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FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- East Stroudsburg held off Fairmont State, 20-16, on Thursday evening during the 2017 season opener for both teams at Duvall-Rosier Field.
 
FSU safety Naiquan Thomas trimmed the ESU lead to just four (20-16) following an eight-yard interception return for a touchdown to provide the Falcons with momentum early in the fourth quarter. Prior to the pick-six, ESU had built a 20-9 second half advantage.
 
On the next Warriors possession with the visitors threating again, inside FSU territory, Michael Porter provided another takeaway for the Falcon defense with an interception at the FSU 27. The pick, his second of the game, halted a 9-play, 45-yard ESU drive.
 
Porter's first pick of the day came at the 3:44 mark of the third quarter, an interception that also prevented East Stroudsburg from punching in a touchdown from deep in Fairmont's territory.
 
Following Porter's fourth quarter interception, FSU marched down the field into East Stroudsburg territory, before the Warrior defense stopped the drive with a fourth-down conversion from the East Stroudsburg 15-yard line.
 
On the ensuing ESU possession, the Falcons appeared to have made a critical stop to allow their offense to get back on the field, but a face-mask penalty on third-and-long with just over two minutes to play allowed the Warriors to hold on for the non-conference road victory.
 
JuJuan Young-Battle had a solid outing in his FSU debut, completing 21-of-31 passes for 234 yards. Young-Battle also carried the ball 11 times for 62 yards to lead the Falcons on the ground. Senior running back Terrell Charles was limited to just 41 yards, despite scoring Fairmont's only offensive touchdown of the day in the opening half.
 
Andre Hall led all FSU receivers with five catches for 79 yards. Shawn Harris also chipped in five receptions for 77 yards.
 
Defensively, Marcus Porter recorded 16 tackles on the night, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a half-sack. Antonio Harris and Quincy Redmon also added seven tackles apiece.
 
East Stroudsburg's Tim DiGiorgio finished the evening by completing just 10-of-28 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. DiGiorgio also threw a trio of interceptions. Tim Wilson was on the receiving end of four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in the win for ESU.
 
Jaymar Anderson was also highly effective in the running game for the Warriors, finishing the contest with 26 carries for 125 yards.
 
Jamal Cooley led ESU's defense with 11 solo tackles, two pass break-ups and a forced fumble. Sekou Jones also reached double-digit tackles with 10.
 
Despite trailing for most of the game, the Falcons outgained ESU 342-308. Both teams turned the ball over three times on the evening.
 
The Falcons will look to respond next Saturday during its Mountain East Conference opener against the Blue Knights of Urbana. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at UU Stadium.