Danville, Va. - The Battling Bishop football team of North Carolina Wesleyan picked up its first win of the season on Saturday afternoon, holding on for a 27-24 victory over Averett University to spoil the Cougars' Homecoming. Sophomore quarterback Robbie Lanier threw for a career-high 236 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Bishop offense. The win is the first at Wesleyan for head coach Jeff Filkovski, but more importantly, gives the Bishops a 1-0 record in USA South play.

Wesleyan watched a 10-point halftime lead vanish quickly in the third quarter as the Cougars went up 24-20 with a pair of touchdowns on their first two possessions. Averett looked to extend that lead with an interception of Lanier on the Bishops' ensuing drive, which was returned to the NCW-17. Three plays later, the Cougars had 1st-and-goal at the NCW-4, but Wesleyan's Kenneth Newsome provided a huge momentum swing with an interception and 30-yard return. 

Lanier proceeded to orchestrate a 10-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a 4-yard TD pass to senior Greg Edwards. Freshman Chris Richardson's point-after gave the Bishops a 3-point lead, 27-24, with 6:29 remaining in the third. Wesleyan's defense did the rest, forcing three turnovers and a punt over the Cougars' final four possessions. 

The Bishops had taken a 20-10 lead into the half thanks to a pair of first quarter touchdowns and a 34-yard strike from Lanier to sophomore John Young as time expired in the second quarter. The TD reception was Young's second of the half after having hauled in a 20-yard score in the opening period.

Filkovski made it exciting from the start with a trick play on the game's first play, as Edwards took the hand-off and delivered a 27-yard pass to freshman wideout Malik Adams. Adams proceeded to take part in a dramatic series of events that begin with a fumble at the AU-20, which the Cougars recovered and promptly fumbled back to Adams, who took it the remaining 20 yards for the score.  

Lanier finished 15-of-31 through the air, completing five passes to Edwards and four each to Adams and Young. Junior tailback Jacques Alston and freshman Elgin Counts combined for 162 rushing yards, while freshman Rocky Carlisle anchored the defensive effort with a team-high seven tackles. Newsome, Travonne Marshall and Marques Holmes all recorded interceptions, with Holmes' securing the win with three seconds remaining.

Wesleyan will celebrate its own Homecoming next Saturday when the Bishops welcome LaGrange College to the Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium for a 1:00pm kickoff.