FAIRMONT — Like Fairmont State University’s other eight seniors, Drew Rossignol and Alex Ashley will close out their college football careers Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Falcons pay a visit to Lakin Field to battle West Virginia State in the season finale for both squads.
However, both Rossignol and Ashley, who played prep football together at Capital High School, have the unique experience of playing their final games in their home town of Charleston — or at least in nearby Institute.
“It’s kind of amazing that it worked out that we’re going to play our final game back home in Charleston,” said Rossignol, FSU’s senior cornerback who has 22 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries this fall. “That’s pretty special for me and Alex. When we played high school, Capital was the main team in Charleston. Us and GW (George Washington) and we had very segmented crowds who were very supportive of us. I still keep in touch with a lot of my high school coaches and any chance I get to go back home and play is very exciting to me.
“It’s a good atmosphere playing there. I love the town and the fact that we’re playing State makes it even better. They always have a very competitive team so Saturday I think it’s going to pan out and be a very good game.”
Ashley, Fairmont’s senior place kicker and punter, agrees.
“I haven’t been home in a long time and the feeling you get when you can go back home and play in front of the old home town crowd is definitely special,” said Ashley. “Drew and I graduated together and obviously we know a lot of people down there. I’ve been calling some people and asking them to come to the game Saturday.
“We hopefully want to go out with a big bang and most importantly a win in our last game. We certainly, as a team, deserve one, because we’ve all played hard this season and we just haven’t quite had the year we all expected to have.”
The Falcons enter Saturday's game 3-7 overall and 3-4 in the West Virginia Conference. State, on the other hand, is 2-7 overall and just 1-6 in the league.
For Ashley, Saturday’s game holds even more meaning. Last season he nailed a pair of 51-yard field goals against the Yellow Jackets to set a new school record, breaking the old mark of 50 yards set by Randy Whited 26 years ago. However, on the game’s final play with FSU trailing 21-20, Ashley attempted a 41-yard field goal for the win which was plenty long enough, but sailed wide right.
“I definitely want to make up for last year if possible,” said Ashley. “That game was very bittersweet for me. I had set a new record twice, but then missed the 41-yarder from the left hash which would’ve given us the win. That was pretty tough for me to deal with.”
Heading into this fall Ashley, who was 12-of-21 on field goals last season and 30-of-31 on PATs, had high expectations for himself. However, when FSU punter Ben Landis went down with a knee injury last spring, Ashley was asked this season to handle the punting chores in addition to his normal kicking duties and the results have been less than desirable. He's just 2-of-9 this season on field goal attempts, is 24-of-27 on PATs and averages 32.5 yards per punt.
“You know I haven’t had the best of seasons this year,” said Ashley, who will graduate this December. “They put me in a situation and I just didn’t perform as well as I had hoped I would. I have no excuses for it.
“But all-in-all I wouldn’t trade my experiences here at Fairmont for anything. Everyone here has been great. Coach B (Ricky Brumfield) is amazing and everything is good here.”
Rossignol, who will graduate in May, echoes Ashley’s sentiments and says his willingness to put in long hours working to improve himself has helped him have a solid college career.
“I was given an opportunity here and I've tried to make the most of it,” said Rossignol. “I think I’ve had a good career. I don’t think of myself as a great player, just a solid player. When plays come my way I make them to the best of my ability. I’ve always tried to use what people tell me I can’t do as motivation. That’s a good piece of advice I can give to younger players.
“When I came here I weighed about a buck-fifty. Now I’m about a buck-seventy. I put on 20 pounds of muscle through work in the weight room. You have to be determined and you have to want to outwork people if you want to be successful. That’s where you can get an edge. If you’re willing to put in the time and work you can be successful no matter what anyone tells you.”
Duane Cochrane
Rossignol, Ashley head home for FSU finale
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