Frostburg (0-3) vs.
Widener (1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 26
1:00 pm
Leslie C. Quick Stadium
Time: 1:00 pm
Series: Widener leads 3-0
Directions to Widener
Frostburg State Game Notes
Listen Live: Teamline
Media Contacts
Frostburg State
Noah Becker - nzbecker@frostburg.edu
Office Phone - 301-687-4371
Internet web address - www.frostburgsports.com
Widener
Derek Crudele - dacrudele@widener.edu
Office Phone - 610-499-4436
Internet web address - http://www.widenerpride.com/
Setting the Scene
The Bobcats look to avenge their 30-24 loss to Widener last season at Bobcat Stadium. A Bobcat win would hand FSU its first win against a Pennsylvania team since 2006, a string of seven-straight losses.
The Series
This meeting against the Pride will be the fourth in the relatively new series that began in 2003. Widener leads the all-time series 3-0.
This Week in the ACFC
Sept. 26
St. John Fisher at Salisbury 12:00 pm
Apprentice at Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham 1:00 pm
Wesley at LaGrange 1:00 pm
Frostburg at Widener 1:00 pm
Coaching the Cats
The Bobcats are led by Tom Rogish in his second season as head coach in the program’s 48-year history. Last season, Rogish guided FSU to a 3-6 overall record against agruably the nation's toughest schedule. The Bobcats led the ACFC in interceptions (12) and turnover margin (+2) and finished second in red zone offense (81.8), pass offense (182.7) and pass efficiency (138.1).
Rogish brought over 30 years of coaching experience to Frostburg State including 29 years in the collegiate ranks. He spent the last 22 years at the Division II level at perennial powers Indiana (Pa.) and Shepherd (W.Va.).
Prior to his arrival in Frostburg, Rogish spent two years on the defensive staff at Shepherd College. The Rams made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2007 including a run to the NCAA Division II Northeast Region championship this past fall.
First Year Hits
This year, the FSU coaching staff has also seen some additions and changes that will bring new perspective and excitement to the all ready veteran staff.
Jim Crawley, legendary coach and avid supporter of Frostburg State athletics, rejoins the staff in 2009 and will be in charge of the kicking game. Crawley served as head football coach for seven seasons from 1968-74 and is the winningest coach in school history with 33 victories. Crawley coached 17 FSU Hall of Fame selections, including Bob Maddox, who was drafted by the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals in 1972.
Tom Vent, who helped the Bobcats in 2008, returns to the coaching staff in 2009 as the director of quality control. He will oversee all aspects of the team and will be in charge of gameday and pressbox organization. He will also serve as the chief alumni liaison, as he is an alum himself (Class of 1972).
Four-year NFL veteran
Javin Hunter joins the Frostburg State staff this fall as the wide receivers coach after playing for both the Baltimore Ravens (2002-04) and the San Francisco 49ers (2005). While with the Ravens, Hunter helped the team to 26 wins and the franchises first-ever AFC North Division Title in 2003. Hunter will direct a wide receiver group featuring three returners that make up one of the finest units in the ACFC.
Jeff Rogish, son of head coach Tom Rogish, also joins the FSU staff this fall, brining a strong background in computer technology and video to the team’s efforts. He will direct the technology side of the staff and will also work with the tight ends.
Frostburg State Football History
Frostburg State is 224-232-8 all-time in the programs 48-year history.
Home Grown Talent
FSU’s roster consists of 114 players from seven different states. The largest number coming from Maryland (101) while neighboring Pennsylvania (6) comes in second.
Here is a breakdown of the FSU roster:
Maryland - 101
Pennsylvania - 6
Virginia - 2
Washington, D.C. - 2
Delaware - 1
New Jersey - 1
West Virginia - 1
Leading the Way
Five Bobcats are on top of the leaderboard for the ACFC this week. Linebacker Travis Blair and free safety Jim Lohr lead the leagues with tackles 30 and 27, respectively. Freshman kicker Zachary Beukers has made three field goals to lead the ACFC, including two last week against Brockport. Senior wide receiver Avery Willie has control of both all-purpose yards (493) and kickoff returns (215). Freshman quarterback Phoenix Butler-Poole leads all quarterbacks with 48 completions in 102 attempts for 687 yards. He is the reigning Rookie of the Week throwing 23 completetions for 289 yards.
All-Purpose Player
The Bobcats senior wide receiver Avery Willie has proven to be the go-to-guy when the Bobcats want to move the ball down field. Last week against SUNY Brockport, Willie picked up 176 more yards to bring his total to 493 all-purpose yards so far this season including 215 from kickoff returns and 223 receiving yards.
