SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Fairmont State rolled to a 38-17 road win over Shepherd University on Saturday afternoon at Ram Stadium. The win is the first for Fairmont State over Shepherd since 2008 when Mike Lopez's team handed the Rams a 46-42 loss at Ram Stadium.
 
The 21-point final margin is the largest deficit Shepherd has suffered in a loss against a Mountain East Conference member. It was also the first time Shepherd had lost by 20-points or more since Dec. 7, 2013 against West Chester in the Super Region 1 quarterfinals. Shepherd also suffered its first regular season home loss since Nov. 15, 2014 against Concord.
 
With the win, Fairmont State improves to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in Mountain East Conference play. SU falls to 4-2 both overall and in the league.
 
After forcing a three-and-out on Shepherd's opening offensive possession, Lyrics Klugh returned a punt 59-yards to set the Fairmont State offense up at the Shepherd 24-yard line. Four plays later, Takwan Crews-Naylor hooked up with Alquawn Vickers for a nine-yard TD pass.
 
Fairmont State took a 14-0 first quarter advantage at the 6:23 mark when Khalik Hamlin blasted through the line of scrimmage for a 3-yard TD run, capping an 8-play, 64-yard drive.
 
On the first snap of the second quarter, Colin Harvath booted a 37-yard field goal through the uprights to push Fairmont's lead to 17-0.
 
Shepherd answered with 10-consecutive points later in the second quarter, which included a 30-yard field goal and a 14-yad run by Ty Hebron. Hebron's run capped a 6-play, 88-yard drive.
 
Late in the second quarter with Fairmont State clinging to a 17-10 lead, Hamlin scored his second touchdown of the game with just 45 seconds remaining in the half, this time a 33-yard run through the middle of the SU defense. Shepherd took a knee following the Fairmont State kickoff to send the Falcons to the locker room with a 24-10 advantage.
 
Michael Porter gave the Falcons a 21-point advantage (31-10) at the 10:41 mark of the third quarter when the junior picked off a pass along the Shepherd sideline and returned it 36-yards for a pick-six.
 
Shepherd quarterback Tyson Bagent gave the Rams their second TD of the game late in the third quarter after finding Ryan Feiss for a four-yard TD pass. The score capped a 16-play, 69-yard drive.
 
Hamlin scored the only touchdown of the fourth quarter, a three-yard run that capped a 15-play, 70-yard drive and pushed Fairmont's lead back to 21. The Fairmont State defense held Shepherd scoreless for the final 19 minutes of play to help the Falcons lock up the 38-17 final margin.
 
Crews-Naylor completed 12-of-14 passes for 148 yards and a score in the victory. Vickers was on the receiving end of four passes for 37 yards and a score. Aaron Lewis also hauled in two passes for 41 yards.
 
On the ground, Hamlin recorded his fifth 100-yard rushing performance of the season in the victory with 111 yards on 27 carries. Hamlin scored three touchdowns in the victory.
 
Trevon Shorts led the Falcon defense with eight total tackles in the game. Jerry Iweh and Josh Ballard also chipped in six stops apiece. Ballard recorded 1.5 sacks.
 
Malachi McMillan and Michael Porter each picked off passes in the victory and the Falcons broke up five of Bagent's passes.
 
Bagent completed 23-of-39 passes for 217 yards and a TD in the Shepherd loss. Bagent also threw a pair of interceptions. Of Bagent's seven interceptions this season, five have come in Shepherd's losses to Notre Dame and Fairmont State.
 
Feiss was limited to just 26 yards on five receptions in the game, but did haul in a TD pass.
 
On the ground, Hebron led SU with 12 carries for 65 yards and a score. The Fairmont State defense limited SU to just 56 yards on 21 total carries in the game.
 
Ponce DeLeon led the Shepherd defense with 15 total tackles (10 solo) and a sack.
 
Fairmont State outgained Shepherd 313-273 in the game, and also went 10-of-14 on third down and 4-of-4 in the redzone. The Falcons had nearly 36 minutes of possession time in the win.
 
Today's game was the final scheduled meeting between Fairmont State and Shepherd as the Rams will join the PSAC following the 2018-19 athletics season.
 
Fairmont State will return home for Homecoming next Saturday when Glenville State comes to town for a 1 p.m. kickoff.