FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Fairmont State (0-3, 0-2) football team scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but West Virginia State (1-2, 1-2) held on in a 30-23 decision at Duvall-Rosier Field on Saturday (Sept. 18).

West Virginia State drove the ball 71 yards on its opening drive for a 7-0 lead with 12:05 remaining in the first quarter. The drive was capped off by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Donovan Riddick to Barry Hill.

The Yellow Jackets went ahead 14-0 after Dant'e Jones rumbled in from two yards away with 4:29 left in the opening quarter.

Both teams exchanged field goals early in the second quarter after Colin Harvath booted home a 22 yard attempt with 10:37 remaining and the Falcons down 17-3. In total, WVSU made three field goal in the second quarter to control a 23-3 halftime advantage.

Halfway through the third quarter, Fairmont State engineered a 12-play, 93 yard drive with Xander Albea's 13-yard touchdown run serving as the exclamation point. After three quarters, the Yellow Jackets led 23-10.
The visitors went ahead by 20 points again after Malik Newton plunged in from one yard out to finish a 95-yard scoring drive with 9:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Fairmont State answered on its ensuing drive, only needing eight plays to move 70 yards as quarterback Connor Neal ran it in from the one yard line. Up 30-16, West Virginia State kicker Martin Ahlstroem missed a 42-yard field goal attempt as the Falcons remained within two scores.

A 50-yard pass from Neal to Shawn Harris sped up the drive and Neal found Joshawn Lewis in the end zone a few plays later. With only 32.9 seconds left ticking, the Falcons cut the deficit to 30-23. The onside kick was recovered by West Virginia State as the Yellow Jackets hung on.

Neal was 15-for-25 through the air for 231 yards and one touchdown. Harris registered team-highs in catches (six) and receiving yards (119). Up front, Dalton Dempsey and Randy Robinson each had 10 tackles. DJ Butler forced a fumble and Danny Anige recovered a fumble for the Fairmont State defense.

The Fighting Falcons will travel south to UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Sept. 25 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.