As the teams entered the overtime period, the Cardinals had already battled back from being down by 20 points and would get the first possession of the overtime period. It would be backup quarterback Landon Lutz leading the team as the Cardinals set up shop at their own 26 yard line. After a pair of incomplete passes set the Cardinals up with a third down, Lutz found a hole through the middle and raced for 51 yards to get down to the Fairmont State six yard line. On the very next play Lutz drop back to pass and fired a bullet to the back of the end zone towards wide receiver Steven Mitchell. Mitchell leaped in the air, caught the pass, and got his right toe down in bounds for the wheeling touchdown. However, the extra point was blocked giving Fairmont State the ball back trailing by just six.
 

As they had done all season the willing defense came through when it mattered most forcing three straight incomplete passes to set up a do or die fourth down scenario. The Falcons dropped back to pass And the ball was swatted down by the Cardinals defense securing their 43-37 victory. It was the second straight year that Wheeling and Fairmont State battled to overtime, and for the second year in a row the Cardinals came out victorious. It was a big win for Wheeling as they improved to 1-1 in MEC play and stay in the middle of the pack of the conference. The 20-point come back effort was The biggest come from behind victory in program history as Wheeling scored 33 of their 43 points in the second half and overtime to pick up the win.
 

Early on, it was Fairmont State that controlled the game, scoring on their first drive with a 40-yard touchdown pass to make it a 6-0 Fairmont state advantage early. On their first drive of the game. The Cardinals would not 4 minutes off the clock and turned their special teams unit like they did the previous week. Joao Lima stepped in for a 42-yard field goal attempt and kicked it through the uprights to make it a 6-3 game. After the opening touchdown, both defense were in bend don't break mode as each allowed a field goal and after one quarter of play it was 9-3 in favor of the Falcons. Both teams went on long methodical drives to kick their field goals, with wheelings being a 10-play drive and Fairmont State putting together a 12 play drive before tacking on their field goal.
 

The second quarter began with Fairmont State adding on to their lead scoring a touchdown on their first offensive drive of the quarter, before returning a punt 74 yards on the next Cardinal possession and with 9:39 to go before the half It was a 22-3 advantage for Fairmont State. The Cardinals will get the ball back with just over 7 minutes remaining before halftime and put together another methodical drive down the field. They ate 6 minutes off the clock, and drove 90 yd down to the Fairmont State two yard line. Running back Elijah Young would take the ball the final two yards into the end zone for his first touchdown of the day. The extra point would make it a 23-10 game as the team's headed into the locker room with wheeling looking to continue their comeback effort.
 

Wheeling would get the ball to start the second half and the offense came out strong driving down to the Fairmont State 29 Yard Line. The Russian game would get another score for their team as quarterback Javon Davis took it this time for 29 yd to get into the end zone and make it a 23-17 game. It was the longest rushing touchdown of Davis's career in a Cardinal uniform and kicked off the team's 33 point second half. Wheeling would force a Fairmont State turnover on Downs on the next possession and would set Lima up for another field goal opportunity. This one would be a 20-yard kick and Lima sent it through the uprights for his second field goal of the day As the Cardinals cut further into the lead to make it 23-20. After another Fairmont State touchdown made it a 10-point game, the Wheeling defense came together to get the Cardinals back on the board.
 

Linebacker Keenan Johnson forced to fumble at the Fairmont State 40 yard line and it was picked up by defensive lineman Rashard Jackson, who took the ball 40 yards back to the end zone to make it a 30-27 game at the end of the third quarter. Wheeling force a Fairmont State punt to start the fourth quarter before putting together their longest scoring play of the season. Javon Davis connected with wide receiver Quron Winder On an 84-yard touchdown pass that gave Wheeling their first lead of the day at 34-30. The Cardinals defense came up with another big stop on the next Fairmont State play and Wheeling was able to add some much-needed insurance on their next drive. Lima stepped in for what would be his third field goal attempt of the day, this time from 40 yards out. He would nail it once again to put the Cardinals up 37-30 and it proved to be a big score as Fairmont State out of the touchdown on their next drive to tie the game and force the overtime period.
 

Quarterback Javon Davis Put together his best effort of the season so far going 15-33 For 276 yards, while throwing one touchdown and one interception. Is touchdown pass would be the longest play from scrimmage of the day and was the one that got wheeling out in front for the first time Qurron Wonder was the recipient of that pass. And was Davis's top target on the day pulling in two catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. The ground game was led by Elijah Young, who carried the ball 16 times for 67 yards and a touchdown. Joao Lima had another big day on special teams, going three for three and field goals, including two from 40 plus yards. J.R. Atkinson led the defensive effort with eight tackles, five solo and three assisted, while Dalton Hoover added seven tackles.
 

The Wheeling University Football Team returns to action on Saturday, September 23rd, when they host Concord with kickoff at noon.