October 20, 2007
(FAIRMONT, W.V.): Fairmont State qb Vic Bradford scored on a 1-yard run with 7:39 left, and the Falcon defense made a goal line stand with 1:39 remaining in the game as Fairmont held on to defeat visiting Clarion 21-14 on Saturday night.
Held at Duvall-Rosier Field, Fairmont State raised its record to 3-5 overall, while Clarion dropped to 0-8.
On its final drive, Clarion moved from its own 10-yard line to the Fairmont State 2 in 7 plays. Clarion qb Tyler Huether was 4 for 4 on the drive for 33 yards in getting to the two, while tailback Eddie Emmanuel had a 12 and a 20 yard run. Emmanuel's second run for 20 yards seemed to set the table to tie the game when he burst up the middle to the FSC 2, setting up the final set of plays. On first down Eagle QB Tyler Huether rushed for a yard loss, and then on second, Huether's fade route pass for Jaques Robinson in the right corner of the endzone was broken-up. Huether was called on to run an option right on third down, but the play lost 3 yards back to the 6, setting up fourth and goal from the FSC 6 yard line. After an FSC timeout, Huether took the fourth down snap and looked over the middle for a receiver, but before he could get the pass off, he was sacked at the 14 by Shahram Shafii ending Clarion's threat with only 1:39 left in the game.
Fairmont knelt on the ball three times and ran out the clock.
FSC opened the scoring on its first possession traveling 72 yards in just 4 plays. Bradford posted the td on a 12-yard run, and Alex Ashley's PAT made it 7-0 with 11:29 left in the first.
Clarion drove 67-yards in 7 plays to tie the game with 2:07 left before intermission. Wideout Pierre Odom ran a post-pattern and Huether hit Odom in stride in the endzone for a 29-yard td pass that tied the score at 7-7 after Robert Mamula's PAT.
Clarion linebacker Mike Verdun intercepted a Derek Taylor pass at midfield with 1:23 left in the second, giving the Golden Eagles an opportunity to get on the board again before halftime, and the Eagles did just that.
Running a no-huddle offense, Clarion got two quick first downs to the FSC 27. Then Emmanuel took over, running right up the middle for 27-yards and a Clarion touchdown. Mamula's extra point was good and Clarion took a 14-7 lead into he locker room at halftime.
On its opening possession of the second half, Clarion drove to the FSC 22, but the drive stalled. Mamula's 43-yard field goal attempt missed by inches outside the left upright.
Fairmont drove 54 yards in 12 plays for its next score. Doug Brazill capped the drive with a 1-yard run at 1:17 of the third quarter, but the PAT try missed wide right and Clarion still led 14-13.
Fairmont's game-winning drive in the fourth quarter was helped by a disputed penalty. Fairmont had third and 26 at its own 4 yard line, but Brazill rushed for 21 yards to bring up fourth and 5 at the 25, but on the ensuing FSC punt, Clarion was called for having 12-men on the field, a call Clarion head coach Jay Foster disputed. FSC got a first down and new life. Brazill then sprung a 56-yard run to the Clarion 1, before Bradford scored the game winner.
Clarion had 435 yards of offense on the night. Emmanuel rushed 15 times for 103 yards and 1 td. Tyler Huether completed 17 of 38 passes for 230 yards and 1 td, plus rushed 14 times for 81 yards. Odom grabbed 6 passes for 77 yards and 1 td.
Clarion's defense was led by Kyle Cathcart who had 10 tackles and 3 tfl's for -15 yards. Nick Sipes posted 7 stops and Shawn Sopic 5.
Fairmont had 361 yards of offense. Brazill rushed 33 times for 219 yards and 1 td. Bradford completed 3 of 11 aerials for 80 yards.
Clarion returns home to host IUP next Saturday at 1pm.
