Frostburg State (2-2, 0-1)
vs.
Hartwick (3-1, 0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 29
1:00 pm
Oneonta, N.Y. - Wright Stadium
Live Stats
Game Notes (Frostburg)
Setting the Scene
The Frostburg State Bobcats look to bounce back from a 40-21 loss to Ithaca to open Empire 8 action last Saturday. Hartwick is also looking to bounce back after losing to No. 9 ranked St. John Fisher, 43-13, it's Empire 8 opener.
The Series
Frostburg and Hartwick have met just once before this season as the two schools squared off last fall in an Empire 8 meeting. The Bobcats captured a 35-28 victory at Bobcat Stadium.
This Week in the Empire 8
Sept. 29
Salisbury at Buffalo State 1:00 pm
Frostburg at Hartwick 1:00 pm
Utica at Ithaca 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 233-254-8. 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 2
The FSU/Hartwick matchup marks the second Empire 8 game of the season for both schools and is the second-straight opponent from the state of New York for Frostburg. FSU enters the weekend with a 13-23-1 overall record against schools from New York, while last year's contest against Hartwick serves as the Bobcats' lastest victory against a school from the Empire State.
Where They Stand
Sophomore quarterback Ken Emmons is currently third in the Empire 8, averaging 214.2 yards passing per game while senior Anthony Young is tied for first with four receiving touchdowns.
Senior defensive back Brendon Blanchette ranks second in the league averaging 12.5 tackles a game.
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 has moved into second in school history with 159 receptions and needs just 22 receptions to tie first. He is in sole possession of seventh in receiving touchdowns (14) and moves closer to fourth in receiving yards (1,963). He has started the last 24 games at wide receiver and has caught a pass in 26-straight games.
Strong D
Senior defensive back Brendon Blanchette continues to rack up the tackles with nine this past weekend. Blanchette's season total is now at 50 to lead the Bobcats. He had a team-high 17 against Waynesburg three weeks ago.
Sophomore Rowan Pinkett joined Blanchette as the only two Bobcat players with double-digit tackles in a game with 10 this past week against Ithaca.
In his career, Blanchette has nine double-digit performances and three so far this season.
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 234-254-8
- Hand the Bobcats back to back wins over Hartwick
- Give Frostburg its third win over a school from New York in the last five attempts
- Hand the Bobcats their second road win of the 2012 season
- Give Frostburg its second-straight 1-1 start in Empire 8 action
Bobcats Last Week
FROSTBURG, Md. – Ithaca College scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to earn a 40-21 victory over Frostburg State University in the Empire 8 opener for both schools, Saturday.
The Bobcats (2-2, 0-1) trailed 20-7 when a sophomore JD Hook touchdown cut the deficit to 20-14 late in the third quarter. However, Ithaca (3-0, 1-0) scored three touchdowns on its first three possession of the fourth quarter to take control of the game.
Hook accounted for both Bobcat touchdowns on the afternoon. He scored from two yards out with 47 seconds left in the second quarter that handed Frostburg a 7-3 lead.
Ithaca answered with a 75 yard drive that took just four plays to cap the first half. The drive ended with a 52-yard touchdown strike from Phil Neumann to Joseph Ingrao for a 10-7 Bomber lead at intermission.
Ithaca continued the momentum into the second half as it scored 10 points on its first two drives of the third quarter. Garrett Nicholson kicked an 18 yard field goal (8:49) and Clay Ardoin scored on a 49 yard touchdown run (6:18) that handed the Bombers a 20-7 lead.
Hook's second score of the game with 2:38 to play in the third cut the deficit to 20-14. The Bobcats covered 77 yards on nine plays for the score, their longest drive of the contest.
Ithaca's Jared Prugar (12:10) hauled in a 27 yard touchdown pass from Neumann to open the fourth quarter scoring. Jarrett Naiden (10:16) scored from four yards out on a one-play drive for Ithaca that capitalized on an FSU interception. Ardoin later added his second rushing touchdown of the half to cap Ithaca's scoring when he found the end zone from 22 yards out with 6:49 to play.
