Trailing by 6-0 after a first half that Collingswood dominated, Woodbury ran on its first play from scrimmage in the second half a 47-yard halfback option pass from Alex Hindle to Cameron Gamble. That put the ball on the Collingswood 11. Two plays later, Averett (22 carries, 77 yards) scored from 5 yards out.
"That trick play turned things around for us," Averett said. "It opened things up for us."
The razzle-dazzle continued on the conversion kick. Holder Jamir Baston lateraled to kicker Hindle, who completed a 2-point pass to Gamble with 10 minutes, 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Thundering Herd received some insurance when Averett scored on a 4-yard run with 1.1 seconds left in the third quarter, capping a 13-play, 72-yard drive. A Division I prospect on defense, Averett also had a strong game at safety.
Collingswood (2-4) gave Woodbury fits early in the game and angst in the end.
The Panthers scored on the game's opening possession when Earl Whaley culminated a 12-play, 70-yard drive by going over from the 7.
"We drove the ball well but made too many mistakes," said Whaley, who rushed for 160 yards on 31 carries.
Trailing by 14-6, Collingswood put a major scare on a drive that began from its own 8 midway through the fourth quarter.
In that drive, Collingswood converted two fourth-down plays, a 33-yard completion from Henry Paul to Forrley Gunby that put the ball on the Woodbury 34, and a 4-yard run by Whaley on a fourth and 3 from the Woodbury 16.
On that Whaley run, the Panthers reached the Woodbury 12-yard line, but then had four incomplete passes, the final one batted down by Brandon Bryant with just 35.7 seconds remaining.
Collingswood 6 0 0 0 – 6
Woodbury 0 0 14 0 – 14
C: Earl Whaley 7 run (kick failed)
W: Anthony Averett 5 run (Cameron Gamble pass from Alex Hindle)
W: Averett 4 run (kick failed)
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225, mnarducci@phillynews.com, or @sjnard on Twitter. Find his Rally columns at www.philly.com/narducci
