Frostburg (2-3, 1-1)
vs.
St. John Fisher (4-1, 2-0)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Noon
Growney Stadium - Rochester, N.Y.
Live Stats
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Frostburg Game Notes
Setting the Scene
The Bobcats dropped their second-straight game of the season in non-conference action last Saturday at No. 7/11 Wesley, 45-17. Senior quarterback Josh Volpe completed 73 percent of his passes (19-of-26) for 238 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Nick Nowaczyk hauled in six passes for 124 yards and a touchdown reception. Senior running back Patrick Pinchinat came back from injury to rush for a score in the third quarter.
The Series
This is the second meeting for these two schools and first as conference co-members. In last season's game, St. John Fisher defeated the visiting Bobcats, 38-6, in non-conference action.
This Week in the Empire 8
Oct. 15
Salisbury at Alfred 12:00 pm
Frostburg at St. John Fisher 12:00 pm
Hartwick at Utica 1:00 pm
Ithaca at Springfield 2:00 pm
Coaching the Cats
Tom Rogish is in his fourth season as head coach of the Bobcats and has FSU sitting at 2-3 this fall. Last season, Rogish guided FSU to a 2-8 overall record.
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.
Frostburg State Football History
The Bobcats enter their contest with St. John Fisher with an overall record of 229-249-8. The Bobcats have reached the postseason eight times, including a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals in 1993. The school's most recent postseason appearance occurred in 2005 when FSU lost the ECAC Southwest Championship to Moravian, 14-7.
Tonight's Top 10 List...
Senior quarterback Josh Volpe jumped in the top ten career rankings in various categories after his performance against Wesley. Volpe's 19 completions gives him 297 for his career, good enough for fifth all-time. His 504 attempts are now sixth on the Frostburg career list, and his 24th career touchdown pass last Saturday puts him into fifth place.
Junior wide receiver Anthony Young hasn't reached the top ten list, but with a season-and-a-half remaining in his Bobcat career, he's a near lock to appear on many lists. Heading into the St. John Fisher contest on Saturday, Young needs six receptions to crack the career top ten list. He's also just 262 yards and two touchdowns away from cracking those charts.
The Ol' Hook and Pinch...inat
With senior Patrick Pinchinat now healthy after missing two weeks with injury, the Bobcats' rushing attack should be a force in these final five Empire 8 games. Freshman JD Hook and Pinchinat should keep the Bobcats in the positive in the time-of-possession battle. Hook leads the team with 369 yards and a 4.3 yards-per-carry average, while Pinchinat has 338 yards and a 5.4 average.
Bobcats in NCAA Rankings
Frostburg's passing offense ranks 57th nationally among the 239 NCAA Div. III schools and second in the Empire 8 with an average of 241 yards, while the Bobcats are 65th in pass efficiency. In total offense, Frostburg is 76th with a 392 yards-per-game mark. Freshman punter Zach Tuckmantel ranks 16th nationally in punting with a 40.7 yard average.
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 230-249-8 overall since starting football in 1961
- Give Frostburg it's first conference road win as a member of the Empire 8
- Be the Bobcats' first 3-3 start since 2005
- Hand Frostburg State its first road win in the state of New York since Sept. 8, 2001 (at Marist, 25-23)
Hit Squad
Junior Brendon Blanchette and freshman Anthony Chase continue to be the runaway leaders for the Bobcats in tackling. The tandem once again led the team last week against Wesley. Blanchette had 10 tackles, seven solo, while Chase had eight tackles and five solo stops. Blanchette leads the team with 48 tackles with Chase just behind at 44.
Racking Up the Points
The Frostburg State University offense has scored 133 points through five games this season, averaging 26.6 per game. That is the highest point total through five games since the Bobcats scored 179 points in five contests to open the 2002 season. That year, FSU scored a totaled 352 points, 32.0 per game.
Next Up
The Bobcats return home on Saturday, October 22 for Homecoming and Leadership weekend. FSU hosts No. 23 Alfred at 1:00 pm for the third meeting between the two schools.
Last Game
DOVER, Del. – Frostburg State scored first, but it was all Wesley after that as the No. 7/11 ranked Wolverines earned a 45-17 victory in non-conference action, Saturday.
Wesley, ranked seventh in the D3football.com poll and 11th in the AFCA, posted 403 yards of offense against the Bobcats (2-3) and scored 35 consecutive points to earn its eighth-straight win in the series.
The Bobcats (2-3) broke onto the scoreboard first late in the opening quarter with a 22-yard field goal from sophomore Jonathan Adams. The kick capped a 12-play 72-yard drive, the second possession of the contest for FSU.
However, the Wolverines (4-1) added a touchdown on the ensuing drive just 20 seconds later and led, 7-3. Wesley added 14 points in the second quarter and two more scores in the third for a 35-3 lead. Quarterback Shane McSweeney scored twice during the scoring outburst for the Wolverines, a 17-yard reception to open the second quarter scoring and a 25-yard run midway through the third.
The Bobcats ended the scoring drought when senior Patrick Pinchinat found the end zone from four yards out to cap a 13-play 79-yard drive with 1:58 left in the third quarter.
Wesley answered quickly again when Jared Morris ran the ensuing kickoff back 73 yards for a touchdown and a 41-10 lead.
In the fourth, the Bobcats cut the deficit to 45-17 on their longest scoring drive of the contest. Sophomore Nick Nowaczyk hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from quarterback senior Josh Volpe with 7:36 showing on the clock as the Bobcats moved 88 yards in five plays.
Wesley tacked on a field goal with just 2:41 left to bring the final to 45-17.
Despite the score, FSU led in first downs (20-17), passing yards (238-149) and time of possession (36:25-23:35). The Bobcats have led in time of possession in four of their five games this season.
Volpe finished 19-of-26 for 238 yards and one score. Nowaczyk was his favorite target with six receptions for a career-high 124 yards and one touchdown. Pinchinat finished with 54 yards in the ground on 16 carries.
Junior Brendon Blanchette led the Bobcats in tackling for the third-straight game. He made 10 tackles, including seven solo.
Wesley, which rushed for 254 yards and 26 carries, had four different ball carries find the end zone. Askia Jahad led the way with 89 yards on five touches and a score that opened the second half.
The contest marks the first time since 1997 that the two schools have played one another in non-conference action. From 1998 through 2010, the two were members of the Atlantic Central Football Conference. The Bobcats joined the Empire 8 prior to the 2011 season.
FSU returns to action next Saturday when it jumps back into Empire 8 action with a road game at St. John Fisher at noon.
