FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State jumped out to a 31-7 halftime lead and never looked back in a 45-7 blowout victory over Urbana on Saturday afternoon during the 2018 home opener at Duvall-Rosier Field.
 
With the victory, Fairmont State improves to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in Mountain East Conference play. Urbana falls to 1-1 both overall and in the league.
 
Fairmont State found the endzone on its first offensive possession, driving 52 yards in seven plays on a drive that was capped by a nine-yard touchdown pass from Takwan Crews-Naylor to Shawn Harris.
 
After forcing Urbana to a three-and-out on the next offensive possession, Lyrics Klugh grabbed the Blue Knight punt at the Fairmont State 31-yard line and took it to the endzone, pushing Fairmont's first-quarter lead to 14-0 not even halfway through the period.
 
Klugh's punt return touchdown was the first for Fairmont State since Ryan Newman's 38-yard punt return TD on September 29, 2012 at Charleston. The last time Fairmont returned a punt for a TD at Duvall-Rosier Field was September 1, 2011 against Clarion (Matt Wilmer).
 
Colin Harvath push the lead to 17-0 for the Falcons following a 36-yard field goal at the 14:08 mark of the second quarter. The scoring drive was set up by Michael Porter's blocked field goal late in the first quarter that was recovered and returned 24 yards by Stephen Turner to the Urbana 47-yard line.
 
Urbana finally got on the board at the 10:45 mark of the second quarter when quarterback Eddie Stockett found Jesse Bray for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
 
However, the offense continued for Fairmont State, as Khalik Hamlin crossed the goal line for the third time this season from four yards out to make the score 24-7 with 7:22 still remaining in the first half. Less than two minutes later, Crews-Naylor found Javon Hayes deep down field as the pair hooked up for a 46-yard touchdown strike, making the halftime score 31-7 in favor of Fairmont State.
 
It didn't take long for Fairmont State to add to its lead in the second half, as Rakeem Darden capped an eight-play, 72-yard drive to open the second half with a three-yard TD run at the 11:03 mark of the third.
 
Tyree Randolph became the third Fairmont State running back to cross the goal line late in the third, as the redshirt-freshman recorded a 19-yard touchdown run following an interception by Antonio Harris at the Blue Knight 18-yard line.
 
Randolph's touchdown made the score 45-7, which would hold through a fast-paced fourth quarter of play.
 
The last time Fairmont State put up 45 points was back on Oct. 22, 2016 at UVa-Wise, a 58-3 road victory over the Cavaliers. The last time Fairmont State scored 45-points or more at Duvall-Rosier Field was during a 48-14 homecoming victory over Urbana back on Oct. 1, 2016.
 
Fairmont State finished the afternoon with 396 yards of total offense, which included 241 yards through the air and 155 yards on the ground. The Blue Knights totaled 351 yards of total offense, including 191 yards on the ground.
 
Crews-Naylor was once again very efficient from the quarterback position, completing 16-of-19 pass attempts for 197 yards and two scores. Christopher Fox also made his first appearance at quarterback for Fairmont State late in the third quarter, going 2-of-4 passing for 44 yards, including a 36-yard pass to Matt McDonald.
 
Shawn Harris led the Fairmont State receivers with seven receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. Javon Hayes also hauled in a TD reception and finished the afternoon with three catches for 66 yards.
 
Four Fairmont State running backs carried the ball at least five times in the victory, led by Hamlin with 61 yards on 10 carries. Randolph also chipped in 51 yards on seven carries.
 
Jerry Iweh, Josh Ballard and Stephen Turner each recorded a team-high six tackles for Fairmont State defensively. Iweh finished the afternoon with six total stops to go along with a forced fumble that he recovered. Turner also stuffed the defensive stat sheet with six tackles, an interception, and fumble recovery on a blocked field goal. Antonio Harris forced Fairmont's fourth turnover with a interception to go with three tackles.
 
Eddie Stockett completed less than 50 percent of his passes in the loss, completing just 10-of-21 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. Stockett also suffered a pair of interceptions.
 
Isaiah Young led the Urbana rushing attack with 22 carries for 107 yards. Kahliq Muhammad finished the afternoon with three receptions for 78 yards and also chipped in 104 yards on kick and punt returns.
 
The Urbana defense was led by Duray Hall and L.A. Kelly with seven tackles apiece.
 
Fairmont State will return to action next Saturday with a 1 p.m. MEC matchup against West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon.