The Matchup
• Fairmont State returns home on Saturday (Sept. 16) versus Wheeling at Duvall-Rosier Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. 
• The game will be broadcasted live on MEC TV. Fans can tune into SKY 106.5 FM with the voice of the Fighting Falcons Travis Jones on the call with color analyst Duane Cochran. Live stats will be provided on fightingfalcons.com.
• Fairmont State earned a 42-29 win in their conference opener at West Liberty on Sept. 7. The Falcons generated 460 yards on offense and rushed for 237 yards on the ground. It was the first Fairmont State win at West Family Stadium since 2018 and the first win versus WLU since 2019. 
• In week one, the Fighting Falcons drove 93 yards in the final two minutes with Dereik Crosby II crossing the goal line with 17 seconds  and edged Bloomsburg, 34-30. 
• Saturday's matchup is the fourth meeting between Fairmont State and Wheeling, with the Falcons owning a 2-1 advantage.
• Wheeling edged Fairmont State in the season finale at Bishop Schmitt Field on Nov. 12, 2022. The Cardinals kicked a 22-yard field goal in overtime for the win.

Fighting Falcons Facts
• Defensive Back Jovon Jackson won MEC Defensive Player of the Week after creating two turnovers in the week two win at West Liberty. The junior from Gainesville, Va. has forced two fumbles and has picked off a pass in the first two games of the season.
• Fairmont State QB Michael Floria has completed 22 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns this season. Floria tossed all three touchdown passes against the Hilltoppers in week two, including a 58-yard strike to Kobe Harris.
• Crosby II crossed the goal line twice at West Liberty with a receiving TD and a rushing TD. Crosby II has accumulated 180 rushing yards, which is the third-highest total out of any tailback in the MEC.
• In addition to Crosby II in the backfield, the Falcons call upon Leonard Farrow in the rushing attack. Farrow has totaled 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. LeJay Hatcher scored his first rushing touchdown of the season at WLU in week two to add to the Fairmont State ground game.
• Kobe Harris leads the Falcons with 146 receiving yards and scored his first touchdown of the season at WLU.
• Gage Michael hauled in a trio of clutch receptions at WLU. The Kent State transfer and Fairmont native caught a 15-yard pass from Floria to put Fairmont State ahead 42-16 early in the third quarter versus the 'Toppers.
• Brocton Blair leads the Fairmont State defense with 19.0 total tackles. Blair has added three quarterback hurries, a break up and one tackle for a loss. Jackson (15.0) and Tyrees Smith (14.0) have double-digit tackle totals entering Saturday's game.
• Nemo Roberts, Donovan O'Malley, Randy Robinson and Bryce Mumphrey have each recorded a sack. 
• Punter Scout Arthur has averaged 37.4 yards per punt and has placed four punts inside the 20-yard line. Placekicker Emmanuel Richardson has made two field goals, including a 43-yard try, on the season. 
• The Falcons return 49 players from the 2022 roster. Fairmont State added 36 true freshman to the football roster in 2023. The Falcons added 15 transfers including players from Alderson Broaddus, Campbell, Glenville State, Kent State, Robert Morris, Rochester Community & Technical College, Seton Hill, Slippery Rock, Shepherd, West Virginia and Youngstown State.
• With the win at West Liberty, Fairmont State Head Football Coach Jason Woodman surpassed Doug Sams and now holds the second-highest win total out of any Fairmont State football coach with 54 wins. Woodman is in his 11th season leading the Falcons.
• Ron Rankin returns as the Defensive Coordinator. The Falcons added Roland Brady (Defensive Line), Jennings Berry (Tight Ends), Travis Everhart (Offensive Line), Matt Perotti (Outside Linebackers), Laurence Treadaway (Defensive Backs / Special Teams), Kyle Weiss (Wide Receivers) Quincy Wilson (Running backs / Recruiting Coordinator)

Scouting Wheeling
• Wheeling has started the season 1-1 with a non-conference win versus Seton Hill and a loss to Frostburg State in their MEC opener. Saturday's game is Wheeling's first road game of the season.
• Despite outgaining Frostburg State in total offense last week, Wheeling turned the ball over four times in the loss to the Bobcats.
• Redshirt senior quarterback Javon Davis has totaled 322 yards and 30 completions this season. Davis has thrown four interceptions. Elijah Young is the Cards' leading rusher and has accumulated 121 yards and two touchdowns. Quron Winder has racked up 113 receiving yards and one touchdown.
• Wheeling's leading tackler is Dalton Hoover. Hoover has made 18 tackles this season. Jack Parry, Alex Hill and Masiah Thorne have all recorded interceptions.
• Zac Bruney is in his sixth season at the helm of Wheeling football. Bruney led the Cardinals to a 7-4 record in 2022, which was the best season in program history. Bruney was an All-American quarterback at DIII powerhouse Mount Union, and won a pair of national championships with the Purple Raiders.