FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Down by four points with 18 seconds on the clock and facing fourth and goal from the one-yard line, Michael Floria stepped up in the clutch and found tight end Carter Giacomo for the game-winning touchdown pass that sealed an upset win for the Fairmont State (6-2, 4-2 Mountain East Conference) football team over previously unbeaten Charleston (6-1, 5-1 MEC) on Saturday (Oct. 21) afternoon at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont, W.Va.

"We felt we had something to prove this week," said Fairmont State Football Head Coach Jason Woodman. "Our kids got better every day this week at practice and that showed today with the win."
 
The Fairmont State defense grabbed three interceptions and two pick-sixes in an outstanding performance. Eltayeb Bushra snagged a pair of interceptions and senior Sam Fairley added another. Bushra added 13 tackles to lead FSU, which included a tackle for a loss. Including Bushra, four Fairmont State defenders tallied double-digit tackle totals with Brocton Blair, Tyrees Smith and Izuchukwu Igwe each totaling 11 tackles. The Falcon defense came up with a trio of sacks with Randy Robinson recording two and Nemo Roberts picking up one. The Falcons held UC to 152 rushing yards, which was 112 yards less than what the Golden Eagles averaged per game on the ground.
 
"We knew we had to stop their rushing attack," said Blair. "Charleston has some strong running backs. We were able to make some minor adjustments and that helped us slow down the rush."
 
Floria completed 21 passes for 243 yards and a score. Kobe Harris collected five receptions for 95 yards, including a 55-yard completion from Floria. Gage Michael hauled in six receptions for 81 yards. LeJay Hatcher was Fairmont State's leading rusher with 46 yards on the ground.
 
Bushra jumped a Charleston screen pass on their first drive of the game for an interception and returned it 35 yards to open the scoring and put the Falcons ahead, 7-0. Charleston missed a 30-yard field goal attempt on the ensuing drive and the Falcons held the lead. After a UC interception, Fairley broke up a Charleston pass on fourth down that forced a turnover on downs. Fairmont State maintained a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Emmanuel Richardson split the uprights on a 21-yard field goal try that increased the Fairmont State lead to 10-0 at the start of the second quarter. Roberts sacked the UC quarterback for a loss of eight yards on third down and forced a Charleston punt. The Falcons added another field goal when Richardson hit a 32-yarder and the Falcons led 13-0. The Golden Eagles returned the kickoff 97 yards for a score and trimmed the Falcons' lead to one possession. Richardson delivered his third field goal of the second quarter on a 38-yard try that pulled the Falcons ahead, 16-7. Charleston answered with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that concluded on a Chavon Wright touchdown rush. The Falcons clung to a 16-14 advantage at the end of the first half.
 
The Golden Eagles faced a third and six in the red zone on their first drive of the second half. Roberts stopped Javonte Howard four yards behind the sticks and UC had to settle for a 35-yard field goal and took a 17-16 lead. Following a Fairmont State three-and-out, Bushra ended a Charleston offensive drive with his second interception of the afternoon that wiped away a UC scoring opportunity. On a third and 15 from the Fairmont State 20-yard line, Isaiah Powell-Major tipped a pass to Fairley, who ran 74 yards on the interception return that catapulted Fairmont State back into the lead, 23-17. The Falcons were ahead at the end of three quarters.
 
UC again responded on an 11-play, 73-yard scoring drive that was capped off with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Niko Kausky. Floria found Michael down the sideline for a 33-yard hookup that put the Falcons in UC territory. Richardson made his fourth field goal of the afternoon on a 23-yard attempt that put Fairmont State back ahead of the Golden Eagles, 26-24. The Fairmont State defense forced a punt on the next UC drive and the Falcons gained possession with the lead and less than six minutes on the clock. The Golden Eagles created a turnover on a strip sack and took over in the red zone. Wright crossed the goal line on a five-yard rush that put UC in front, 30-26 with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter.
 
After an incomplete pass and a holding penalty, UC committed a roughing the passer penalty that gave Fairmont State a first down at their own 37-yard line. On 2^nd and 10, Floria delivered a strike to Michael and the Falcons entered Charleston territory after a 14-yard gain. Floria slung a pass to Winston Page for a nine-yard gain and Hatcher rushed for three yards on second down that gave a fresh set of downs for the Falcons at the UC 37-yard line. Floria scrambled for a 14-yard gain and ran out of bounds to stop the clock at the Charleston 23-yard line.
 
Three straight incomplete passes forced a 4^th and 10 for the Falcons' offense. Floria used his legs and got 13 yards on fourth down that moved the chains and kept the drive alive for Fairmont State. The Falcons committed a false start penalty that moved the ball back to the 15-yard line on 1^st and goal. Michael made a sliding catch on 2^nd down and the Falcons faced 3^rd and goal from the 10-yard line. Floria found page in the flat for a nine-yard gain that set up a 4^th and goal from the one-yard line. Out of the timeout, Floria rolled out to his right and threw a pass off his back foot to Giacomo. Giacomo reeled in the pass in the back corner of the end zone and put the Falcons ahead 33-30 with 10 seconds on the clock. Robinson sacked the QB for a loss of 13 yards to wrap a bow on a signature win for the Falcons and handed Charleston its first loss of the season.
 
"We knew it was going to be a challenge playing Charleston," said Bushra. "We had to bring our 'A' game. Our playmakers made big plays today. We continued to fight and came out on top in the end."
 
Saturday's win was Fairmont State's first victory over Charleston since the 2017 season. The Falcons have now doubled their win total from the 2022 season and have secured the most wins in a season since 2018.
 
Fairmont State is scheduled to travel to Institute, W.Va. next Saturday (Oct. 28) for a clash versus West Virginia State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Lakin-Ray Field at Dickerson Stadium.