The Flight of Phoenix
The Bobcats true freshman quarterback Phoenix Butler-Poole continues to be successful in the start to his collegiate football career. In his first three games in a Bobcat uniform, Butler-Poole has thrown for 687 yards with 48 completions and seven touchdowns, the second highest start since 2002 when Grant Burrough threw for 933 with 57 completions and seven scores.
Last week, Butler-Poole completed 23-of-43 pass attempts for 289 yards and four touchdowns against Brockport, becoming just the fifth player in school history to throw for four or more TDs in a contest. Frostburg State looks to continue its successful passing offense against Widener, which allows 186 average yards a game.
Almost There
Frostburg State junior tailback Anton Wade needs just four rushing yards to eclipse 1,000 for his career. He entered the 2009 season averaging 50.0 yards per game and has since picked up 97 yards. Wade should reach the plateau in FSU's trip to Widener on Sept. 26.
It Would be Grand
Frostburg State senior wide receiver Makiha Cooper entered the 2009 season with 799 receiving yards. After three games, he amassed 167 yards to bring his total to 966. Cooper needs just 34 yards to reach the 1,000-yard plateau, which he should attain at Widener this Saturday.
The Big Stop
Sophomores Jim Lohr and Travis Blair look to build on their early season success leading the team in tackles together averaging 19 tackles a game. The duo of Lohr and Blair have combined for two interceptions, 1.5 TFL, one broken up pass and three defended passes.
Total Offense
In just three games of the season, the Bobcats have averaged 337 yards of total offense a game. At this mark last season, FSU was averaging 285.3. Frostburg State hopes to continue this success against Widener which allowed Ithica to pick up 349 total offensive yards last week.
I'll Take That ...
Frostburg State has caused a turnover in 18 of its last 21 games.
Second Times A Charm
Coach Rogish will try and increase his win total in his second year at the helm after posting a 3-6 overall record in 2008. Seven coaches in FSU's 48-year history have increased their win total from their first season to their second. The largest increase in wins came in 1993 when Mike McGlinchey, who won six games his first season in '92, won 10 games and took the Bobcats to their first-ever NCAA Tournament.
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 225-232-8
- Give the Bobcats their first win over the Pride
- Give FSU its 53rd win over a team from Pennsylvania
- Hand the Bobcats their third win over a MAC school, the first since 1996 when FSU beat Wilkes College in the ECAC Championship 24-21
- Snap a five-game losing skid for the Bobcats
A Loss for Frostburg State Would ...
- Drop FSU to 224-233-8
- Give Widener a 4-0 series lead
- Hand Widener its second straight win over an ACFC school
The Bobcats Last Week ...
Jake Graci tossed the game-winning touchdown with just 33 seconds remaining to give Brockport a 37-32 non-conference victory over Frostburg State, Saturday afternoon.
The Bobcats (0-3) had taken the lead on the ensuing possession when freshman kicker Zachary Beukers (Lusby, Md./Calvert) kicked an 18-yard field goal with 1:45 left to hand the visitors a 32-31 lead. However, the Golden Eagles (2-0) quickly moved the ball down the field for the game-winning touchdown, covering 44 yards on six plays.
The game went back-and-forth throughout, featuring seven lead changes and a combined 921 yards in total offense by the two teams. The Bobcats scored on 6-of-12 possessions while Brockport scored on 6-of-13.
The Frostburg State offense exploded for a season-high 480 yards of total offense, the most since 2002, including 289 through the air and 191 on the ground.
Freshman Phoenix Butler-Poole (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) tossed for all 289 yards on 23-of-43 pass attempts with four touchdowns, becoming just the fifth player in school history with four or more passing touchdowns in a contest.
Butler-Poole spread the ball around, connecting with seven different players on the afternoon. Freshman Christian Cook (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall) led the team with eight receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown while senior Avery Willie (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) caught five balls for 80 yards and a score.
The backfield tandem of junior Anton Wade (Baltimore, Md./Patterson) and Anthony King (Germantown, Md./Northwest) ran for 89 and 87 yards, respectively.
The first half saw most of the scoring as the teams combined for 40 points, including an FSU 23-17 halftime lead.
The Bobcats scored on their final four drives of the opening half and amassed 287 yards in total offense. Butler-Poole tossed three first half touchdowns and the Bobcat defense held the Golden Eagles to just 30 yards on the ground.
With Brockport up 10-0, the Bobcats used a nine-play 65-yard drive late in the first quarter to get on the board. Butler-Poole connected with sophomore Derek Sheely (Germantown, Md./Northwest) on a five-yard touchdown as FSU slimmed the deficit to 10-6.
