FAIRMONT, W.Va. - The Fairmont State University football team opened the 2024 season in style against Seton Hill University. The Falcons scored 21 points in the third quarter that led to a 56-24 victory over the Griffins.

Coming out of the locker rooms at halftime, Fairmont State (1-0) led Seton Hill (0-1), 14-10. The Falcons received the second half kickoff with the offense starting at its own 29-yard line. Will Adkins was starting find his rhythm in the pocket with four-straight completions that moved the ball to the Seton Hill 37. Dereik Crosby II was handed the ball and broke through the middle of the line and raced into the end zone for the 37-yard score. Emmanuel Richardson remained perfect on extra point attempts as Fairmont State found itself in front, 21-10.

Seton Hill's offense seemed to be stifled by the Falcons defense but a fake punt that gained 30 yards kept the drive alive for the Griffins as they were into Fairmont territory. However, a sack by Izuchukwu Igwe with a false start on the next play gave the visitors a 2nd and 22 from their own 47. 12 and one-yard rushes on back-to-back plays set up a 4th and 9. As the SHU quarterback dropped back to pass, Nemo Roberts broke through the line and sacked the quarterback for a turnover on downs. 

LeJay Hatcher ripped off a 21-yard run to quickly move into Seton Hill territory. Adkins found Leonard Farrow and Gage Michael on short passes as the Falcons had a first and goal from the eight-yard line. Following an incompletion, Michael caught an eight-yard touchdown from Adkins to extend the lead to 18 (28-10) with 7:11 remaining in the third.

The Griffins seemed to be on the move once more with three runs that totaled 16 yards. On 2nd and 8, the Seton Hill running back rushed up the middle but was met in the backfield. During the tackle, the rusher lost the ball as Jehvonn Lewis picked up the loose ball for the Falcons as they took over at the SHU 40 with 5:40 on the clock.

Adkins continued his strong second half as he was 2-3 for 12 yards before he connected with Winston Page on a short pass. Page then raced 20 yards after the catch in for the touchdown as Richardson tacked on the extra point to make it a 35-10 game.

Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the third as the game headed to the final 15 minutes of regulation. The Fairmont State defense continued to hold strong as it forced another turnover on downs with the offense coming on the field with just 27 yards separating them from the end zone. Farrow became the main target as he caught an 11-yard pass before breaking through for the score from 16 yards out. The point after was good as Fairmont State led 42-10 with 13:04 to go.

Seton Hill hit a big on its third play of the drive for a 63-yard pass and catch and scored for the first time since the 5:27-mark of the second quarter. Fortunately, the Falcons' offense was not done as Jermaine Bradford caught a 27-yard pass from Adkins to move the team in maroon to the Griffins' 29-yard line. After a short completion, Elijah Tidwell showed a sudden burst of speed through the line and into the open field for a 13-yard score as the game was once again a 32-point difference (49-17) with 10 minutes showing on the clock.

On the first play from scrimmage for SHU, Nick Longo intercepted a tipped pass at the 35-yard line and returned it 12 yards to bring the offense out once more. On 3rd and 7, Tidwell's number was called once more and he delivered just like the last drive and raced into the end zone from 20 yards out for his second score of the night. Fairmont State led Seton Hill 56-17 with 8:53 remaining. 

The Griffins methodically moved the ball down the field and went 75 yards on 12 plays over six minutes with a three-yard touchdown run capping off the drive. The point after was good but the Falcons still held a 32-point advantage (56-24).

Fairmont State's offense trotted a new look with Nino Marzullo and others lining up. On 3rd and 7 from the Fairmont 28, Marzullo executed an option play and kept the ball as he scampered 20 yards down the far sideline to pick up the first down. Two kneel downs and the Falcons were victorious in their first game under head coach Luke Barker.

As a team, Fairmont State gained 506 yards with 298 of them coming from the arm of Adkins. He finished the game 24-36 with three touchdowns and one interception. Crosby II led the team in rushing with 11 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown. The 56 points is the team's most in the first win of the season since 2019 and the most in the season opener in program history.

Fairmont State returns to the gridiron on Thursday, September 5 as it hits the road to face another Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foe in Bloomsburg University. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. from Bloomsburg, Pa.