INSTITUTE -
It came down to the last three minutes of the game, but Fairmont State
pulled out a win on the road against West Virginia State, Saturday. The
Falcons won 35-31.
Fairmont State struck first in the contest. State started with a
three-and-out. Aubura Taylor returned the Yellow Jackets' punt 23 yards,
giving FSU the ball at the State 37 yard line. Three plays later,
quarterback Logan Moore hit Mark Sampson with a 29-yard touchdown pass,
putting FSU on the board 7-0. State answered with a 20-yard touchdown
pass from quarterback Ricky Phillips. Taylor took the ensuing kickoff 40
yards to get FSU started at the State 45 yard line. Damon Waters then
sprinted through State's defense for a 35-yard touchdown run, putting
Fairmont back on top 14-7. The seesaw game continued as State drove all
the way to the one yard line before being stopped by the Falcon defense
and forced to kick. David Wissler hit a 20-yard field goal to cut into
FSU's lead, but Fairmont still held that lead 14-10.
Fairmont State stayed on top until late in the second quarter. Philips
hit Ervin Kent with a pass after driving 61 yards. The Yellow Jackets
had the lead 17-14 going into halftime.
Something clicked in the locker room for State. Its first drive of the
third quarter ended in a quarterback keeper into the end zone, extending
the Yellow Jackets' lead to 24-14. Taylor continued to shine on special
teams, returning the ensuing kick off 41 yards and putting FSU on the
State 45 yard line. Waters scores again at the end of the drive from
three yards out. FSU cut its deficit to 24-21. With about three minutes
left in the quarter, Phillips found Robert Jackson for a 21-yard
touchdown, taking the lead back to 10 points at 31-21. That score got
Fairmont State fired up as Moore capped the ensuing drive with a 16-yard
touchdown run. At the end of the quarter the score stood at 31-28.
Not giving up in the fourth quarter, FSU took possession of the ball
with 6:41 to play. Two 13-yard plays put the Falcons at the two yard
line and that's where Waters picked up his third touchdown, the eventual
game winner. With 3:14 on the clock FSU took the lead from State 35-31.
State tried to retaliate but Scott Davidson came up with a huge
interception to seal the deal for Fairmont.
Moore connected on 8 of 25 passes for 118 yards including one throwing
touchdown and one running touchdown. Waters carried the ball 22 times
for 134 yards. Taylor returned four kicks for the FSU Special Teams for
151 yards. Taylor also recorded two punt returns for 33 yards. Ryland
Newman added three more punt returns for 72 yards.
David Pack led the Fairmont State defense with 11 tackles. Greg
Underwood grabbed eight tackles, five of them solo. Davidson recorded
five tackles and one interception.
Fairmont State is now 7-3, 4-3 in conference play. This is the
winningest Falcon squad since 2000. FSU returns home next Saturday to
host Shepherd.
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