DANVILLE, Va. -- Ferrum College recorded a safety with two minutes left to play, sealing its first win of the season, 26-14 tonight at Averett University. Ferrum's defense held Averett to just 15 yards rushing on 30 carries. The Panthers rolled up 404 yards in total offense, to the Cougars' 150 yards.

Tim Reynolds scored on a four-yard run at 7:47 of the second quarter to spot the Panthers a 7-0 halftime lead. Jacob Smoak made it 10-0 when he split the uprights from 38 yards out at 7:26 of the third quarter. Michael Barbour hauled in a Bryan Finney pass and raced 43 yards to get Averett on the scoreboard and trim the lead to 10-7 at 3:19 of the third.

Troy Helton scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Reynolds to open the fourth quarter and Ferrum led 17-7, then Reynolds made it 24-7 with a 10-yard touchdown run with 4:58 left in the game. Reynolds closed with 105 yards rushing and two scores on 17 carries, and was 9-22 passing for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Xavier Morgan trimmed the lead to 24-14 after scoring on a two-yard run with 3:45 showing on the clock. Ferrum defensive lineman Montel Lee then sacked Averett quarterback Kirkland Brown in the end zone for a safety with 1:35 left. Brown was 9-20 passing for 90 yards. Brian Fuquay and Hunter Shepherd made 10 tackles each for the Cougars (1-6, 0-5 USA South).

Ferrum (1-6, 1-4 USA South) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 1, at Greensboro College. The USA South game is scheduled to get underway at 4:00 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Panthers will then be back home Nov. 8 against USA South rival Methodist University.