Fairmont, W. Va- Through the ups and downs of all eight periods, Charleston came out victorious in a nail-biter that went to four overtimes with a final score of 40-38. 
 
The Basics
Location: Duvall-Rosier Field
Score: UC 40, FSU 38
Records: UC (1-1, 1-0 MEC), FSU (0-2, 0-1 MEC) 
 
How it Happened
In perhaps one of the longest games in Mountain East Conference history, Charleston was able to go the distance with a very talented Fairmont State program. This matchup could be considered as a rivalry for how close each matchup has been over the previous years, but the Golden Eagles have consistently found a way to win the last four. 
 
The first quarter looked very promising for Charleston as they handled both sides of the ball and played very fast on offense. Thomas Ashworth found the first big play of the night when he caught a 37-yard reception down the field that set up the Golden Eagles in Fairmont territory. Although the drive did not end up in points, the offense was able to move the ball quickly and efficiently. 
 
The first points of the night came from Josh Brown as Davis Black found his running back wide open in the flat and Brown bodied his way into the endzone to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Shortly after, Nirion Washington added to the scoreboard as he took an interception all the way back to the house from 45 yards out to extend the lead to 14-0. 
 
In the early stages of the second, Washington got his hands on yet another Fairmont State pass and gave the offense great field position with a 31-yard return putting the ball at the Fairmont State 36-yard line. 
 
Davis Black clearly found his rhythm as he found a wide-open Marquan Herron in the endzone from 35 yards out to purchase some insurance putting the lead at 21-0. Fairmont State was able to manage a score just before the halftime horn and the two teams would go into the locker room with Charleston leading 21-7. 
 
In the third quarter, the Falcons scored on a rushing attempt from LeJay Hatcher to get within seven of the Golden Eagles. Charleston would quickly answer on their next possession marching down the field and ending with a hard-nosed rushing touchdown from Chavon Wright to put the score at 28-14. 
 
Fairmont State would score on a lengthened drive in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard reception from Naseem Pacheco to get back within seven of the visiting squad. Charleston drove down the field and took a huge chunk of time off of the clock, but a big-time field goal would fail as the hold was dropped and the Falcons would take over on downs, which led to a Fairmont State touchdown on a quick drive down the field to knot the game up at 28-28. 
 
Fairmont State would have one more chance in regulation to win the game on a 52-yard field goal, but it would end up short and the two teams would go toe-to-toe in overtime. 
 
Charleston would strike first on the opening possession with a rushing touchdown as the veteran, Phillip Fleshman, punched the ball in from a yard out to take the 35-28 advantage. Fairmont State wasted no time at all and answered right back with a quarterback sneak from Connor Neal to force a second overtime. 
 
Fairmont State was unable to find the endzone and settled for a go-ahead 25-yard field goal from Sergei Buchheit. Although it was only three points, it was a win for the Falcons knowing that Charleston's field goal unit had been struggling all night. Charleston would stall on the next possession and out came the field goal unit. On a 36-yard attempt, Tim McCutchen nailed the field goal and forced a third overtime. 
 
When teams are unable to settle the win in two overtimes in college football, two-point tries are the deciding factor. Charleston and Fairmont exchanged failed attempts from the 3-yard line and moved on to the fourth overtime. After Fairmont State failed once again, Charleston forgot that they had dinner reservations at the Riverfront Dining Hall. Davis Black, on the final play of the game, threw a gift to a wide-open Niko Kausky in the endzone and the Golden Eagles had put the game to rest with a 40-38 thrilling win. 
 
Up Next
After being on the road for two consecutive weeks, Charleston will have a chance to protect home turf as they take on the Frostburg State Bobcats on September 17^th at 12:00 PM.