After the Bobcat defense forced the Golden Eagles to turn the ball over on downs, FSU gathered a 15-play 65-yard drive that covered 6:41 for its second touchdown. Butler-Poole found Cook for an eight-yard touchdown pass and a 13-10 lead.
Beukers booted a 25-yard field goal with 2:39 left, but Graci threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Matt Newman with 1:02 left in the half to put the Golden Eagles up 17-16.
FSU came right back and scored 45 seconds later with just 17 second left to close out the half when Butler-Poole found Willie for a 22-yard scoring toss to give the visitors a 23-17 lead the break.
The Golden Eagles came out of the break with momentum as they scored two-straight touchdowns in the third quarter for a 31-23 edge.
The Bobcats answered with a 66-yard drive in eight plays, capped by Butler-Poole’s fourth touchdown toss of the game, this time a five yard jump ball to senior Ali Konteh (Hyattsville, Md./Northwest).
The fourth quarter started slow until FSU mounted its sixth scoring drive of over 60 yards, this time a 10-play 61-yard march that led to Beukers go-ahead field goal.
After a short kickoff to the FSU 44 gave Brockport great field position, the hosts needed just six plays to find the endzone for the winning score.
Graci finished with 344 yards passing and five touchdowns to power the Brockport attack. Felipe Diaz and Hector Rosas each caught eight passes and two touchdowns.
On defense, Frostburg State was led by sophomore linebacker Travis Blair (Upper Marlboro, Md./Oxon Hill) with 11.5 tackles. Sophomore defensive back Jim Lohr (Bowie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) made 6.5 tackles including a third quarter interception.
The Last Meeting with The Pride ...
Frostburg State junior Bryan Brosnan (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) threw for a career-high 287 yards and three touchdowns but Widener's Ian Decker ran for three scores to lift the Pride to a 30-24 non-conference win over the Bobcats on a rainy Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
Widener (2-1) also won the turnover battle, forcing three Bobcat fumbles and two interceptions while sacking Brosnan six times. FSU (1-2) turned the ball over on three of its first five possessions of the game and Widener converted two of those mishaps into a pair of touchdowns.
Brosnan finished 19-of-32 including a pair of scores to junior wideout Makiha Cooper (Baltimore, Md./Forest Park). Cooper led all players with 175 yards on nine receptions.
Junior Matt Winnegar (Frostburg, Md./Beall) put the Bobcats on the board first with a 37-yard field goal with 10:59 showing to cap a seven-play 40-yard opening drive for the Bobcats.
Widener then scored three touchdowns over its next four possessions to lead 20-3. The first touchdown was a seven-yard scoring run from Decker that capped a five-play 20-yard drive that capitalized on FSU's first fumble of the afternoon. Two possessions later, Joe Favinger picked off a Brosnan pass and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore Terryl Monroe (Temple Hills, Md./Dematha) blocked the extra point and WU led 13-3 with 34 second left in the first quarter.
After forcing a three and out from Frostburg State, Widener then marched 67 yards in 12 plays as Decker found the endzone from a yard out to put the visitors up 20-3 midway through the second quarter.
The Bobcats answered, however, as Brosnan found junior Cooper for a 57-yard scoring pass with 4:01 to play in the second as FSU trailed 20-10.
Just before the half, Widener again turned an FSU fumble into points. The Bobcats fumbled on their own 17 but the defense came up with a stand and forced the Pride into a 27-yard field goal from Matthew Breslin as the half ended with WU up 23-10.
Decker found the endzone for the third and final time of the game with 7:24 left in the third quarter. Widener put together its longest drive of the afternoon, 14-plays and 76 yards, as it appeared to put the game out of reach with a 30-10 lead.
However, FSU cut into the deficit with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Junior wideout Ali Konteh (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern Hyattsville) hauled in a touchdown grab for the third-straight game as he and Brosnan hooked up for an eight-yard scoring pass with just 5:58 left in the final quarter as FSU trailed 30-17.
The Bobcats scored their final touchdown of the game with just 54 seconds remaining as Brosnan found Cooper for his second score of the contest, this time from 29 yards out as Frostburg State trailed 30-24 with just under a minute remaining. After Winnegar's extra point, FSU lined up for an onside kick that was recovered by Widener to end the FSU comeback.
Senior Collin Clifford (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery) and junior George Feiser (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg/Salisbury) led all players with nine total tackles. Clifford had 1.5 TFL for two yards while Feiser had 0.5 TFL. Junior Mike Iheakanwa (Lanham, Md./Duval) made seven stops including 2.0 behind the line of scrimmage.
