Frostburg State (3-6, 1-5 E8)
vs.
Salisbury (7-2, 5-1 E8)
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012
1:00 pm
Bobcat Stadium
FSU Game Notes
Live Stats
Setting the Scene
The Bobcats wrap up the season with the 14th Annual Regents Cup. FSU comes into the game on a three-game losing skid after dropping a 41-14 decision to Alfred last week. Freshman Ken Emmons accounted for 205 yards behind 78 yards on the ground and 127 through the air and scored twice.
Salisbury comes to Bobcat Stadium on a high note after defeating Utica 63-23. Joe Benedetti ran for 153 yards while the Sea Gulls picked up a season-high 564 yards on the ground.
The Series
The contest on Saturday marks the 40th time these two teams will meet with Salisbury holding a 23-16 advantage.
Saturday is also the 14th Annual Regents Cup with Salisbury holding a 9-4 lead in hoisting the trophy.
This Week in the Empire 8
Nov. 10
Ithaca at Cortland 12:00 pm
Salisbury at Frostburg State 1:00 pm
St. John Fisher at Utica 1:00 pm
Alfred at Hartwick 1:00 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 234-258-8. 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.
Regents Cup History
The Bobcats and Sea Gulls clash in the 14th Annual Regents Cup this Saturday. The Regents Cup is awarded to the winner of the rivarly game between the only two DIII state universities that sponsor a football team in the state of Maryland.
Salisbury leads FSU 9-4 in Regents Cup trophies and have won the last eight games between the two teams. The last time the Bobcats won the trophy was in 2003 when the Bobcats defeated the Sea Gulls 15-14 at Towson University.
Thank You, Seniors
Frostburg State honors its nine seniors who will be competing in their final game in a Bobcat uniform.
The seniors that will be honored are: Lucas Adolph, Brendon Blanchette, Kevin Gordon, Aaron Gruber, Tilmon Parker, Cory Shank, JM Sienkowski, Michael Taylor and Anthony Young. This senior class has put together a 10-29 overall record and a 4-9 slate in the team's first two seasons in the Empire 8.
I'll Take That
The Frostburg defense has forced a turnover in nine of the last 10 games, dating back to the 2011 season-finale against Salisbury. Two weeks ago, Bobcat senior Brendon Blanchette forced a fumble with 6:07 to go in the first quarter on a punt return that was recovered by sophomore Gilbert Kim to give FSU the ball back at the SJF 48.
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 173 receptions and needs just eight receptions to tie first. He is in sole possession of seventh in receiving touchdowns (14) and is third in receiving yards (2,152). He has started the last 29 games at wide receiver and has caught a pass in 31-straight games.
Strong D
Senior Brendon Blanchette continues to rack up the tackles with 10 against Alfred last week. Blanchette's season total is now at 95 to lead the Bobcats. He had a team-high 17 against Waynesburg in the beginning of the season. Blanchette has the chance to be the first Bobcat since 2005 to break the century mark in tackles when All-American Kevin Culbert posted 100 stops.
In his career, Blanchette has 11 double-digit performances and five so far this season.
A trio of sophomores join Blanchette in double-digit tackle performances this season. Keith Smith is the newest Bobcat to join Tavis Henry and Rowan Pinkett. Smith had back-to-back double digit performances with 10 last week against Alfred and 11 the week before against St. John Fisher.
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 235-258-8
- Hand the Bobcats their first win over SU since Nov. 15, 2003
- Snap a four-game losing skid for FSU
Bobcats Last Week
ALFRED, N.Y. – Frostburg State sophomore Ken Emmons accounted for two early touchdowns, but Alfred scored 33 unanswered points to rally for a 40-14 Empire 8 win, Saturday.
The Bobcats (3-6, 1-5 E8) capitalized on great field position for an early 7-0 lead. FSU fumbled inside the Alfred five yard line on its first drive, but forced a three and out and a short punt gave the Bobcats the ball for their second drive at the Saxon 29.
