GLENVILLE - Visiting Fairmont State University will be looking for its first points of the season and also will be out to try and snap a two-game losing streak to Glenville State come 7 p.m. today inside Morris Stadium in what will be the West Virginia Conference opener for both programs.
Last week, the Falcons of head man Mike Lopez did a lot of things right, but also had a few miscues and ended up coming out on the wrong end of a 7-0 road loss at Clarion.
Second-year GSC head coach David Hutchison's squad put together quite the rally in the second half at Carson-Newman, but it proved to be too little too late as the G-men came up short, 56-46.
Losing a season opener in games both FSU and GSC respectively figure they could've won is one thing, but starting the campaign off at 0-2 is a place neither one of these teams want to be at after tonight is over with.
Fairmont State never could get its running game going last week against Clarion as the Falcons' Daniel Monroe was held to less than 40 yards rushing and below 2 yards a carry. Despite having numerous chances to get the ball into the end zone, which included having a first-and-goal with nearly a minute left in the game, coach Lopez's team couldn't get the job done in the opener. FSU was plagued by a trio of turnovers and 120 yards in penalties.
The same could be said for coach Hutchison's team in their opener as the Pioneers had a couple of costly turnovers which changed the momentum of the game and then would've had a turnover, but lost possession because of a roughing the passer penalty.
Fact Box
Schedule
- Fairmont State (0-1) at Glenville State (0-1)
- 7 p.m. today
at Morris Stadium
- West Virginia
Conference opener
- Pioneers have won last two games in overtime
Fairmont State, which got 321 yards passing from Bobby Vega in his first start, has to like the fact GSC allowed nearly 500 yards rushing to Carson-Newman at better than an 8-yard per carry clip.
Glenville State, which saw senior signal-caller Darold Hughes earn co-WVIAC offensive player of the week honors after throwing for five scores and 305 yards, was impressive by scoring touchdowns in all six red zone chances last week.
The Falcons will need to try and slow down Pioneer tailback Rahmann Lee, who had 16 carries and 126 yards rushing.
Fans should expect to see a lot of passes. Vega's top target against Clarion was Chris St. Hilaire (8-108) while Orlandus Harris had 16 receptions, three scores and 117 yards for the G-men. Justin Feagin chipped in 58 yards on six catches for GSC while Robert Jiles, who had more than 100 combined return yards, had five catches for 72 yards. Two of Jiles' receptions went for scores.
Two years ago at Morris Stadium, FSU lost 17-14 in overtime while the Pioneers pulled out a 36-30 triple-overtime road victory in 2011 against the Falcons.
