FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University football team opened the month of November against Concord University. The Falcons scored 28 points in the second quarter on the way to a 34-19 win.

Concord (1-8, 1-6) received the opening kickoff and struggled on the first two plays but facing a third down, completed a 47-yard pass to the Fairmont State 24. The Falcon defense stood tall after the big play and forced the Mountain Lions to a field goal for the first score of the game.

Fairmont State (5-4, 4-3) was able to get a first down on the first offensive play thanks to a facemask but were unable to move the ball and punted the ball back to the visitors. At their own 30, the Mountain Lions began a methodical drive down the field. Concord used 14 plays over 7:13 and scored a touchdown on an eight-yard rush. On the extra point attempt, Matt Pack burst through the line and blocked the kick as the score was 9-0 with 4:10 left in the first quarter.

The Falcons began their next drive with a 17-yard run by Dereik Crosby II. This set the tone of the drive as Crosby II got a lot of work on the drive before Nino Marzullo found Carter Giacomo for a 12-yard gain. Later in the drive, Marzullo completed passes to Jolann Alston and Crosby II to the Concord 2 as the first quarter came to an end. On the first play of the second, Marzullo kept the ball and ran in from two yards out to pull within two (9-7).

Concord started its next drive with another big play, this time for 28 yards on the ground before a 25-yard pass to the FSU 22. After a couple of plays, the visitors were faced with a 4th-and-1 and were able to convert. With their backs on the goal line, the Falcons were able to stop the Mountain Lions and hold them to a field goal with 9:54 left in the first half. 

Marzullo and the offense went to work and hit a 42-yard pass to Alston to the Concord 43. Following a rush of no gain, Marzullo completed consecutive passes to Gage Michael for 15 yards total. The freshman quarterback then connected with Alston once more, this time in endzone for the 18-yard score. Emmanuel Richardson's point after was true as the Falcons now led 14-12 with 7:58 left in the first half.

The Mountain Lions were able to pick two first downs with one coming from a defensive holding penalty. Just on the other side of midfield, Concord faced a 4th-and-1 and tried to extend the drive on the ground. However, Izuchukwu Igwe came rushing through the line and met the Concord running back in the backfield for a turnover on downs.

On first down, Winston Page caught a Marzullo pass for a nine-yard gain as Crosby II ran for 11 and 13 yards on the next two plays. After a Jermaine Bradford catch for nine yards, Marzullo ran the ball off the right side of the line and plowed his way in for the touchdown and extended the Fairmont State lead to nine (21-12) with 3:20 to go.

Concord was held in check on its next drive as the Falcons forced a three-and-out as the next FSU drive started from its own 32. Marzullo continued his strong start to the game a short completion to Page before a 27-yard pass-and-catch to Crosby II. The aforementioned running back then picked up 15 yards after two runs to set up the ball at the Concord 19. On first down, Marzullo dropped back and threw a ball to the back right pylon as Bradford ran under the pass for the touchdown. With just over a minute left in the half, the Falcons led 28-12.

The Mountain Lions struggled on their next drive and were forced the punt the ball once again. Fairmont State tried to add another score on the board but time ran out as it led by the 16-point margin heading to the locker room.

Out of the half, the Falcons received the kick and looked to add to their lead. After a loss of 13 on first down, Crosby II nearly got it all back with a nine-yard gain. Marzullo hit Bradford down the left side of the field for a 43-yard pickup. Crosby II ran for a couple of yards on the next play but that was the final positive gain of the drive as Richardson trotted on the field for a 33-yard field goal. His kick was right down the middle as the team now led 31-12 with 12:24 on the clock. 

Down 19, Concord wasted little time moving down the field with a 45-yard catch on second down. Big plays on second down continued for the visitors as the JQ Brown ran in from 26 yards out for the touchdown. The point after was good as the scoreboard now read, 31-19 with 10:43 to go in the third.

Fairmont State was able to move the ball with a mix of run and pass on its next drive. At the Concord 37, Elijah Tidwell rushed for five yards on second down before an incompletion. Going for it on fourth down, Marzullo was looking for Crosby II across the middle but the two were unable to connect on the play as the Falcons turned the ball over on downs.  

The Falcons forced another three-and-out by the Mountain Lions and put the offense right back on the field. The ground game was the theme of the drive as Crosby II ran the ball four times for 42 yards before Tidwell picked up 22 yards. After a holding penalty, Leonard Farrow got in on the action with a a nine-yard rush. Unfortunately, the drive stalled after another holding penalty as the kicking unit made its way onto the field. Richardson kicked the 47-yard field goal through the uprights to extend the lead to 34-19 with 2:33 in the third.

Concord's offense was once again held in check as it had to punt the ball away. On the return, Kobe Harris returned the kick 26 yards to the visitors' 25 to set up the offense with great field position. Crosby II's number was called again as he gained seven yards but another holding penalty put the Falcons behind the sticks. On 3rd-and-18, Marzullo scrambled for a five-yard gain as the third quarter came to an end. Richardson looked to keep his perfect day going but the 45-yard attempt drifted just left of the upright and was no good.

Similar to the last couple of drives for the Mountain Lions, they were forced to punt the ball as Fairmont State took over at its own 25. The running game remained strong for the home side as Crosby II rushed for nine and eight yards to move the sticks. On first down, Bradford was handed the ball on a reverse and picked up 18 yards as a defensive penalty added 15 yards to the play. Crosby II continued his strong game and picked up 14 yards to set up 1st-and-10 at the 11-yard line. After a couple of rough plays, Marzullo dropped back on third down but his pass was intercepted. The Mountain Lions returned the ball 62 yards into Falcon territory but an illegal block brought it back to the Concord 20.

The Mountain Lions were able to string together a couple of plays and eventually found themselves at the FSU 27. On first down, the visitors attempted a pass over the middle but it was intercepted by Jehvonn Lewis. Turnovers continued on the next drive for the Falcons as Marzullo was intercepted on third down, giving the ball right back to Concord.

With the ball on its own 35, Concord was able to convert on a third down to get to midfield. Being held to only two yards on the next three plays, the Mountain Lions went for it on fourth down and completed a pass over the middle. The visitors looked to have another first down but Dante Abrams Jr. met the wide receiver right before the yard to gain and forced a turnover on downs.

Following back-to-back interceptions, Fairmont State called upon Crosby II as he picked up 32 yards on first down. The Falcons faced a 3rd-and-5 out of the two-minute timeout but were unsuccessful as Marzullo was once again picked off. 

Concord effectively moved the ball down the field and quickly found itself in Fairmont State territory. On first down, Nick Longo provided a spark for the defense with a six-yard sack. After a 13-yard completion, the Mountain Lions faced a 3rd-and-3 but a false start moved them back five yards. The defense stepped up and forced two incompletions and another turnover on downs.

The Falcons were able to take two knees and secure the 15-point victory.

On the day, FSU was able to rush for 275 yards including 221 from Crosby II which ranks 11th all-time for a Falcon in a single game. Alston caught three passes for 73 yards and score while Bradford also had a touchdown on three catches for 71 yards. Defensively, Igwe led the team with 10 total tackles including two for a loss of seven yards. 

Fairmont State hosts West Liberty University on Saturday, November 9 for the final home game of the season as the team will honor its seniors. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m.