Frostburg (3-4, 2-2)
vs.
Ithaca (3-4, 1-4)
Saturday, October 27, 2011
1:00 pm
Butterfield Stadium
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Frostburg State Game Notes
Setting the Scene
The Bobcats travel to Ithaca after a scintillating 54-53 double overtime victory over Alfred last Saturday on Homecoming. The Bobcats erased 13-point deficits twice in the second quarter and drove 45 yards in 24 seconds to set up Jonathan Adams' game-tying 42-yard field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime. Alfred kicker Eric Rockwood had given Alfred a 40-37 lead with a 42-yarder of his own with 30 seconds remaining.
Quarterback Josh Volpe threw for 441 on 33-of-59 passing with a school-record six touchdowns. He also ran for a score. Junior wide receiver Anthony Young hauled in a school-record tying 16 catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
The Series
This is the third meeting between the Bobcats and Bombers, with Ithaca winning both of the matchups. Ithaca won 20-10 in Frostburg in 2009 while winning 51-24 at Ithaca in 2008.
This Week in the Empire 8
Oct. 29
Alfred at Rochester 12:30 pm
Springfield at Hartwick 1:00 pm
Frostburg at Ithaca 1:00 pm
Salisbury at Wesley 1:00 pm
Utica at St. John Fisher 7:00 pm
Coaching the Cats
Tom Rogish is in his fourth season as head coach of the Bobcats and has FSU sitting at 3-4 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 Ithaca with an overall record of 230-250-8. 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.
Homecoming King
Junior wide receiver Anthony Young had a big day on Homecoming for the second-consecutive year. After last season's 15-catch, 248-yard and three touchdown performance, Young did not disappoint against Alfred on Saturday. He tied the school record for catches in a game with 16, had the second-highest receiving yardage output with 214 and added a pair of touchdowns.
Saturday's performance vaulted Young into a tie for eighth on the school's all-time receptions list at 107. He's just two away from seventh, three from sixth, and eight catches from tying for fifth place. He is now just 15 yards away from moving into the top 10 in receiving yardage, and his two touchdowns place him in a tie for 10th all-time.
Milestones From The Alfred Win
Several new marks were established in the double overtime win last Saturday, including:
- The sixth-most points ever scored by the Bobcats in a single game
- The most combined points ever in a Frostburg State game (107)
- The previous mark was 88 in a 68-20 win over St. Francis on Oct. 31, 1981
- The most points scored in a game since Sept. 29, 2001, in a 55-24 home victory over Chowan
- The 40 points scored in regulation is the most since Oct. 22, 2005, in a 45-9 Homecoming win over Seton Hill
- Most points ever allowed by Frostburg State in a win
- The previous mark was set in a 42-39 overtime win at Wesley on Oct. 11, 2003
- The first overtime game for Frostburg since Nov. 5, 2005, a 17-10 win against Waynesburg
#12 Equals Six
Frostburg senior quarterback Josh Volpe had a hand in all seven Frostburg State touchdowns in the team's 54-43 double overtime win on Saturday against Alfred, including throwing for six. Volpe also completed 33 passes in 59 attempts for 441 yards. The six touchdowns set a school record, while the completions and attempts are third all-time.
On the career lists, Volpe jumped into fourth place on the completions list with 336 and is just two away from tying third. At 578 career attempts, he is in sixth place and just 13 shy of fifth. Saturday's game at Alfred gives him 4137 yards passing, an even 200 behind fourth place. Volpe is still ranked fifth in career touchdown passes, nine behind the next closest spot.
Bobcats in NCAA Rankings
The Bobcats are ranked 52nd in passing offense (241.4 yards) in the nation out of 239 Div. III schools. The total offense is 74th (391.9 yards). Frostburg is also fifth in the nation in net punting (37.4 yards/punt), thanks to freshman punter Zach Tuckmantel's outstanding rookie season. Anthony Young is 31st in the nation is receptions per game (6.6) and 55th in receiving yards per game (85.1).
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 231-250-8 overall since starting football in 1961
- Hand the Bobcats back-to-back wins for the first time since Oct. 2006
- Give Frostburg a winning record in conference play during the season for the first time since
defeating Apprentice to open the 2004 campaign
- Be the Bobcats' first road win in Empire 8 play
- Give Frostburg its first-ever win over Ithaca
Last Week
FROSTBURG, Md. – Bobcat Stadium was shaking with a nervous excitement as the Empire 8 showdown between Frostburg State and Alfred went back-and-forth throughout both regulation and two overtimes.
In the end, that nervous excitement was turned to sheer jubilation as sophomore kicker Jonathan Adams drilled home an extra point attempt as Frostburg State celebrated a 54-53 double overtime victory over Alfred in Empire 8 action Saturday on Homecoming and Leadership weekend.
