FAIRMONT - In a battle of nationally ranked teams, No. 20 Fairmont State used a pair of late defensive stands to hold on to a 23-19 home victory over No. 25 Notre Dame in a Mountain East Conference football game Thursday night at Duvall-Rosier Field.
Trailing by four, Notre Dame reached the Fairmont State 31-yard line but three straight incompletions turned the ball over on downs with 1:24 left in the game.
After Notre Dame forced a three-and-out on defense, an 8-yard punt gave the visitors one last chance for a game-winning drive with great field position at the Fairmont State 37-yard line with 1:01 remaining.
However, the Fairmont State defense stood strong again, sacking Notre Dame quarterback Malik Grove for a 16-yard loss, and caused and recovered a fumble on the play to seal the victory.
With the win, Fairmont State stays perfect on the season, improving to 9-0 overall and 8-0 in the MEC. Notre Dame falls to 8-1 and 7-1 in league play.
Fairmont State quarterback Cooper Hibbs was 24 of 39 for 268 yards and a touchdown and Laurence King caught 10 passes for 106 yards and a score. Grove was 15 of 31 passing for 268 yards and a touchdown to lead Notre Dame.