FAIRMONT, W.Va. (Sept. 12) – The Cardinals were handed a 53-10 loss at Fairmont State in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) game at Duval-Rosier Field Thursday night.
 
The loss sends the Wheeling University football team to 0-2 overall, 0-2 in the MEC this season. Meanwhile, the Falcons, who were ranked No. 25 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II pre-season poll, improve to 1-1 in league play, 1-1 overall.
 
Sophomore quarterback Tucker Strachan (Kensington, Md./Bullis) finished the game 14-of-31 for 118 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Sophomore wide receiver Ryan LaFollette (Woodsfield, Ohio/Monroe Central) led the Cardinals with eight catches for 68 yards.
 
Sophomore running back Sy Alli IV (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy) paced the running game with 64 yards on 11 carries.
 
Fairmont State got off to a fast start. The Falcons scored on the second play of the game with a 46-yard touchdown pass 41 seconds into the game.
 
Following a three-and-out for the Cardinals, FSU connected on another big play to set up a one-yard touchdown to make the score 14-0 with 12:05 to play in the first half.
 
Wheeling had its best offensive series of the first half on its next possession. Strachan led the Cardinals on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that concluded with a seven-yard touchdown pass from to redshirt-junior Jaquaun Davidson (Duquesne, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) to slice the lead in half with 8:30 to play in the opening period.
 
The Cardinal defense forced a three-and-out to give the offense the ball right back, but Strachan threw an interception that returned the ball to the Falcons. Fairmont State capitalized on the turnover and connected on another long touchdown to push its lead to 21-7 with 5:45 still remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Falcons added 10 more points, including a 90-yard touchdown rush, to increase its lead to 31-7 three minutes into the second quarter.
 
Strachan managed to drive Wheeling into the red zone again, but the drive stalled, and the Cards settled for a 29-yard field goal by Matthew Greenwood (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) to make the score 31-10 with 8:38 to play in the first half.
 
Fairmont State added two more scores in the final minutes of the half to take a 45-10 lead into the locker room.
 
The game slowed down in the second half. Fairmont State scored the lone points of the second half with a 52-yard touchdown run with 6:32 left in the third quarter.
 
Wheeling sophomore defensive end Brandon Munoz (Halethorpe, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) led the defense with seven tackles (four solo), two tackles for loss, including one sack.
 
Fairmont State had two rushers eclipse 100 yards. Tyree Randolph went for 166 and two touchdowns, while Timothy Smith finished with 101 yards on four carries.
 
The Cardinals will enjoy a full week to recover and prepare for their game against Urbana on Thursday, September 19. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
 
NOTES: Sophomore quarterback Tyler Sprouse (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell) relieved Strachan late and was 5-of-10 for 44 yards in his debut … Fairmont State finished with a 377-to-77 advantage in rushing yards … Wheeling was limited to 4-of-16 on third downs … time of possession was split exactly 30 minutes for each team … Fairmont State converted for 17 points off of turnovers
 
FIRSTS
INTERCEPTION: Jonny Hayden, 4:29 third quarter