West Liberty, W.Va. – Under the lights of West Family Stadium, the West Liberty University football team was unable to find a stop for the balanced offensive attack of Fairmont State, falling by a score of 42-29 in the home opener. While there was only a seven yard difference in the total offensive yardage, the Falcons totaled ten plays of 20 or more yards to seize control in the game.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 29, Fairmont State 42
Team Records: West Liberty 0-2 (0-1 MEC), Fairmont State 2-0 (1-0 MEC)
Attendance: 1,425
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• In a game of big plays, the first of the game came from the West Liberty defense. After Fairmont State got backed up inside their own 10-yard line after a pair of penalties, Bre'Andre Horsley and DaJuan Jones combined to sack FSU's Michael Floria in the end zone for a safety and give WLU the early 2-0 lead only 35 seconds into the game.
• The Falcons recovery of the ensuing punt following the safety switched up the field position and allowed them to start the drive in Hilltopper territory. Fairmont State would end the drive with a 20-yard passing touchdown from Floria to Dereik Crosby II to give them their first lead of the game at 7-2 following the PAT by Emmanuel Richardson.
• Fairmont State scored two more touchdowns before the end of the first quarter of play, following a West Liberty punt on a 58-yard touchdown pass from Floria to Kobe Harris and after a WLU interception on a 34-yard touchdown rush from LeJay Hatcher to put the Falcons up 21-2.
• The Hilltoppers began chipping away at the Falcon lead the very next drive as Rudy Garcia capped a seven play, 74-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard rush up the middle for touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-9 with a PAT from Tyler Waddell.
• Fairmont State, however, would have an answer the next possession as Leonard Farrow crossed the goal-line on a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the FSU lead back to 28-9.
• Following a three-and-out on the previous possession, the Hilltoppers capitalized on their longest drive of the game, moving the ball 95 yards in 12 plays, taking just over seven minutes off the clock when Garcia was able to find Rashawn Harvey in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown reception to make the score 28-16 in favor of FSU with 1:16 to go before halftime.
• While West Liberty was unable to find any points on the opening drive of the second half following a 34-yard kickoff return by Joshuah Clark to set up the Hilltopper offense on their own 38-yard line. Garcia found Clark once again on the first play of the drive for a 20-yard reception into Fairmont State territory, but the drive would stall after the new set of downs.
• The Falcons scored on their only two drives of the third quarter, extending their lead to 42-16 entering the final 15 minutes of action as Crosby II scored his second touchdown of the game, this time by way of a 14-yard rushing touchdown, and then Floria found Gage Michael for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 4:14 remaining in the period.
• After a pair of incomplete passes on a drive starting near midfield, Garcia made a pair of completions to complete the scoring drive. He first found Christion Banks for a 14-yard reception to get the ball into Falcon territory and then found Harvey on a 37-yard pass for his second receiving touchdown of the game after having to scramble out of the pocket to buy some time.
• The final points of the game came from West Liberty to cut the lead to 42-29 as Garcia notched his third passing touchdown of the night, finding Chris Charles for an 8-yard touchdown reception with 8:12 remaining in the contest, the PAT attempt would be blocked by Matt Pack for FSU.
• For the second consecutive week Garcia set a new career-high mark for passing yards and posted the first game of 400 or more passing yards for a WLU quarterback since now QB coach Dakota Conwell did so during a November 12, 2016 game against West Virginia State.
• Harvey reached 100 receiving yards and recorded a pair of touchdown receptions for the second straight game to open the season, marking his fourth career 100-yard game and second multi-touchdown game.
• Horsley led the Hilltopper defense from the open possession of the game, collecting a team-high nine total tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Rudy Garcia: 37-of-52, 414 yards passing, 3 touchdown passes, 14 yards rushing, 1 rushing touchdown
Rashawn Harvey: 9 receptions, 132 receiving yards, 2 touchdown receptions
Chris Charles: 10 receptions, 91 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Bre'Andre Horsley: 9 total tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass break-up
Cam Rice: 6 total tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty continues Mountain East Conference play next week as they travel east to Frostburg State. The Hilltoppers and Bobcats are scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday (September 16) afternoon at Bobcat Stadium in Frostburg, Maryland.