Frostburg (1-6)
at
No. 23 St. John Fisher (7-1)
Saturday, October 30
Noon
Growney Stadium
Series - First-ever meeting
Directions to St. John Fisher
Frostburg State Games Notes
Live Stats
Live Audio
Live Video
Media Contacts
Frostburg State
Noah Becker - nzbecker@frostburg.edu
Office Phone - 301-687-4371
Internet web address - www.frostburgsports.com
St. John Fisher
Norm Kieffer - nkieffer@sjfc.edu
Office Phone - 585-385-8421
Internet web address - http://athletics.sjfc.edu
Setting the Scene
The Bobcats look to rebound from a 41-7 loss to Waynesburg last weekend while taking on No. 23 St. John Fisher on Saturday, Oct. 30. This games marks the end of a five-game road trip for FSU and the last of the currently ranked opponents according to the d3football.com poll.
The Bobcats will return home next weekend, Nov. 6, for their Homecoming game against ACFC opponent Apprentice.
The Series
This contest between the Bobcats and the Cardinals marks the first in school history. FSU will join SJF in the Empire 8 conference next season and look to get out to a 1-0 series lead before joining the league.
This Week in the ACFC
Oct. 30
Frostburg State at St. John Fisher Noon
Wesley at Salisbury 1:00 pm
Apprentice School at LaGrange 1:00 pm
Coaching the Cats
The Bobcats are led by Tom Rogish in his third season as head coach in the program’s 49-year history. Last season, Rogish guided FSU to a 1-9 overall record against arguably 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.
New Additions
Frostburg State University head football coach Tom Rogish welcomes four new additions to the coaching staff for the fall 2010 season. Gabe Luvara joined the staff last April and will serve as the program's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Aaron Hirtzel, Andrew Rebello and Jamie Schumacher have joined the Bobcat staff as graduate assistants late in the summer prior to the start of preseason camp.
Luvara arrived at FSU from Ithaca College where her served as the offensive coordinator for the last three years. He helped the Bombers to a pair of NCAA Playoff appearances and a 24-8 overall record. Joining the Bobcat coaching staff reunites Luvara and coach Rogish, who were both previous members of the Indiana (Pa.) football program. Luvara was a four-year player and All-PSAC selection at IUP while Rogish served as the team's associate head coach (1994-2005).
Hirtzel will work with the FSU defensive line after serving as an assistant coach at Juniata College last year, also helping with the defensive line. The Eagle defense created 15 turnovers and 10 sacks on the season. Prior to JC, Hirtzel played four years on the offensive line for Grinnell College and earned Honorable Mention All-Midwest Conference honors as a senior in 2008. He graduated from Grinnell in May 2009 with a 3.0 GPA in economics.
Rebello, who will work with the Bobcat defensive backs, comes to FSU after a four-year playing career for the Merrimack College football team. A three-year letter winner, Rebello helped the Warriors to a pair of Northeast-10 Conference Championships (2006 & 2009) and a total of 25 wins over his four years. He finished third on the team with 66 tackles and second with three interceptions as a senior in 2009, while helping MC to a 7-3 record. He was a Dean’s List and Commissioner’s list student and graduated this past May with a degree in psychology and a 3.2 GPA.
Schumacher will direct the running backs in his first year with the Frostburg football program after coaching the same position at Thiel College in 2009-10. While with the Tomcats, he assisted with the weekly game plans, the special teams units and the strength and conditioning plans for the team. Thiel posted three wins on the season and the team rushed for a season-high 172 yards in a 20-10 win over Albion.
Schumacher played four years of college football at Marietta from 2005-08 prior to his stop at Thiel. He was a three-year letter winner at linebacker, garnering All-Academic Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Honorable Mention honors in 2008 and Scout Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2005. Marietta posted 16 wins during his four years.
Frostburg State Football History
Frostburg State is 226-245-8 all-time in the programs 49-year history.
Home Grown Talent
FSU’s roster consists of 103 players from four different states. The largest number coming from Maryland (98) while neighboring Pennsylvania (2) and Washington, D.C. are tied for second.
Here is a breakdown of the FSU roster:
Maryland - 98
Pennsylvania - 2
Washington, D.C. - 2
Illinois - 1
Three's Company...
Senior Josh Volpe (Germantown, Md./Northwest) has started four games for the Bobcats this season and has thrown for 532 yards and four touchdowns with a 63.0 completion rate. Volpe has run in two touchdowns this season, including the opening score in the 33-31 win over Christopher Newport on Sept. 18. Volpe accounted for three touchdowns in the winning effort.
