ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College football team dropped their final conference game of the season 33-29 to Averett University during their third straight home game on Saturday afternoon.

After AU (1-2) went up by a field goal in the first quarter, the Bishops came back with a 9-play 67-yard drive TD drive with sophomore RB Garry Daies' 6-yard scamper to take a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter.

Wesleyan then added to their lead later on in the second with a beautiful 35-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Terrence Craig to junior WR Jai Irvin to give the Bishops a 13-3 lead with a minute to play. AU would then trim Wesleyan's lead down to three at the break with a 74 yard drive in 53 seconds to trail 13-10.

The Bishops then came out firing again in the third quarter going on a 5-play 45 yard drive and ended it with another rushing touchdown from Daies from two yards out to take a 20-10 lead. AU would then respond with another passing TD of their to get within three at the 9:49 mark of the third quarter.

Senior kicker Juan Suarez's 32-yard field goal during his team debut then made it 23-17 Wesleyan with 7 minutes to play in the third. The Cougars would then add another touchdown in the third quarter to regain the lead by a point at 24-23.

Then after a 59-yard TD scamper by AU early in the 4th gave them the 8-point lead, Wesleyan responded with an 11-play 86-yard drive of their own ending on another 23-yard TD pass from Craig to Irvin to make it 31-29 with 1:42 left. Unfortunately, on the potential tying two-point conversion attempt, Craig was sacked and fumbled with AU running it back for the two-point score and essentially the victory. 

Craig finished the game throwing for 197 yards on 14 of 26 passing with 2 TDs and an interception while Irvin led with 78 yards on 4 receptions. Freshman WR Sean Washington also caught 7 passes for 72 yards while senior RB Jeff Black led the Backs with 91 yards on the ground. Daies also ran for 74 yards on 13 carries with his two TDs.

Defensively, freshman cornerback Benyon Williams led the Bishops with 9 solo takcles and 11 total while sophomore safety RJ Carter also made 11 tackles with 3 pass breakups. Freshman linebacker Tim Willis also made 8 tackles with one sack and two tackles-for-loss.

Wesleyan falls to 0-3 on the season and will next play at Brevard College in non-division action next Saturday with a time TBA.