FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- California University of Pennsylvania held off Fairmont State to earn a 23-14 season-opening victory over the Falcons on Thursday evening at Duvall-Rosier Field.
 
Cal U took control of the game early and opened up a 13-0 lead at the break. Anthony Beitko opened the scoring for the Vulcans with a 20-yard field goal at the 10:13 mark of the opening quarter. Cal's Kyle Brunson scored the only touchdown of the opening half when he crossed the goal line from two-yards out with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The scored remained the same until Beitko tacked on a 25-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
 
Cal U took a 20-0 lead early in the third quarter on a seven-yard pass from Noah Mitchell to Cam Tarrant. The connection capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive in just over four minutes.
 
On the ensuing kickoff, Fairmont State got on the scoreboard when Buster Griffin broke free on a 95-yard kickoff return.
 
Later in the third, Connor Neal threw his first collegiate touchdown when he hooked-up with Shawn Harris on a 25-yard TD connection that capped an eight-play, 86-yard drive.
 
Early in the fourth, Cal's Noah Mitchell was picked off by Eltayeb Bushra, who returned the interception 49 yards to set the Falcons up at the Cal U 19-yard line with 11:23 to play.
 
After a big defensive series by the Vulcans, which included two sacks, Fairmont State attempted a 46-yard field goal – which sailed wide left to keep the score at 20-14 with nine minutes to play.
 
On Cal's next possession, Beitko hit his third field goal of the game from 31-yards out to extend the Vulcans leads to 23-14 with just over seven minutes to play.
 
Fairmont State had two more offensive possessions, but the Cal defense held the Falcons outside the Vulcan 40-yard line to seal the win.
 
Neal completed 9-of-19 passes for 103 yards and a score to lead the Fairmont State offense on Thursday evening. He was sacked five times. Harris was on the receiving end of a team-high three passes for 35 yards.
 
Xander Albea led the Fairmont State ground attack with 54 yards on 14 carries.
 
Linebacker Brocton Blair racked up eight tackles for the Falcons on defense. Bushra, Kaire Umoja and Chrinovic Mukulu also tallied seven tackles apiece for Fairmont State. Bushra and Desoto McKenzie each picked off passes for the FSU defense.
 
Fairmont State's defense was especially strong against the run, limiting Cal to just 46 yards on 24 total carries.
 
Mitchell racked up 301 yards for the Vulcans after completing 29-of-48 pass attempts on the evening. He threw one TD and was picked off twice. Tyson Hill hauled in nine passes for a game-high 155 yards through the air. Cam Tarrant also had a big day in the Cal U passing game with nine catches for 50 yards and a score.
 
Noah Dillow stuffed the stat sheet for the Cal U defense, finishing the evening with 13 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Matt Tobey also recorded nine tackles.
 
Fairmont State will return to action next Thursday at the University of Charleston. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at UC Stadium.