Frostburg State (3-2, 1-1 E8)
vs.
Utica (3-2, 1-1 E8)
Saturday, Oct. 11
2:00 pm
Utica, N.Y.
Live Stats
Live Audio (Utica Broadcast)
Live Video
Game Notes
Setting the Scene
The Frostburg State University football team is coming off an exciting 28-26 victory over Hartwick in which the Bobcats withstood a late fourth quarter drive for the victory. After a bye week, FSU looks to push its Empire 8 record to 2-1 this season and win back-to-back games for the first time in 2012.
Utica is fresh off a thrilling come from behind 51-44 victory over Buffalo State last week. The Pioneers used 30 fourth quarter points to seal the victory over the Bengals.
The Series
The Bobcats and Pioneers are meeting for just the second time in series history. Last time the two teams squared off, former quarterback Josh Volpe and tailback JD Hook accounted for all six touchdowns in the contest to power FSU to a 44-24 victory. Hook ran for two scores while catching a pass from Volpe in the end zone and Volpe ran in three himself.
This Week in the Empire 8
Oct. 13
St. John Fisher at Alfred 1:00 pm
Buffalo State at Ithaca 1:00 pm
Hartwick at Salisbury 1:00 pm
Frostburg State at Utica 2:00 pm
Coaching the Cats
Tom Rogish is in his fifth season as head coach of the Bobcats. Last season, Rogish guided FSU to a 4-6 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 kick off their 52nd season of action with an overall record of 234-254-8. 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.
Empire State of Mind, Act 3
The Bobcats travel to Utica, N.Y. for their third Empire 8 show down of the season. Frostburg moved to 1-1 in the conference after surviving a late fourth quarter drive for a 28-26 victory over Hartwick (Sept. 29).
In the conference, the Bobcats are averaging 24.5 points a game and 274.0 yards of offense. Frostburg has been perfect in the red zone, scoring a touchdown on all six chances against conference opponents.
Nationally Ranked
Several Bobcats rank nationally after the sixth week of football. Sophomore quarterback Ken Emmons is third in the conference and 72nd nationally in total offense, helping the Bobcats to an average of 238.4 yards a game while senior Anthony Young is tied for 30th in the country and third in the E8 with 7.2 catches per game. Young is also 38th nationally in receiving yards a game, averaging 93.8 on the season.
Senior Brendon Blanchette is tied for 19th in the nation with 11.8 tackles per game and is ranked third in the Empire 8.
Young and the Catches
Senior wide receiver Anthony Young is set to rewrite the record books as he enters his final season in a Bobcat uniform.
Young is second in school history with 169 receptions and needs just 12 receptions to tie first, which he should accomplish over the next two weeks after averaging 7.2 catches a game. He is in sole possession of seventh in receiving touchdowns (14) and moves into third in receiving yards (2,085) after putting up a season-high 122 two weeks ago. He has started the last 25 games at wide receiver and has caught a pass in 27-straight games.
Staying Hot in the Red Zone
Frostburg State is third in the conference in red zone scoring, finding the end zone 15 out of 19 times (79%) with 14 touchdowns. The run game has been the most effective tool for the Bobcats in the red zone with nine of the team's 14 scores coming on the ground, including five in the opening game against Geneva.
Halfway There
The Bobcats are only halfway through their season and already the team is putting up impressive numbers. Senior wide receiver, Anthony Young is halfway to his season totals from a year ago. Young has caught 36 passes for 469 yards after five games in 2012, compared to his school-best 72 receptions for 819 yards last year. In arguably his best completed season as a Bobcat, Young caught five touchdown passes and already has four this season.
Also ahead of pace for another outstanding year for Frostburg is senior defensive back Brendon Blanchette. Blanchette has racked up 59 tackles so far this season, more than halfway to his 90 a year ago.
Strong D
Speaking of Blanchette, he continues to rack up the tackles with nine against Hartwick on Sept. 29. Blanchette's season total is now at 59 to lead the Bobcats. He had a team-high 17 against Waynesburg three weeks ago.
Sophomore Tavis Henry sophomore Rowan Pinkett and Blanchette as the only three Bobcat players with double-digit tackles in a game with 12 this past week against Hartwick.
In his career, Blanchette has nine double-digit performances and three so far this season.
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 235-254-8
- Hand the Bobcats back to back wins over Utica
- Give Frostburg its fourth win over a school from New York in the last seven attempts
- Hand the Bobcats their third-straight road win of the 2012 season
- Improve Frostburg to 2-1 in the Empire 8 for the first time since joining the conference
Bobcats Last Week - Sept. 29
FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State University football team jumped out to a 28-14 lead and held off a late charge from Hartwick College for 28-26 victory, Saturday in Empire 8 action.
