FAIRMONT, W.Va. - - Host Fairmont State forced five turnovers and limited UVa-Wise to 193 yards of total offense in a 34-6 homecoming win at Duvall – Rosier Field Saturday. The win was the fourth consecutive for the Fighting Falcons who improved to 4-1 and remained unbeaten at 4-0 in Mountain East Conference Play.

UVa-Wise (3-2, 3-2 MEC) appeared to be gaining momentum late in the first half. Following Trevor Owens' (Lebanon, Va./Middle Tennessee State) second field goal of the half, the Cavaliers trailed 7-6 with 4:19 showing on the second quarter clock.

Fairmont State seemingly committed a costly mistake late in the quarter when Owens boomed a punt deep into Fighting Falcons' territory. A bouncing kick, Laurence King attempted to field the punt only to see it ricochet off his hand and back towards his own goal line. At that point, King and UVa-Wise freshman Joe Addison (Hampton, Va./Phoebus H.S.) got in a foot race to recover the ball. Addison won the race and recovered the ball on the Falcons' 3-yard line.

On the cusp of taking the lead with under a minute to play in the half, things took a turn for the worse for coach Dane Damron's team. Attempting to score the go-ahead touchdown, Jarome Johnson (Washington, D.C./Eastern H.S.) was stripped and Quincy Redmon recovered the fumble and raced 96 yards for a touchdown.

The conversion kick was no good which left the score 13-7 Fairmont State heading to intermission.

The Falcons carried the momentum to the second half as the hosts took the opening kickoff and marched 57 yards to the Cavs' 18-yard line before having to settle for a field goal attempt. Sam Keil's attempt would sail wide left, turning the ball back over to UVa-Wise with the score remaining 13-6.

Fairmont State's defense would answer the bell as Antonio Harris would pick off a Johnson pass and return it inside the UVa-Wise 10-yard line.

One play later, JuJuan Young – Battle would dart in from eight yards out to push the lead to two scores. Keil's point after attempt was good leaving the score 20-6 with 5:09 to play in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, back-to-back bobbled snaps would put UVa-Wise in a third and long situation which would ultimately force a punt.

After a Fairmont State punt, the Falcons defense would again create a turnover. Demonne Cox would leap high in the air and intercept a would be screen pass and return the ball to the Cavs' 3-yard line.

Two plays later, Young – Battle would fire a touchdown pass to King, the PAT would push the Falcons advantage to 27-6 moments into the fourth period.

A second interception by Harris would set the Falcons up for their final score of the game when Rakeem Darden scampered in from the 1-yard line.

Chris Thaxton (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs H.S.) had the best game of his freshman season in the loss. The wide receiver led UVa-Wise with six catches for 42 yards. Owens averaged 47.5 yards on six punts, while landing two inside the 20-yard line. As a place kicker, he was a perfect 2-2 in field goal attempts while adding a touchback on a kickoff.

Defensively, Dylan Giovine (Staunton, Va./R.E. Lee Staunton H.S.) led the way with eight tackles while Kwadwo Diawuo (Alexandria, Va./Norfolk State) had four tackles and an interception. Marquise Hamilton (Washington, D.C./Marshall) added a season-high three pass break ups in the secondary.

Fairmont State finished with 206 return yards off turnovers while adding five sacks in the win. Marcus Porter had two tackles for loss and a sack while Darden averaged 8.1 yards per carry on nine attempts to finish with 73 yards and a score.

Next week, UVa-Wise hosts Urbana University in a 12 p.m. kickoff at Carl Smith Stadium.