FROSTBURG, Md. – Randolph-Macon blocked a punt late in the fourth quarter that setup an Austin Faulkner one-yard rushing touchdown with 5:13 left in the fourth as the Yellow Jackets rallied for a 23-19 win over Frostburg State, on a chilly Saturday afternoon. 

Box Score

The Bobcats (0-6) dominated the Yellow Jackets (4-2) in every facet of game, except special teams where RMC came up big. Frostburg State led in total offense (262-163), passing yards (183-88), rushing yards (79-75), first downs (17-11) and time of possession (37:04-22:56).

However, Randolph-Macon blocked two extra points, the first it returned for two points following the game’s opening touchdown. The Yellow Jackets also recovered a bad snap on a punt in the endzone midway through the third quarter for a 16-13 lead. In the fourth, Randolph-Macon set up the game winning touchdown when Brandon Easter recovered a blocked punt at the FSU one, setting up Faulkner’s touchdown.

The Bobcat defense held the Yellow Jackets to season-lows in total yards ( 163), first downs (11), time of possession and forced a season-high three turnovers. FSU also limited RMC wide receiver Earl Peoples, who came in averaging 133 yards per game, to just 27 yards on five receptions.

The Frostburg State offense posted 262 yards in total offense, including 183 passing and 79 rushing. The Bobcats also converted 7-of-16 third downs and 3-of-5 on fourth down. Sophomore quarterback Josh Volpe (Germantown, Md./Northwest) accounted for three Bobcat touchdowns. He threw for 183 yards on 20-of-27 completions and the game’s opening touchdown. He also rushed for two scores, one in both the second and fourth quarters.

On the game’s opening drive, Volpe connected with freshman wide out Christian Cook (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall) on fourth and four for a 19-yard touchdown as FSU assumed a 6-0 lead. The extra point was blocked by RMC’s Jeremy Bowry and returned for two points by Scott Shope as the scoreboard showed 6-2.

Sophomore linebacker Travis Blair (Upper Marlboro, Md./Oxon Hill) came up with a loose ball on RMC’s second drive that setup the first of Volpe’s touchdown runs. The Bobcats started their drive at the Randolph-Macon 47 and used nine plays for a touchdown. Volpe, who kept the drive alive with a 14-yard completion to senior Avery Willie (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) on fourth and six, pushed his way into the endzone behind his offensive line from a yard out just six seconds into the second quarter as FSU led 13-2.

The Yellow Jackets got on the board on their second drive of the second quarter. Faulkner found Ian Overstreet in the back of the endzone for a five-yard scoring toss as RMC trimmed the deficit to 13-9.

Randolph-Macon took its first lead of the ballgame at 6:42 left in the third quarter. With FSU in a punt formation on fourth and nine at its own 25, Brandon Harrison recovered a bad snap in the endzone for a touchdown and a 16-13 edge.

However, Frostburg State answered early in the fourth quarter when Volpe again scrambled for a touchdown, this time from four yards out, to cap a 10-play 60-yard drive at 9:14. The PAT was again blocked, and the Bobcats led by just three points, 19-16.

On its ensuing possession, the Bobcats had their punt blocked at the 14 and RMC’s Easter recovered it at the one-yard line setting up the game-winning score.

Blair led the Bobcats with his second-straight 10 tackle performance. Freshman linebacker Gideon Obamwonyi (Frederick, Md./Gettysburg) made nine stops and senior linebacker Geroge Feiser (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg) had seven tackles.

Frostburg State hosts No. 20 Ithaca next Saturday on Homecoming at 1:00 pm.