The Bobcats (3-2, 1-1 E8) broke a 14-14 halftime tie with two third quarter touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Ken Emmons tossed a nine yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Antonio Wood at 9:27 and junior running back JD Hook scored from a yard out to give Frostburg a 28-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth, Hartwick (3-2, 0-2 E8) mounted a comeback and attempted to tie the game on its final possession. Joseph Rosiecki scored a two yard touchdown run on the Hawks' first drive of the fourth quarter to cut into the deficit. However, the hosts missed the extra point and trailed 28-20.
On its final drive of the game, Hartwick moved 76 yards on 15 plays and Keegan Corbett found John Horner for an eight yard touchdown with just 37 seconds remaining. The missed extra point earlier in the fourth forced Hartwick to go for a two-point conversion for the tie. Corbett's pass fell incomplete and the Bobcats recovered the on-side kick before running out the clock for the win.
Frostburg totaled 266 yards of total offense in their first league win of the season. Emmons finished with 179 yards passing on 19-of-27 attempts. Senior wide out Anthony Young led all players with 10 receptions for 122 yards.
Freshman defensive back Marcus Moody put the first points on the board when he returned an interception on the game's opening drive 29 yards for a score.
Hartwick answered with back-to-back touchdowns to cap the first quarter. Corbett found Tanner Williams with a 21 yard scoring pass (10:32) and Frankie Molina scored from seven yards out (1:08) as the Hawks grabbed a 14-7 lead.
On the ensuing drive, the Bobcats marched 62 yards on 15 plays and chewed up 7:03 before tying the game at 14. Frostburg ran the ball 10 times on the drive before the 11th rush found the end zone as junior Chuky Iweh scored from a yard out.
A pair of miscues, missed field goal by Hartwick and interception by FSU, prevented the teams from scoring before halftime.
Hartwick, who has suffered back-to-back Empire 8 losses, amassed 431 yards on total offense behind 213 on the ground and 218 through the air. Corbett finished with 218 yards passing on 19-of-40 attempts and three touchdowns.
FSU sophomore Tavis Henry made a game-high 12 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss. Senior Brendon Blanchette finished with nine stops and a breakup.
Last Time Against the Pioneers
Senior quarterback Josh Volpe and freshman tailback JD Hook accounted for all six touchdowns as the Frostburg State football team powered to a 44-24 victory over Utica in Empire 8 action, Saturday.
The Bobcats (2-1, 1-1) earned the victory in their home opener in front of a packed and emotional Bobcat Stadium. The contest marked the first football game for the Bobcats at home since the passing of Derek Sheely. The crowd showed its support by wearing white t-shirts, many with Sheely's number 40 on them.
The emotional afternoon did little to slow down the Bobcats. FSU poured out 462 yards in total offense and the defense limited the Pioneers (2-1, 0-1) to just 291 yards. Utica entered the contest averaging 465.5 yards per contest. The Bobcats held the ball for 39:09 and scored six touchdowns.
On the ground, Frostburg ran for 220 yards and three scores. Hook did most of the damage as he ran for 184 yards on 38 carries. He scored two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to help the Bobcats pull away from a close 30-24 contest. He also caught five passes for 53 yards and a score late in the first quarter that put the Bobcats up, 14-7, after the first.
Volpe had an another outstanding afternoon, throwing for 242 yards (17-of-27) and three scores. He guided the Bobcats to touchdowns on their first two drives of the game. The Bobcats marched 85 yards on their first drive and Volpe found senior wideout Anthony Young for an eight-yard touchdown.
In the second half, Volpe accounted for two more touchdowns. He pushed his way into the end zone from a yard out to make it a 23-14 contest and he later hit a wide open Nick Nowaczyk for a 39-yard touchdown up the visiting sideline as the Bobcats led, 30-17.
The FSU defense even got involved in the scoring output, handing the hosts a 16-14 halftime lead with a safety with 1:37 to play in the second quarter. Senior Ryan Simmons and freshman Arnell Farmer combined to stop Utica running back Jake Larson in the end zone for the team's first safety at home since Washington & Jefferson in 2009.
Despite FSU's offensive success, Utica challenged late in the game. After Nowaczyk's early fourth-quarter touchdown, the Pioneers collected a 59-yard drive in eight plays and quarterback Andrew Benkwitt tossed his second touchdown as Utica narrowed the gap to 30-24.
The Utica defense then forced the Bobcats into a punt on fourth down. However, Zach Tuckmantel's punt hit a Utica player at the three-yard line and senior Marcus Wilson jumped on the loose ball at the one to set up Hook's first rushing touchdown of the fourth quarter.
Benkwitt, who entered the contest with a 285 yard per game average, was hassled by the Bobcat secondary all game. He finished with just 216 yards passing and completed just 45.4 percent of his passes.
Junior Brendon Blanchette led the Bobcat defense with 11 tackles followed by freshman Anthony Chase had nine tackles.