Frostburg State capitalized on Ithaca's only turnover late in the fourth quarter. After recovering a fumble at the Ithaca 25, the Bobcats used seven plays for the final score. Sophomore Ken Emmons connected with senior Anthony Young for a four yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left to bring the final to 40-21.
The FSU offense totaled 282 yards, including 170 on the ground. Individually, Hook accounted for 106 yards on 18 carries and two scores. Sophomore Michael Fourth finished with 35 yards on three carries. Young caught seven passes for 79 yards and the fourth quarter score.
Emmons threw for 112 yards on 12-of-25 attempts, including his sixth touchdown toss of the season.
Ithaca totaled 407 yards of offense behind 249 yards passing from Neumann. The junior finished 17-of-27 with a pair of scores. Ingrao grabbed 11 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown while Ardoin ran for 118 yards and two scores.
Bobcat freshman Rowan Pinkett posted a team-high 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Senior Brendon Blanchette made nine stops.
Last Time Against the Hawks
FROSTBURG, Md. – The game started with tears of sadness, but ended with tears of joy as the Frostburg State University football team held off a feisty Hartwick squad for a 35-28 victory in Empire 8 action, Saturday.
Prior to kickoff, a pair of celebrations brought everyone in the stadium to tears. Nine seniors suited up for their final football game at Bobcat Stadium. FSU then held a brief memorial celebration for former player Derek Sheely as his name was added to the "Rock of Honor" that sits next to the stadium field.
In the end, the Bobcats (4-5, 3-3) racked up 529 yards of offense and held the ball for 36:03. The final drive was key for FSU as it held the ball for the final 8:46 of regulation and kept Hartwick (2-7, 0-6) from attempting to tie the contest.
The Bobcats led in time of possession behind a season-high 280 yards on the ground. Freshman tailback JD Hook ran the ball 28 times for 208 yards and a touchdown that tied the game at 7-7 early in the first quarter. Senior Garfield Lampkin capped his playing career at Bobcat Stadium in fine fashion running for 49 yards (12 carries) and two touchdowns.
The Bobcat aerial attack was just as potent as senior quarterback Josh Volpe completed 25-of-29 attempts for 249 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for the Bobcats' final score early in the fourth quarter. Junior wide receiver Anthony Young led all players with 116 receiving yards on 12 catches.
Hartwick took the early 7-0 lead after scoring on the game's opening possession. The Hawks marched 60 yards on eight plays in just 3:23 and Anthony Casiman ran in from 11 yards out.
The Bobcats surged ahead for a 21-7 lead after finding the endzone on their next three possessions. Hook started things off with a five-yard scoring run that capped a 10-play 77-yard drive. Lampkin gave the hosts a 14-7 lead with a one-yard score early in the second quarter (14:31).
Volpe found freshman Antonio Wood for a nifty pitch and catch in the corner of the endzone for the third touchdown. He squeezed a 12-yard scoring pass between a couple of defenders to cap the third-straight 10-play scoring drive.
Lampkin added a two-yard scoring run early in the third quarter as the Bobcats surged to a 28-7 lead.
Hartwick gathered itself in the second half scoring touchdowns on its only three possessions. Dan Brainard tossed a pair of scoring passes in the third quarter. He found Tom Delahunty for a 60-yard touchdown and Jordan Wilkins for a 27-yard score late in the third as the Hawks closed the gap to 28-21.
Frostburg then collected its longest scoring drive of the afternoon, covering 80 yards in 13 plays in 6:28. Volpe pushed his way into the endzone from a yard out for a 35-21 edge.
The Hawks answered as Brainard tossed his third touchdown of the half, this time a 24 yarder to Chris Hoose to cut the deficit back to seven (35-28).
However, the Bobcats slowly chewed away at the clock as they methodically moved 61 yards on 16 plays covering the final 8:46 of regulation.
Hartwick, which entered the contest with the Empire 8's second-best passing offense, totaled 382 yards of offense, including 275 through the air. Brainard finished with all 275 yards on 20-of-30 attempts and three touchdowns. Anthony Casiman ran for a team-high 93 yards on 13 carries and the game's first touchdown.
