The Matchup

- Fairmont State and West Virginia State will meet for the 49th time on Saturday afternoon to kickoff the 2016 season for both teams. The Falcons hold a 33-14-1 all-time record over the Yellow Jackets.

- Saturday's game will be broadcasted live on the new radio home of Fairmont State football, Magic 106.5 FM. Join the voice of the Fighting Falcons Travis Jones and Duane Cochran as they bring you of the action live from Institute.

- The Falcons have won five of the last six meetings between the programs, having a five-game winning streak snapped a season ago at Duvall-Rosier Field, 59-34. WV State put up 509 yards of total offense in last season's victory over the Falcons to open the 2015 season.

- In FSU's last trip to Institute, the Falcons picked up a hard fought 24-12 victory over the Yellow Jackets behind a 210-yard and two touchdown performace from backup quarterback Tyler Pate in 2014.

- Fairmont State will open on the road for the first time since the 2012 season, which resulted in a 7-0 loss to Clarion University.

- The Falcons will also be looking for their first week one victory since the 2013 season. In 2013, the Falcons defeated Seton Hill, 37-29, in Jason Woodman's FSU debut.

- In addition, this is the first time since the 2007 season opener that FSU has not opened the season on a Thursday night. That season FSU defeated the Apprentice School, 3-0, on the road.

Offensive Preview

- The FSU offense returns five starters from last season's finale at GSC and seven players that started at least one game for the Falcons in 2015.

- Despite returning just two starters from a season ago along the offensive line, the Falcons will start three seniors, a sophomore and redshirt-freshman along the offensive front.

- FSU returns senior and second team All-MEC left tackle Rodney Carroll to anchore the offensive front in 2016. Senior Cody Wilburn also returns at the center position for the Falcons.

- Despite the return of senior Fabian Guerra and junior Brandon Boyd at the wide receiver position, six of eight receivers listed on the FSU depth chart are freshman and sophomores.

- Guerra is currently in sixth all-time in receiving yards with 1,956 yards. The senior needs just 44 yards to become the fifth receiving in school history to record over 2,000 career yards.

- Guerra is also fifth in school history with 157 career receptions, needing just 13 more catches to move into fourth all-time.

- Guerra sits just 47 catches and 1,130 yards from becoming the all-time school leader in both categories.

- Guerra also needs just two more touchdown receptions to move into the top 10 in FSU history.

- Senior quarterback Cooper Hibbs has positioned himself as one of the top quarterbacks in program history, ranking third all-time in passing yards (5,809), passing touchdowns (46), completions (472) and total offense (5,807) entering his senior season. Hibbs also owns three of the top 15 passing performance in program history (415, 378 and 376).

- Hibbs had a breakout season for the Falcons in 2015, ranking third in the league in both completion pct. (.593) and completions per game (19.8). Hibbs also ranked fourth in the MEC in both passing TDs (21) and yards (2,436) last season.

- Hibbs completed 198-of-334 passes (59%) for 2,436 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior - all career bests.

- Junior running back Terrell Charles returns for FSU at the running back position after sharing the workload in 2015 with senior Austin White. Charles finished his sophomore season with 401 yards on 102 carries and scored three touchdowns on the season. Charles went over 100-yards rushing twice in 2015 (at Urbana, 10/3 and vs. UVa-Wise, 10/24).

- James Oliver, Fairmont State's third running back a season ago also returns to the FSU backfield in 2016. Oliver rushed for 249 yards on 60 carries and scored three touchdowns as a true freshman. Oliver rushed for 73 yards and a pair of touchdowns against WV State a season ago.

Defensive Preview

- The Fairmont State defense returns nine starters from a season ago, including four players that earned All-MEC postseason honors (Jacob Jean-Charles, Marcus Porter, Quincy Redmon and Emanuel Ivey).

- The Falcon defense returns seven of its top eight tacklers from 2015, including the top three. Middle linebacker Marcus Porter eanred second team All-MEC honors after racking up 72 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions.

