Football ‘Cats hang with Falcons but ultimately fall, 41-20

BUCKHANNON — Homecoming weekend at West Virginia Wesleyan College found a packed house at Cebe Ross Field. Unfortunately the Bobcat football team could not hold off Fairmont State University, falling 40-21 on Saturday.

It was Wesleyan’s defense that scored the first touchdown of the game. After Fairmont capitalized on its first possession with a 33-yard field goal by Emmanuel Richardson at 12:11, the Bobcats gave up its next possession with a punt that set the Falcons deep in their own end at the 10-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Fairmont’s Nino Marzullo dropped back to pass but found Wesleyan defensive lineman Connor Sealock in his face. Sealock buried the Falcon quarterback and the ball came loose. Sophomore linebacker Caron Jones found the bouncing pigskin, scooped it up and ran into the end zone to put the Bobcats up 7-3.

The Falcons scored the next two rushing touchdowns, one by Dereik Crosby II, on a 6-yard run to cap a 7-play, 62-yard drive with 5:35 left in the first, and the another at the start of the second quarter by Marzullo on a 2-yard run after a 9-play, 57-yard drive.

Wesleyan pulled within three with 11:08 remaining in the first half when freshman wide receiver Micheal Ross caught a pass from Nathan Payne at the Fairmont 25-yard line, tore through a tackler and raced into the end zone for a 63-yard score to narrow the margin to 17-14.

But Fairmont would not let the half end without another touchdown. Gage Michael caught a 3-yard pass from Marzullo after a quick 10-play, 59-yard drive that ended as the clock ticked zero and the Falcons went into the locker room up 24-14.

The Flacons added three points in the third quarter and another 14 points on rushes by Crosby II, one a 44 yards jaunt to the end zone and another from 21 yards out to end the scoring with 1:58 left in the game.

Wesleyan tacked on another touchdown in the fourth on a 3-yard run from Payne.

Wesleyan rushing again suffered and the defense couldn’t hold Fairmont on the ground, giving up 231 net rushing yards while gaining only 53. For the season, the Bobcats have 579 yards rushing to its opponents’ 1,409.

Payne threw for 233 yards on 21-of-30 attempts, one touchdown and one interception.

The Falcons’ Marzullo faired even with 232 total yards on 19-of-26 attempts, one touchdown and one lost fumble.

The Bobcats go on the road to West Liberty University on Saturday, Oct. 19 for a 1 p.m. kickoff with the Hilltoppers.

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