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FAIRMONT -- Nino Marzullo threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for the game-winning touchdown as Fairmont State defeated Glenville State 31-24 Saturday in the annual Battle for the Bit.
Fairmont State came out firing in the first 15 minutes. Marzullo, who finished 21 for 28, threw a pair of touchdowns to Ralo Wesley and Cole Vonkaenel. Those were sandwiched around a safety, which occurred when Glenville State botched a snap in the end zone on a punt attempt.
In the blink of any eye, it was 16-0 Falcons.
Glenville got a much-needed answer with 24 seconds left in the opening period, when JD Sherrod found the end zone on a 9-yard carry.
The Pioneer defense nearly forced a three-and-out, but Fairmont moved the sticks on a 48-yard pass from Marzullo to Wesley, which set up a 10-yard TD strike to James Borbor.
The G-Men punched right back as Sherrod found the end zone again on a 17-yard touchdown run to cut it to 23-14 with 7:46 remaining in the first half, and Brody Layman later added a 20-yard field goal to make it 23-17 at halftime.
At the end of the third, Sherrod completed the hat trick with his third rushing touchdown, a 3-yarder, to put Glenville in front 24-23.
However, Marzullo completed an 18-yard pass to Daelen Thompson and a 23-yarder to Jules Alvarado to set up his own 1-yard touchdown run. He then connected with Chico Thomas on a two-point pass to give the Falcons a 31-24 lead with 11:55 left in the game.
The Pioneers' final two possessions of the game resulted in a punt and a turnover on downs as Fairmont State held on for the victory.
Sherrod finished with 87 yards on 20 carries and was 17 for 30 through the air for 241 yards. Joziah Gonzalez caught five passes for 102 yards.
For Fairmont, Wesley was Marzullo's top target, hauling in four receptions for 100 yards.
Glenville returns home next Saturday against Frostburg State for Hall of Fame Weekend.
Fairmont State 31, Glenville State 24
G (1-4, 0-2) 7 10 7 0 -- 24
F (2-4, 2-1) 16 7 0 8 -- 31
F: Ralo Wesley 42 pass from Nino Marzullo, Emmanuel Richardson kick, 12:44 1st
F: Safety, 8:40 1st
F: Cole Vonkaenel 9 pass from Marzullo, Richardson kick, 6:33 1st
G: JD Sherrod 9 run, Brody Layman kick, :24 1st
F: James Borbor 10 pass from Marzullo, Richardson kick, 11:53 2nd
G: Sherrod 17 run, Layman kick, 7:51 2nd
G: Layman 20 field goal, :13 2nd
G: Sherrod 3 run, Layman kick, :29 3rd
F: Marzullo 1 run, Chico Thomas pass from Marzullo, 11:55 4th
Team stats
Glenville: First downs: 19; Rushes-yards: 34-94; Passing yards: 241; Total yards: 335; Passing: 17-30-0; Fumbles-lost: 1-0; Penalties-yards: 2-8; Punts-average: 5-37
Fairmont: First downs: 17; Rushes-yards: 42-98; Passing yards: 277; Total yards: 375; Passing: 21-28-0; Fumbles-lost: 1-1; Penalties-yards: 5-45; Punts-average: 4-37.8
Individual stats
Glenville: Rushing: JD Sherrod 20-87, 3 TDs; Zavionne Wood 11-28; Jamir Fox 2-2; Passing: Sherrod 17-30-0, 241 yards; Receiving: Joziah Gonzalez 5-102; Caden Harris 8-66; Kyree Bunny 1-30; Landon Frey 1-19; Kashez Gedeon 1-14; Wood 1-10
Fairmont: Rushing: James Borbor 16-52; Nino Marzullo 13-36, TD; Elijah Tidwell 9-18; Passing: Marzullo 21-28-0, 277 yards, 3 TDs; Receiving: Ralo Wesley 4-100, TD; Daelen Thompson 2-53; Jules Alvarado 3-35; Borbor 5-27, TD; Chico Thomas 2-25; Gage Michael 2-21; Cole Vonkaenel 2-16, TD
Next game: Frostburg State at Glenville State, 1 p.m. Saturday