboro on homecoming

By Jason Wolf

Published: October 25, 2008

Jeremy Clifton stifled Greensboro College’s growing momentum by returning an interception 46 yards for a score as Averett University captured a 28-14 homecoming victory on a soggy Saturday afternoon in Danville.

“That won the game. That saved us, because if he doesn’t get that interception … we’d probably still be playing,” said Averett wide receiver Jeremy Dixon, who returned a punt 50 yards for a score 20 seconds before intermission. “That was real big — a game-changing performance.”

Greensboro (2-5, 0-4 USA South) rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit, making the potential blowout interesting by scoring a pair of second-half touchdowns in a little more than two minutes.

Pride quarterback Mike Caparaso, who completed 33-of-58 passes for 300 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions, broke the shutout with a 4-yard scoring pass to Charlie Johnson late in the third quarter. And after Averett (3-4, 2-2 USA South) quarterback Philip Kwiatkowski fumbled inside his own red zone on the next series, Calvin Bacon rumbled 9 yards to pull Greensboro within 21-14 early in the fourth.

The reeling Cougars went three-and-out on their next possession, but were “saved,” as Dixon put it, by Clifton’s 46-yard interception return, which accounted for the final score. The sophomore cornerback, playing man coverage, broke on a pass to the sideline and cruised to the end zone untouched.

“We needed a big play,” Clifton said, “and it happened. I didn’t call it, but I’ll take it.”

Averett took control of the game from the start, marching 62 yards in 10 plays and taking a 7-0 lead when John Ellison scored from the 2 on its opening possession.

About six minutes later, Tunstall graduate and Averett linebacker Mario Huffman — who led the defensive charge with a team-leading 11 solo tackles and 14 total — forced a fumble, which was recovered by Rodney Beasley at the Greensboro 48. Mark Williams scored on a 28-yard rush to finish the six-play drive and provide a 14-0 advantage.

The lead ballooned to 21-0 on Dixon’s 50-yard punt return.

“It was horrible. It was devastating,” Greensboro coach Neil Mitchell said about giving up the score on special teams just seconds before the half. “We had some protection issues last week… It was absolutely devastating.”

Johnson hauled in 12 catches for 120 yards and Torrey Lowe finished with 16 catches for 145 yards to pace Greensboro.

Dontavious Watson led Averett with 70 yards on 16 carries.

The Pride, which managed a paltry 159 net rushing yards in its previous five games combined, might have experienced more success running into a brick wall — especially in the first half, when they were held to 1 yard on 14 carries.

And Greensboro didn’t help itself by turning the ball over six times. Caparaso was intercepted twice by Frederick Reid and once by Clyde Robinson at the Averett goal line on the final play of the game, in addition to Clifton’s game-clinching interception return in the fourth quarter.

“Obviously it was a big interception. It changed the complexion of the game,” Averett coach Mike Dunlevy said about Clifton’s clutch defensive score. “That’s something we’ve been lacking probably in the last year and a half, a game-changer. … That’s what you need, and it was good to see us do it.”