After a scoreless first quarter, the two teams erupted for 107 points, including 40 in just the second quarter alone. It is the most combined points scored in a game which Frostburg has participated in and is the first overtime contest at Bobcat Stadium since 2005.
The two teams combined for 14 touchdowns, four field goals, 58 first downs and 1,002 yards of offense while keeping the fans on the edge of their seats the entire time.
The Bobcats (3-4, 2-2) and Saxons (4-3, 2-2) scored on the game's final six possessions. Alfred appeared to have control of the game late in the fourth quarter as it intercepted an FSU pass and maneuvered down to the FSU 25. Eric Rockwood knocked home a booming 42-yard field goal with just 30 seconds left to give the visitors a 40-37 lead.
That was the perfect amount of time for senior quarterback Josh Volpe and the Bobcats to answer. He completed two passes, including a 30-yarder to junior wideout Anthony Young as FSU moved to the Alfred 25-yard line. This time, it was Adams' turn to play the role of the hero. He calmly kicked a 42-yard field goal of his own as time expired to knot the game at 40-40.
The duo of Volpe and Young, which gave Alfred trouble the entire game, connected for a 35-yard touchdown on third and 20 in the first overtime for a 47-40 edge. Alfred answered with a game-tying touchdown on its first play of the first overtime. T.J. Kilcarr found Justin Oliver with a 25-yard scoring toss to even the score at 47-47.
Alfred received the ball first in the second overtime and scored another touchdown. Austin Dwyer carried the ball twice, including a 15-yard scoring run into the corner of the end zone for a 53-47 lead. However, Rockwood missed the extra point attempt and Alfred clung to just a six-point lead.
Frostburg took advantage of the miscue as it moved inside Alfred's five-yard line for a first-and-goal situation. After sputtering on the first three plays, Volpe found a wide open Adam Tuzikow on the Bobcats' last chance of the afternoon. The two connected for a four-yard score to tie the ballgame at 53 apiece.
The weight of the game then fell back on Adams' shoulders. After an Alfred timeout, he booted the extra point through the uprights as Bobcat Stadium erupted in celebration.
Frostburg turned out 556 yards of total offense, the most since a 634-yard effort in a 42-6 win over Apprentice in 2002. The tandem of Volpe and Young turned in record-setting performances. Volpe completed 33-of-59 attempts and finished with 441 yards passing, a career-high and second-best individual effort in school history. He accounted for seven touchdowns, including a school record six through the air. He ran for an 11-yard score in the fourth quarter that gave FSU a 37-30 lead. He tossed at least one touchdown to five different receivers.
Young turned in his second-consecutive record-setting performance on Homecoming. He tied a school record with 16 receptions for 214 yards and two touchdowns. A year ago, Young set a school record with 248 yards receiving against Apprentice while making 15 receptions.
Junior tight end Cory Shank hauled in six receptions for 102 yards and a score while classmate Lucas Adolph caught four passes for 41 yards and a score.
On the ground, freshman tailback JD Hook ran for 83 yards on 20 carries and caught two passes for 39 yards.
Despite the flurry of action late in the game, the second quarter provided an early glimpse of what was to come.
Alfred opened early 13-0 and 20-7 leads, but the Bobcats stormed back to tie the contest at 20 at intermission. Volpe tossed first-half touchdowns to Adolph, Shank and freshman wideout Antonio Wood.
The teams exchanged field goals and Josh Phillips caught a 17-yard scoring toss from Kilcarr for the lead with just two minutes left in the third to put the Saxons ahead 30-23.
Frostburg tied the contest again early in the fourth quarter. Volpe and Young connected on a 14-yard touchdown with 12:08 to play that capped an 11-play 78-yard yard drive, the longest by either team on the afternoon.
After the Bobcat defense forced a fumble on the third play of Alfred's next drive, FSU grabbed its first lead of the game. On third and five, Hook darted for 11 yards to the Alfred 11-yard line and Volpe weaved his way through traffic on the next play for an 11–yard score a 37-30 lead.
Alfred evened the score at 37-37 with 4:35 to play in the fourth quarter. After the FSU defense forced the Saxons to a 4-and-10 situation, the ensuing Alfred punt was deflected, then hit an FSU player down field and the Saxons pounced on the loose ball. Five plays later, Kilcarr hit Adam Shutz for a game-tying 20-yard touchdown.
The Saxons finished with 446 yards of offense behind 212 on the ground. Dwyer ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including the game's first score with 13:32 showing in the second quarter. Kilcarr tossed four scores and threw for 243 yards. His favorite target was Shutz who finished with five catches for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Drew Rudisill paced the FSU defense with 11 total tackles, including 0.5 TFL. Junior Brendon Blanchette made nine stops, with one pass breakup, a forced and recovered fumble.
Frostburg State returns to action next weekend when it travels to Ithaca for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