Senior converted tight end Lyndon Harris (Forestville, Md./Largo) started under center for FSU completing seven of 21 passes for 81 yards against Washington & Jefferson two weeks ago.
Freshman quarterback Geoff Suddath (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) started against Alfred (10/02) and Randolph-Macon (9/25) for the Bobcats and came in against Waynesburg last week. Suddath has thrown for 379 yards and three touchdowns with a 33.3 completion percentage.
Leading the ACFC...
In the eighth week of collegiate football action, two Bobcats rank in the ACFC in several categories.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Terryl Monroe (Temple Hills, Md./Damatha) leads the league in tackles with 60 followed by junior Marcus Wilson (Woodstock, Md./Randallstown) at fourth with 48.
FSU's redzone offense is first in the league in scoring on 15 of 18 chances, 14 for touchdowns.
I'll Take That...
The Bobcats have caused a turnover in 32 of their last 35 games, including an interception last week by junior Marcus Wilson. Freshman linebacker Nicholas Akers (Smithsburg, Md./Smithsburg) recovered a Waynesburg fumble off the kickoff return.
Among the Rankings...
The Bobcats have four top-25 ranked teams on their schedule this season. FSU dropped its first three games to No. 3 Wesley, 48-0, No. 25 Randolph-Macon, 48-14 and to No. 25 Alfred 49-24. Frostburg State will take on its final ranked opponent, No. 23 St. John Fisher, on Oct. 30.
A Win for Frostburg State Would...
- Lift FSU to 227-245-8
- Snap a five-game losing streak for the Bobcats
- Hand the Cardinals a two-game losing streak
- Give the Bobcats their first win over a school from New York since they defeated SUNY Brockport 27-14 on Sept. 20, 2008
- Give the Bobcats a 1-0 series lead
A Loss for Frostburg State Would...
- Drop FSU to 226-246-8
- Snap a Cardinal one-game losing streak
- Hand SJF the 1-0 series lead
The Bobcats Last Week
The Waynesburg Yellow Jackets capitalized on three Frostburg State turnovers and scored 21 second-half points to blow open a close game for a 41-7 non-conference victory in college football action, Saturday.
FSU (1-6) held a 7-6 lead early in the second quarter, but the Yellow Jackets (5-2) found the end zone twice over the remainder of the second quarter for a 20-7 halftime edge. Waynesburg scored three more touchdowns in the second half to earn their third-straight win.
Brad Dawson threw for 232 yards on 16-of-25 pass attempts and two touchdowns to lead the WC attack. He also led all rushers with 50 yards on three carries. Waynesburg collected 403 yards in total offense and 17 first downs. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets intercepted FSU three times.
All three Waynesburg touchdowns in the second half came off interceptions that blew open a 20-7 halftime edge. Dawson tossed an eight-yard touchdown for the only score of the third quarter. In the fourth, Bryan Gary returned an interception 50 yards for a score and Dominic Moore added a four-yard rushing touchdown with 6:40 to play.
FSU junior quarterback Josh Volpe (Germantown, Md./Northwest) completed 10-of-13 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown and sophomore wideout Anthony Young (Hyattsville, Md./Northwestern) hauled in a career-high 143 yards on seven receptions.
FSU compiled 301 yards in offense with 220 coming through the air. Freshman Geoff Suddath (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) threw for 110 yards, mostly in the second half.
Justin Falcon rumbled in from a yard out early in the first quarter as Waynesburg scored on the game's opening possession. FSU blocked the extra point and the scoreboard read 6-0.
Volpe tossed a five-yard touchdown early in the second quarter that capped FSU's longest drive of the afternoon. The Bobcats marched 80 yards in 11 plays and Volpe connected with junior fullback Derek Sheely (Germantown, Md./Northwest) for a five-yard score and FSU surged ahead 7-6.
However, Waynesburg's Troy Garove returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown and a 13-7 lead midway through the second. The hosts later scored with just three seconds left until the half when Dawson found Adam Moses for a 16-yard touchdown as WC led 20-7 at the break.
Defensively, junior linebacker Drew Rudisill (York, Pa./Red Lion) led the Bobcats with 6.0 tackles. Classmate Marcus Wilson (Woodstock, Md./Randallstown) added 5.0 tackles with an interception and a breakup.
Frostburg State ends its five-game road trip next weekend when it travels to St. John Fisher for a noon kickoff.
