FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University football team faced the southernmost Mountain East Conference football opponent in UNC Pembroke. The Falcons were able to hold off the Braves fourth quarter comeback on the way to a 37-28 victory.

Freshman quarterback, Nino Marzullo finished the day going 22-35 for 256 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. Dereik Crosby II rushed the ball 31 times for 97 yards while catching two passes for 29 yards and a score. Carter Giacomo caught the ball five times and gained 57 yards with two touchdowns. Nick Long led the defense with 11 tackles while Detray Jones had 10 tackles, one for loss and forced a fumble.

Fairmont State (4-3, 3-2) received the opening kickoff and straight to the ground game with Crosby II as he ran the first three plays for a total of 27 yards. Marzullo picked up a few yards on the ground before finding Winston Page on third down to move the ball to the Pembroke 24. The Falcons were unable to pick up another first down as Emmanuel Richardson came out to attempt a 36-yard field. The redshirt-sophomore's kick was true to give the home side the early 3-0 lead.

On the first play from scrimmage for UNC Pembroke (2-5, 2-3), the quarterbacks pass was intercepted by Howard Williams at the Braves 27. Fairmont State was not able to take advantage of the short field as it had to attempt a 44-yard field goal. Unfortunately, Richardson's kick drifted just left as the score remained at 3-0.

The Braves quickly moved into FSU territory after gains of 22 and 11 yards. From there, the Falcons defense stood tall and forced a turnover on downs. Starting at its own 38, the offense went to work as Marzullo connected with Gage Michael for a seven-yard gain. A quick shovel pass to Jermaine Bradford quickly picked up 47 yards as the freshman setup first-and-goal at the 8. Marzullo rolled to the near side on the next play as he found Kobe Harris in the endzone to put the Falcons ahead 10-0 with 5:44 to go in the first.

Both teams went three-and-out on their next drives as Pembroke took over at its own 6 with 3:14 on the clock. The Braves' Colin Johnson completed passes of 21 and 11 yards to move out of the shadow of his own endzone. Following a seven-yard gain on the ground, Johnson threw a pass to Josiah Hayes who raced in for the 55-yard score. At the end of the first, FSU led 10-7.

Marzullo began to find his timing on the next drive as he went 6-6 for 47 yards including a five-yard score to Giacomo. Richardson's point after was good as the Falcons led by 10 (17-7). However, the Braves quickly answered with a three-play drive over 48 yards to make it a 17-14 game with 8:43 left in the half. 

Fairmont State went back to work as it started to move the ball near midfield. On third-and-one, Leonard Farrow ran off the right side of the line and picked up 13 yards. Facing another third down on the drive, Marzullo dropped back and found Bradford running down the right hash marks for a 31-yard throw-and-catch. After a short run by Crosby II, the Falcons went to the back pages of the playbook. Marzullo connected on a wide receiver screen to Harris, who lateraled the ball to Crosby II as he ran in for the touchdown.

Leading 24-14, the FSU defense forced another punt as Harris returned it 17 yards to the Pembroke 48. Following a five-yard gain on the ground, Marzullo completed back-to-back passes to Gage Michael and Jolann Alston for a total of 24 yards. Following a defensive pass interference, the Falcons tried another trick play as Gage Michael was looking to throw the ball but was sacked at the 15. On the next play, Marzullo once again found Giacomo for the 15-yard score to make it a 31-14 score. 

With 48 seconds left in the half, the Braves quickly moved the ball into Fairmont territory aided by a face mask penalty. With just three seconds on the clock, the visitors attempted a 49-yard field goal but the kick was no good as the Falcons led by the 17-point margin going to the half. 

Neither team got anything going to start the second half as Pembroke punted the ball twice to Fairmont State's once. Starting at their own 44, the Falcons called upon Toy Trice who ran the ball four-straight times to the Pembroke 43. Marzullo connected with Harris and Giacomo to set up first-and-goal at the 6. On second down, FSU thought it had a touchdown pass to Page but an offensive pass interference moved the ball back to the 19. After two incompletions, Richardson made another 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 20 (34-14). 

Wasting little time, Pembroke swiftly moved down the field including a fourth down pick up. The Braves ran it in from 14 yards out to make it a two-score game, 34-21. The Falcons' next drive carried over into the fourth quarter as the chaos ensued.

Having to punt the ball, Ethan Vargo-Thomas kicked it 45 yards as Josiah Hayes returned the kick 28 yards before Caleb Vernon ripped the ball loose but the Braves fortunately fell on it at their 42. Four plays later, the visitors were in the endzone as the score was 34-28 with 12:51 left in regulation.

On the kickoff, Bradford returned the ball to the Fairmont 35 before it was knocked loose as Pembroke picked it up at the 46-yard line. The Braves moved the ball to the six after four plays and seemed to have a touchdown on the next play but a holding call brought the play back. After two plays, Johnson kept the ball and was nearing the goal line but Eltayeb Bushra stripped the ball as Donovan O'Malley recovered the ball at the one.

Following a couple of gains on the ground with a penalty in the middle, Marzullo's third down pass was intercepted at FSU 12. Pembroke called Johnson's number once again and looked to score but a hit by Detray Jones at the one popped the ball out as Howard Williams fell on it in the endzone for a touchback. 

As the clock read with 7:55 to go in the game, the Falcons started to move the ball on the ground with Crosby II. Facing a 3rd-and-1, Crosby II was met at the line as the ball flung back 10 yards but Marzullo quickly reacted and fell on the ball. After a 43-yard punt by Vargo-Thomas, the Braves started from their own 26. The visitors were able to pick up two third downs to extend the drive near midfield but on second down, Johnson's pass was intercepted by Jehvonn Lewis. The defensive back returned it 30 yards to set up the Falcons at the Pembroke 30. 

Fairmont State ran the ball three straight times forcing the Braves to use all three of their timeouts. On fourth down, Richardson's number was called again, this time for a 40-yard field goal as he made the kick to make it 37-28 with 2:09 left on the clock. On the very first play of the drive, Johnson was strip sacked as Josh Alt knocked it loose but the Braves recovered the fumble. Pembroke started to take advantage of the fortunate bounce as found itself at the Fairmont State 38 with a fresh set of downs. After a short completion, the Braves just needed five yards to extend the drive but three-straight incompletions ended the drive as the Falcons took over with 47 seconds left. 

Two kneel downs by Marzullo ran out the clock as the Falcons held on for the nine-point victory.

Fairmont State hits the road for a Friday Night special against 13th-ranked University of Charleston on Friday, October 25. Kickoff from the state capital is set for 7:00 p.m.