INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- Fairmont State gashed the West Virginia State defense with 333 yards and four touchdowns on the ground as the Falcons rolled to 41-12 road victory over the Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon at Dickerson Stadium.
 
Khalik Hamlin led the Fairmont State ground attack with a career-high 183 yards on 27 carries in the victory. Hamlin went over 1,000 yards on the season during the first quarter on Saturday - the first Falcon to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Doug Brazill in 2007. Hamlin has rushed for 100 yards or more in seven of nine games this season.
 
With the victory, Fairmont State improves to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in Mountain East Conference play. West Virginia State falls to 4-5 overall and 3-5 in league play.
 
A total of five running backs carried the ball for the Falcons on Saturday, as Tyree Randolph finished behind Hamlin on the stat sheet with 12 carries for 90 yards and a TD. Timothy Smith added three carries for 26 yards and cross the goal line for the first time in his career, Rakeem Darden chipped in five carries for 14 yards and a pair of TDs, and Josh Ronan added three carries for 12 yards.
 
Takwan Crews-Naylor finished the game with 130 yards through the air on just four complete passes. Javon Hayes was on the receiving end of two of those passes for 103 yards, including a 74-yard TD reception.
 
Defensively, the Falcons locked down on the Yellow Jackets in the second half, allowing just 111 total yards and six first downs in the final 30 minutes of play. WV State possessed the ball for just over 25 minutes in the game.
 
Malachi McMillan led the Fairmont State defense in the victory with nine tackles and a forced fumble. Jerry Iweh also chipped in eight tackles, three pass break-ups and recovered a fumble. Josh Ballard and Chris Thompson each recorded sacks for the Fairmont State defense.
 
The Fairmont State defensive backs broke up 10 passes in the game.
 
Darden broke the scoreless tie at the 8:11 mark of the first quarter with a three-yard TD run to give the Falcons an early 6-0 advantage. West Virginia State's Aaron Ball cut the Fairmont State lead in half at the midway point of the second quarter with a 21-yard field goal that capped a 13-play, 77-yard drive.
 
The Falcons had an answer late in the second quarter when Darden forced his way over the goal line for a one-yard TD plunge – his second score of the first half. Ball added a 41-yard field goal with just six ticks remaining in the second quarter to make Fairmont's lead 13-6 at the break.
 
The Fairmont State special teams opened the scoring in the second half as a blocked punt by Troy Hollis was recovered in the endzone by Ekoue Aziaba to give the Falcons a 14-point advantage (20-6).
 
With just over four minutes remaining in the third, Crews-Naylor hooked up with Hayes for a 74-yard TD strike, the eighth TD connection between the QB-WR combo this season.
 
Fairmont State took a 34-6 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when Randolph crossed the goal line from seven yards out to cap a six-play, 54 yard drive.
 
After West Virginia State scored a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, (Timothy) Smith broke free down the center of the field for a 24-yard touchdown run. Smith's TD run was the first of his career as he became the third running back to cross the goal line on the afternoon for the Falcons.
 
Fairmont State outgained West Virginia State 463-309 in total offense on Saturday afternoon.
 
West Virginia State quarterback Faustino Saucedo completed 21-of-37 passes for 191 yards and a TD on the afternoon. Zach Pate led the WVSU air attack with eight receptions for 68 yards. Carl Garmon also had a productive day on the ground for the Yellow Jackets with 12 carries for 75 yards.
 
Robert Branch and Joe Stoneman each recorded 11 tackles for the WVSU defense.
 
Fairmont State, winners of 31 of its last 40 games, will return to action next Saturday when Concord visits Duvall-Rosier Field on Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Concord picked up a 46-33 victory over West Liberty on Saturday afternoon in Athens and comes to Fairmont with a 2-7 overall record.