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Game Notes
Fairmont State | Stonehill


The Matchup

- Fairmont State will take a 616 mile road trip from Fairmont, W.Va. to Easton, Mass. to open the season against Stonehill College on Friday at 6 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the two Super Region 1 foes.

- Stonehill College is a member of the Northeast 10 Conference and is coming off a 6-4 season in 2017. Stonehill won three of its final four games last season, scoring at least 38 points in each of the victories.

- The Seahawks have also won four-straight games at W.B. Mason Stadium dating back to last season's home opener against Southern Connecticut State (L, 26-45).

- Fairmont State was voted second in the MEC preseason poll in 2018, receiving three first-place votes. The Falcons are coming off an 8-3 overall record in 2017, including an 8-2 mark in league play.

- Stonehill was voted seventh in the NE-10 preseason poll.

- Fairmont State football received votes in the AFCA preseason poll earlier this month. The Falcons last appeared in the national rankings back on Dec. 27, 2016.

- Fairmont State's showdown with Stonehill on Friday is the first-ever Friday football matchup to feature a Mountain East Conference school.

- Fairmont is 2-3 in season openers during the last five seasons. The last time Fairmont State opened on the road was back in 2016, when the Falcons picked up a 30-20 victory over West Virginia State. This is just the second time since 2013 that Fairmont State has opened the season on the road.

- Fairmont State has never played a current member of the Northeast 10 in football.

- The Falcons are 9-2 on the road during the last two seasons, suffering losses to Shepherd in 2016 and Notre Dame College in 2017.

Notables

- Sixth-year head coach Jason Woodman has led the Falcons to three-consecutive winning seasons and has finished no worse than third in the MEC standings since the 2015 campaign. In fact, the team has recorded three-consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1999-2001.

- During the last two seasons, the Falcons have recorded records of 10-2 and 8-3, which includes the No. 4 seed in the NCAA DII football playoffs in 2016. With Fairmont State's 8-2 finish in league play a season ago, the Falcons also finished runner-up in the league standings for the second consecutive season.

- Fairmont State has also recorded eight-wins or more in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 52 years (1964, 1965). In fact, the Fairmont State football program has recorded eight-or-more wins in a season just five times since 1979 - including the 2016 and 2017 seasons under Woodman.

- Following the 2015 season, 15 Fairmont State players earned Mountain East Conference honors, eight of those players return to the field this season.

- In addition, two players from Fairmont State's 2017 roster are currently in NFL training camps, including Marcus Porter (Green Bay) and Quincy Redmon (Miami).

- Former Fairmont State wideout Fabian Guerra, the school's all-time leader in receptions, also helped lead the Carolina Cobras to a National Arena League Championship earlier this week.

Scouting Stonehill

- Stonehill's high-powered offense averaged 31.6 points and 387.6 yards per game a season ago, including 247.2 yards per game through the air.

- However, Stonehill allowed 34.2 points per game and 436.5 yards per game during 2017. SC gave up 265.9 yards per game through the air last season.

- Senior James Lam will get the nod at quarterback for Stonehill this season. Lam appeared in two games and attempted just one pass attempt a season ago. For his career, Lam has completed 12-of-29 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns. Each of his three touchdowns came during his sophomore season in 2016.

- Brian Kearns returns to lead the Stonehill rushing attack as a junior. A season ago, he rushed 156 times for 774 yards and 10 TDs. Senior Mike Cardova is listed No. 1 on Stonehill's depth chart at running back this season. The senior rushed for 105 yards on 30 carries a season ago.

- Andrew Jamiel also returns in the Stonehill passing game in 2018. As a sophomore, Jamiel hauled in 81 receptions for 1,035 yards and 13 TDs. Cordova (32-193) and Kearns (17-122) were also key contributors in the passing game a season ago.

- Jamiel ranked second in the country in receptions per game (9.0) and seventh in receiving yards per game (115.0) last season.

- Stonehill will start three seniors, a junior and a sophomore on the offensive line this season.

- Nicolau Coury and Ryan Shuts return to anchor the Stonehill defense in 2018 after totaling 49 and 45 tackles, respectively, a season ago. Malik Wiggins also returns in the secondary for the Seahawks after totaling four interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2017.

- Stonehill's defensive front managed just 10 sacks during the 2017 season.

- In 2017, Stonehill ranked fourth in the country in red zone offense (.943), 14th in completion percentage (.649), 23rd in third-down conversion pct. (.448) and 18th in turnovers lost (13). SC was also 29th in the country in sacks allowed (1.20 per game).