Wheeling, W. Va. - The Homecoming & Family weekend festivities rolled on as the Wheeling Athletic Department honored the 2024 Class of the Wheeling University Athletic Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. The celebration continued on the field as the Wheeling University Football team (2-2, 1-1) took on Fairmont State following their bye week. It was an offensive game throughout, with the two teams combining to score 101 points on the afternoon as the Cardinals fell 52-49.

It was an especially big day for special teams, led by kick returner Tre Holloway, as he sparked the team throughout the afternoon. He made his first impact of the game came just three minutes into the contest after Fairmont State scored on their opening drive. Holloway would go back to receive the kick-off and took it from his own goal line. HE would slither his way through the defense, going 99 yards the other way for the first varsity kick-off return for a touchdown in program history. As the back and forth of the game continued, the teams sat tied at 21-21 with 9:56 to go before halftime and Holloway would once again spark his team. This time, it was a 95 yard kick-off return for a touchdown. With the effort, Holloway became the 14th player ever in NCAA DII to return to kick-offs for a touchdown in a single game. 

On the kick return side, Holloway finished with five kick-off returns, totaling 288 yards and the two touchdowns. He also contributed on the offensive side of the ball, pulling in three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. His receiving touchdown came on the team's second drive of the quarter, when Javon Davis connected with him on a 21-yard pass that put Wheeling in the driver seat again with a 49-42 lead. Holloway would finish the day with 252 all-purpose yards in the game, putting togehter his career-best performance on the day as he provided the spark his team needed on several occassions. Right from the opening drive of the game, it was clear offense was going to be the ruler of the day. Fairmont State drove down the field and scored on their first two drives as they took a 14-7 lead.

Holloway would put the first points on the board and Wheeling was quick to answer on their first offensive drive of the day. They marched the ball down to the Fairmont State 21-yard line and Davis connected with Alex Godavitarne for his first career touchdown as the Cardinal's tied the game at 14-14. That is where the score would stand following the first quarter and the Cardinal defense got their first stop of the day. Holloway would put the Cardinals ahead with his second kick return touchdown of the day before Fairmont State tied the game again at 28-28. Fairmont State would try to get sneaky with an onside kick, but it fell into the hands of Jermawn Ford, who took care of the rest. Ford would take the ball 47 yards for the touchdowns and Wheeling would take a 35-28 lead. The Falcons would even the slate once again before half with a four-yard touchdown from Nino Marzullo. The teams would head into halftime with the game tied at 35-35 as it was back to a brand new game in the second half.

The offense would continue into the second half as the Cardinals needed just one play to get on the board. After taking the opening kick-off to their own 40 yard line, Steven Mitchell would do the rest going 60 yards for the Cardinal touchdown. Joao Lima kicked the conversion kick through and Wheeling was once again stapled to a 42-35 advantage. Fairmont State would once again respond on their first drive of the new half, as Jermain Bradford pulled in a 21-yard touchdown to tie the score at 42-42. Tre Holloway scored his offensive touchdown on the next try and the Cardinals were once again ahead, this time 49-42. That remained the score as the third quarter came to an end, but there was much more drama to come.

With eight minutes left in the game, Fairmont State's Emmanuel Richardson hit a 41-yard field goal that made it a four-point game. Wheeling would tick time off the clock throughout the quarter, putting together drives of four minutes and three minutes, but Fairmont State would get the ball back with 1:49 to go. They ended up driving down the field in just 49 seconds, completing the drive with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Page Winston. Wheeling got the ball back with a minute to goand two completions had them within striking distance at the Falcon 17 yard line. Davis dropped back to pass and fired a ball to the back of the endzone looking for Chris Charles. The pass ended up in the hands of Fairmont State defensive back Karron Watties as the game came to an end at 52-49.

Behind Holloway's career day, Javon Davis would finish 15-24, throwing for 240 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Davis tied his season high in the effort, and completed more than half his passes on the day. On the ground, Steven Mitchell led the way with 127 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown while Chris Charles led the receiving corps with four catches for 104 touchdowns. Dalton Hoover would lead the defense with nine tackles, two solo and seven assisted, while Tyriek Scrivner and Jack Parry each finished with a half sack.

The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, October 5th, when they host UNC Pembroke with kick-off at 12 PM.