- The ace of the defensive backfield, Jacob Jean-Charles returns for his senior season after earning first team All-MEC honors and third team Super Region 1 honors from Don Hansen. Jean-Charles finished second on the team in tackles a season ago, totaling 52 on the season (42 solo). Jean-Charles also picked off two passes and broke-up six on the year.

- Jean-Charles earned Scouting News Preseason All-American honors coming into the 2016 season.

- Starting defensive end Quincy Redmon also earned second team All-MEC honors a season ago, finishing fifth in the league in tackles for loss in 2015 with 14.5. Redmon also totaled 49 total tackles and four sacks a season ago.

- In addition to Redmon returning at the defensive end position, Marco Jones returns on the opposite side of the defensive front after racking up 27 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery as a junior after transferring from the University of Virginia.

- Starting safety Emanuel Ivey returns for his senior season after ranking in the top five on the team in tackles as a sophomore and junior. As a sophomore in 2014, Ivey was second on the team with 66 total tackles and a team-high six pass break-ups.

- A season ago, Ivey earned MEC honorable mention after ranking fifth on the team with 43 tackles from his safety position. Ivey also picked off two passes and recorded a pair of sacks a season ago.

- A pair of sophomores also return to the FSU starting lineup after breakout freshman seasons for the Falcons. Jerry Iweh was very active from his outside lineback position a season ago, totaling 42 tackles and an interception. Stephen Turner ended last season as a starting safety for the Falcons, racking up 29 tackles.

Special Teams Preview

- The Falcons will be replacing both their kicker and punter during the 2016 season. The Falcons will be replacing Johnny Dearstine, the all-time leader in field goals in Fairmont State history, at the place-kicker position. Dearstine also leaves Fairmont State ranked second in school history in made extra points.

- Junior kicker Sam Keil, a transfer from American River College is expected to be the starting kicker for the Falcons in 2016. Keil made 15-of-17 field goal attempts during his sophomore season at ARC, including a season-long of 43 yards.

- Redshirt-freshman Sam Tucker, a Fairmont native, is expected to handle the punting duties for the Falcons this season.

Last Season vs WV State

• After jumping out to a 37-7 lead at the half, WV State continued to add to its point total and picked up a 59-34 victory over the Falcons.

• The Falcons struggled with penalties, particularly in the first half where they racked up 12 penalties for 112 yards.

• The Fairmont State offense had 396 yards of total offense in the game, led by Quarterback Cooper Hibbs.

• Hibbs' final stat line for the game was 17-of-30 for 278 yards and two touchdowns.

• FSU wide receiver Fabian Guerra hauled in six receptions for 123 yards and a score.

• Week one was Guerra's fifth 100-yard receiving performance of his career.

• In the fourth quarter, Guerra hauled in a pass and was tackled at the WV State 1-yard-line, preventing him from the first two touchdown game of his career. 

• Redshirt-freshman James Oliver led the Falcons' ground attack, tallying 73 yards and two touchdowns.

• On defense, Quincy Redmon accounted for eight tackles (six solo) for the Falcons.
 

Scouting WV State

• West Virginia State traded wins and losses during the first four games of the 2015 season, before winning three-of-four to get their record to 5-3 after eight weeks a season ago. However, State dropped the final three games of the season to end the year with a 5-6 overall record and a 5-5 mark in conference play.

• A season ago, the Yellow Jackets finished with the top-rated passing offense in the MEC, averaging 282.3 yards per game through the air.

• Matt Kinnick returns to the quarterback position in 2016 after finishing last season with 3,084 yards, 20 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.

• State also returns their top receiver Quinton Gray in 2016. Gray led the team with 878 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season.

• Kelvit Barrett returns after leading the WV State ground attack a season ago. Barrett rushed for 377 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015.

• The WV State defense is anchored by second team preseason All-America selection Dennis Gardeck. Gardeck was all over the field for the WVSU defense a season ago, racking up 93 total tackles, including 22 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks.

• The State defense also returns leading-tackler Mitchell Rowell (94 tackles last season).