FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Bloomsburg football opened its 2025 season with a dramatic and hard-fought 41–40 overtime loss to Fairmont State on Thursday night at Duvall-Rosier Field. Despite an impressive performance from quarterback KJ Riley (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) and a valiant comeback in the second half, the Huskies came up one point short in a game that went down to the wire.
Bloomsburg struck first when Riley connected with Paul Wojciechowski (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) on a 20-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter. The Huskies missed the extra point, and Fairmont State answered with a touchdown of its own, setting the tone for a back-and-forth contest. At halftime, Bloomsburg trailed 24–19 after a flurry of scores from both teams, including a touchdown run by Eli Zimmerman (Schnecksville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and a 33-yard field goal from Kevin Barr.
In the third quarter, Fairmont State extended its lead with a field goal, but the Huskies rallied. Riley capped a key drive with a one-yard touchdown run, and Justin Wolfe (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg Area) followed with a successful two-point conversion pass to tie the game at 27. Momentum swung again in the fourth quarter when Declan Clancy (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) found the end zone on a four-yard rush and his first touchdown as a Husky, giving Bloomsburg a 34–27 advantage. However, Fairmont State managed to respond with a late touchdown to send the game into overtime.
The Huskies defense stood tall with 1:35 to play in regulation as Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) picked up a tackle for a loss of four yards on a 3rd-and-2 situation for the Falcons to force a long fourth yard play with three seconds to play.
The Falcons scored first in the extra period on a two-yard touchdown run. Riley answered with his second rushing touchdown of the night on a one-yard keeper, but the Huskies' two-point conversion attempt to win the game came up short, sealing the 41–40 defeat.
Riley finished the night with an efficient 19-of-32 passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 23 yards and two scores. Clancy led the ground game with 69 yards and a touchdown, and Zimmerman added another score on the ground. Jerry Griffen-Batchler (Norristown, Pa./Germantown Academy) was the top target in the receiving corps, hauling in five catches for 103 yards. Wojciechowski and Gabe Brower (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) also contributed key receptions, including a touchdown apiece.
On the defensive side, junior linebacker Brady Thompson (Green Lane, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) led the way with 14 total tackles, a career-best, including eight solo stops and one tackle for loss, helping keep the game within reach through multiple momentum shifts.
Griffen-Batchler was the difference maker on special teams with 59 punt return yards and 108 kick return yards to set up short fields for his quarterback.
The Huskies look to rebound as they head to Seton Hill next Saturday for a 12:00 p.m. kick off.
