FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State and West Virginia State will open the 2015 season under the lights of Duvall-Rosier Field on Thursday evening starting at 7 p.m.

Fans attending Thursday night's game should be advised of a change in game day parking for the 2015 season because of construction on the Fairmont State campus. The white and maroon lots remain unchanged for this season and all fans parking in those lots must purchase a parking pass. A new general parking area will now be available beside the Fairmont State tennis courts, behind the scoreboard end of the stadium. Parking in the tennis court lot will be available at no charge and there will be a direct enterance into the stadium from the parking lot.

Fans choosing to park on the lower end of campus or behind the Feaster Center may take advatage of a free shuttle that will escort fans to and from the white lot before and after the game. For more game day and ticket information, visit the game day information page.

Tonight's Matchup
• The Fairmont State football team will open the 2015 season on Thursday evening when West Virginia State comes to town for a Mountain East Conference matchup.
• The Falcons own a 33-13-1 all-time series record over the Yellow Jackets, in a series dating back to 1969. FSU has also won five-straight games in the series.
• Head coach Jason Woodman is 2-0 against the Yellow Jackets, picking up a 24-12 victory last season in Institute and winning in Fairmont back in 2013 by the score of 56-3.
• A season ago, backup quarterback Tyler Pate had a solid outing, completing 18-of-30 pass attempts for 210 yards and a pair of scores in the FSU victory.
• Wide Receiver Fabian Guerra led the FSU receivers with five catches for 43 yards and a score on the afternoon.
• Senior running back Daniel Monroe led the FSU rushing attack with 18 carries for 96 yards and a score in the win. FSU had four players rush for at least 40 yards in the victory.
• Junior cornerback Jacob Jean-Charles had a big afternoon last season in Institute; recording eight total tackles, forcing and recovering a fumble and breaking up a pass to lead FSU defensively.
• West Virginia State quarterback Matt Kinnick completed 34-of-55 pass attempts and recorded 406 yards in the losing effort against FSU a season ago.
• Quinton Gray (11-119) and Dameon Garret (6-90) both had big days on the receiving end of Kinnick's passes.
• The FSU defense limited the Jackets to just 51 yards on the ground in last year's victory, including a 1.7-yard per rush average.
• Returning defenders William Merritt (14) and Jordan Pierce (13) led the WVSU defense last season against the Falcons.
• During the last meeting in Fairmont, the Falcons totaled 56 points and had 252 yards on the ground to run away with the win.
• Cooper Hibbs had a solid outing as a freshman in 2013 against WV State, completing 12-of-18 passes for 125 yards and a pair of scores.
• Despite scoring 56 points in the win, the Falcons had just 162 yards through the air in the game.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets
• The Yellow Jackets return several playmakers on the offensive side of the ball from a season ago. Quarterback Matt Kinnick completed 219-of-390 pass attempts last season for 2,213 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kinnick also threw 13 interceptions.
• Kinnick led the Jackets with four rushing touchdowns last season.
• Tevin Brown, the Yellow Jackets leading rusher last season returns after totaling 416 yards on 78 carries for WVSU last season. Brown was the only Yellow Jacket running back to rush for a touchdown last season, recording just one.
• Wide receiver Quinton Gray also returns as WVSU's top receiver from a season ago, hauling in 42 receptions for 469 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
• The Yellow Jackets are also returning four of their top five defensive player from a season ago, led by linebacker Mitchell Rowell, who totaled 79 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss, a sack and an interception.
• Jordan Pierce (70 tackles) and Dennis Gardeck (69 tackles) also return to West Virginia State's experienced group of linebackers.
• Will Merritt returns in the defensive backfield for the Jackets after recording 68 tackles and four pass break-ups a season ago.
A Look at Last Year's Conference Rankings
• West Virginia State was ranked fifth in scoring defense a season ago, allowing 28.0 points per game.
• The Yellow Jackets were 10th in punting a season ago, averaging less than 30 yards per punt (29.6).