On the drive's first play, Emmons ran 29 yards for a score that handed the visitors a 7-0 lead with 11:25 left in the first quarter.
Alfred (5-3, 4-2 E8) scored the game tying touchdown on its final drive of the opening quarter. The Saxons marched 64 yards on 10 plays and scored a five yard touchdown with 38 seconds left in the first.
However, Frostburg didn't back down and sophomore Michael Fourth returned the ensuing kickoff 30 yards to midfield to set up the Bobcats second scoring drive of the game. On the third play, Emmons tossed a 51 yard touchdown to sophomore Antonio Wood for a 14-7 advantage early in the second quarter.
Alfred took control from that point on. AU quarterback Joe Enslin tossed a 40 yard touchdown pass (13:08) and Jon Jackson ran in from five yards out (00:54) as the hosts led 21-14 at halftime.
Alfred's defense tightened in the second half and the offense outscored FSU 21-0. Enslin threw a pair of touchdowns and Jackson opened the third quarter with a 21 yard touchdown run.
Frostburg totaled 282 yards of offense, while Alfred racked up 555 yards. Individually, Emmons accounted for 205 yards behind 78 yards on the ground and 127 through the air. Enslin finished the game with 302 yards through the air on 18-of-32 attempts with three scores. Maleke Fuentes ran for a game-high 109 yards on 16 carries.
Senior Brendon Blanchette and sophomore Keith Smith each made 10 tackles to pace the Bobcat defense.
Last Time Against the Sea Gulls
SALISBURY, Md. – The Frostburg State University football team fell behind early in the first quarter and never recovered in a 49-7 loss to in-state rival Salisbury in the 13th Annual Regents Cup, Saturday.
The Sea Gulls (9-1, 7-0) raced out to a 28-0 lead after the first quarter and led 42-0 at halftime as they posted their eighth-straight win in the series.
Salisbury's Ross Flanigan rushed for two scores and ran for a game-high 105 yards (eight carries) to lead the SU ground game. The Sea Gulls finished with 430 total yards of offense, including 348 rushing yards.
Flanigan's two scores put the Sea Gulls ahead 14-0 early in the first quarter. He was awarded Mike McGlinchey Most Valuable Player honors for SU.
Randal Smedley scored from six yards out with 3:54 showing in the opening quarter and Dan Griffin scored on a one-yard plunge (1:27) to cap the first quarter. Griffin started the second quarter as he finished the first with a four-yard touchdown (9:57) that put the hosts up 35-0.
Jonathan Briscoe tacked on the final score (6:00) for Salisbury in the opening half with a 14-yard touchdown and a 42-0 lead.
The second half was a different story for Frostburg State, including the Bobcat defensive unit. FSU forced three punts, held the Sea Gull offense to just four offensive yards in the fourth quarter and intercepted a pass deep in SU territory. It was the first time an opposing defense has intercepted a Salisbury pass this season.
The Bobcats held Salisbury to just 102 total yards in the second half. SU's only touchdown came on its longest drive of the contest. The Gulls marched 68 yards on six plays and Tyler Curley scored a five-yard touchdown with 1:13 to play in the third quarter for a 49-0 lead.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats capitalized on the SU interception. Sophomore Paul Johnson stepped in front of a Joey Jones pass and returned it nine yards to the SU eight. Four plays later, senior Garfield Lampkin pushed his way into the end zone from a yard out for the game's final touchdown.
Senior quarterback Josh Volpe threw for 125 yards and freshman tailback JD Hook ran for 75 yards to lead the offense. Lampkin finished with 13 yards and the fourth quarter score. Junior Anthony Young led all receivers with eight catches for 64 yards. His eight grabs handed him the school record for catches in a season (72).
Junior defensive back Brendon Blanchette earned McGlinchey MVP honors for the Bobcats after leading both teams with 12 tackles, including two for loss. Freshmen Joseph Ross and Anthony Chase each finished with 10 stops.
The loss capped the season for FSU with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-4 mark in Empire 8 action. The four victories are the most for the Bobcats since 2005.
