Box Score INSTITUTE, W. Va. – Gage Michael reeled in the game-tying touchdown on a pass from Michael Floria with 1:23 in the final quarter that gave the Fairmont State football team (7-2, 5-2 Mountain East Conference) a 21-20 comeback road win over West Virginia State (4-4, 4-3) on Saturday (Oct. 28) at Dickerson Stadium in Institute, W.Va.
 
The Falcons registered 202 yards on the ground and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns with Deriek Crosby II and Floria. Fairmont State controlled possession for over 37 minutes of the game and generated 356 total yards on offense. Brocton Blair jarred loose a fumble that was recovered by Sam Fairley setting up the game-winning drive.
 
Floria was Fairmont State's leading rusher and totaled 66 yards for an average of six yards per carry. He completed 12 passes for 154 yards, including the 17-yard hookup with Michael on the game-winning drive. Michael, a Fairmont Senior graduate, led the Falcons with 57 receiving yards on four catches. Blair was the only defender on the field to reach double-digit tackles and tallied 11 with a quarterback hurry. Jovon Jackson, Gavin Smith and Fairley all recorded a pass breakup.
 
The Falcons received the opening kick and drove 69 yards on 11 plays for an early score. Crosby II crossed the goal line on a 10-yard rush to conclude the scoring drive for Fairmont State. The Yellow Jackets scored their first points at the end of the first quarter on a 22-yard field goal. FSU added to its lead when Floria capitalized on a strong push by the Falcons' offensive line and entered the end zone on a five-yard rush with 7:45 left in the first half. The Yellow Jackets responded on the ensuing drive with a one-yard touchdown rush to bring WVSU within one possession. Fairmont State maintained a 14-10 lead after one half of play.
 
WVSU completed a 57-yard pass at the beginning of the third quarter that put the Yellow Jackets in the red zone. West Virginia State turned the long pass into six points after a nine-yard passing touchdown to take its first lead of the contest. Fairmont State went three-and-out on the next drive and the Yellow Jackets tacked on an additional three points and held a 20-14 lead at the end of three quarters of play.
 
Fairmont State went for it on 4^th and 7 from the WVSU 10-yard line and failed to convert with 6:46 left in the final quarter. The Yellow Jackets began to drain the clock and secured a first down at their own 28-yard line with less than five minutes remaining. On the next play, Blair stripped the ball out of the running back's hand and Fairley recovered the lost ball that set the Falcons up in enemy territory. On 4^th and 2 from the WVSU 20-yard line, Floria moved the sticks on a three-yard rush to keep the drive alive for the Falcons. On 3^rd and 10 from the 17-yard line, Floria rolled out to the right and fired a pass to Michael. Michael hauled in the pass and managed to drag his right foot into the end zone to secure the touchdown that tied the score. Emmanual Richardson drilled the PAT and put Fairmont State back in the lead with 1:23 to go. The Falcons' defense forced a turnover on downs and Fairmont State earned its first win versus West Virginia State since 2018.
 
The Fairmont State football team will play its final road contest of the regular season in Buckhannon, W.Va. next Saturday (Nov. 4) at West Virginia Wesleyan. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Cebe Ross Field.