FAIRMONT — Three months ago, Fairmont State head football coach Mike Lopez hoped his Falcons would be playing today for the West Virginia Conference title.
Instead the Falcons, like they have each of the past seven years, will be playing for little more than pride Saturday in their season finale as they trek south to Institute to tangle with West Virginia State in a 1 p.m. game at Lakin Field on the Yellow Jackets’ “Senior Day.”
FSU enters today’s contest 3-7 overall and 3-4 in the WVC. In the league’s preseason coaches’ poll, Fairmont was tabbed to finish sixth in the nine-team conference. The Falcons are currently in sixth place in the league, but could possibly climb into a tie for fifth place with a victory today and a Concord loss at league champion West Liberty.
West Virginia State has struggled as well this fall. After back-to-back 7-3 campaigns under coach Earl Monroe the Yellow Jackets have stumbled this season and come into today’s game 2-7 overall and just 1-6 in the WVC.
“Playing State at State is always a battle for us,” said Lopez. “Even when we've had some of our very good teams they’ve had battles with State. They’re always very athletic and dangerous and this season is no different.
“They’ve shown an ability to score points this year at times. They scored 30 in a 52-30 loss to West Liberty and they lost a close game to Concord so we know we’re in for a battle Saturday. The one thing our kids understand is they’ve got to go down there and continue to come together and end this season on a positive note. Right now that's all we’re focused on.”
The Yellow Jackets have won the last two meetings between the teams both in close fashion. In 2007 State snapped a nine-game losing streak to FSU with a 14-7 victory in a game dominated by defense. Then last season in Fairmont, the Yellow Jackets rallied from a 20-7 deficit in the game's final 12 minutes to record a hard-fought 21-20 win.
FSU actually had a chance to win that contest on the game’s final play, but Falcon kicker Alex Ashley, who earlier in the game had connected on a pair of 51-yard field goals, was wide right on a 41-yard attempt.
History, though, is in the Falcons’ favor today. The Yellow Jackets have never recorded three consecutive victories over Fairmont State.
The Yellow Jackets are led by senior quarterback Kevin O’Brien, who is the school’s all-time leading passer and is currently ranked 10th all-time in WVC history with 7,187 passing yards. O’Brien missed three games this season with a wrist injury, but has played the past two weeks for State. He has completed 76-of-126 passes for 825 yards and six touchdowns this fall. He’s been picked off five times.
Protecting the quarterback, though, has been an issue for State’s front line all season. The Yellow Jackets have surrendered 30 sacks this fall, which is the second-highest total in the league.
State’s top receivers are Jermain King and Landon Johnson. King has 48 receptions for 627 yards and seven scores, while Johnson has caught 29 passes for 460 yards and five TDs.
The Yellow Jackets have struggled on the ground this season. As a team, State averages a paltry 69.7 rushing yards per game which is last in the WVC.
State’s offense is ranked last in the league with an average of 265.7 yards per game, while its defense is rated seventh. The Yellow Jackets allow 389.6 yards per outing and 32.9 points.
State’s defense is led by senior linebackers Andrew Eggleton and Valentine Bon, who are the top two tacklers in the conference with 99 and 90 stops respectively.
Fairmont State has won two of its last three contests, while State has dropped four in a row. The Falcons lead the all-time series between the teams, 28-12-1. FSU is also a perfect 5-0 in its last five season finales.
“Winning the final game obviously helps you heading into the offseason and it’s always nice to send your seniors out with a victory, but it’s not going to be easy for us,” said Lopez. “We expect a tremendous challenge Saturday.”
Duane Cochrane
FSU visits State for season finale
- Duane Cochrane
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Falling short: SLIDESHOW
For Fairmont State’s men’s basketball team, the story this season has been an all-too familiar one.
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Lady Falcons top State, extend streak: SLIDESHOW
Kaitlin Snyder and Hailey Garrett combined for 43 points to help lead Fairmont State’s Lady Falcons to their third consecutive victory, 87-78, here Monday evening over visiting West Virginia State at the Joe Retton Arena.
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Lady Falcons halt UPJ’s winning ways: PHOTOS
One of the hottest teams in the West Virginia Conference paid a visit to the Joe Retton Arena on Wednesday evening and received a rude welcoming from Fairmont State’s Lady Falcons.
Pitt-Johnstown, winners of three in a row and eight of its last 10, got thoroughly dominated for 32 of the game’s 40 minutes as FSU halted the Lady Mountain Cats’ winning ways with an 88-66 victory. -
UPJ wins thriller over Falcons, 92-87
It was an electric atmosphere here Wednesday evening at the Joe Retton Arena.
Unfortunately, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team ran out of juice in the waning minutes and fell, 92-87, to visiting Pitt-Johnstown. -
Glenville completes season sweep of Falcons
Glenville State can make a living playing Fairmont State this season in men’s basketball.
That’s because half of the lowly Pioneers’ four victories this season have come at the expense of the Falcons.
Thursday evening here at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium, Glenville State completed the regular-season sweep of Fairmont State, rolling to an impressive 80-59 victory over the floundering Falcons. -
Streaking Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally
Glenville State, the second-place team in the West Virginia Conference, shook off a horrid shooting performance in the first half, caught fire from the field in the final 20 minutes and rolled to a 92-78 victory over visiting Fairmont State here Thursday evening at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium.
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Garrett, Lohr lead Lady Falcons past A-B: PHOTOS
Fairmont State possesses two of the more talented true freshmen in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season in Hailey Garrett and Emily Lohr.
Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena that duo combined for 36 points and nine rebounds to help lead FSU to 66-56 victory over visiting Alderson-Broaddus. -
Battlers top Fairmont State for 13th straight win
Despite heroic efforts from its dynamic duo of Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team couldn’t derail red-hot Alderson-Broaddus here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
The streaking Battlers posted an 81-70 victory over the Falcons for their 13th straight win. -
FSU gets much-needed win over Rams
Chris Thompson was perfect.
Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton were their usual selfs and Mike Hurd stepped up big time off the bench.
As a result, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak and got a much-needed, 80-66, victory over visiting Shepherd University Wednesday evening here at the Joe Retton Arena. -
Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally: PHOTOS
Glenville State senior guard Beth Deren buried a trio of 3-point field goals in a span of less than a minute late in the second half to help the Lady Pioneers hold off a fierce Fairmont State rally and record an 88-80 victory here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
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