Frostburg State (1-5, 0-3)
vs.
Alfred (4-2, 2-1)
Homecoming Weekend
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 - 1:00 pm
Bobcat Stadium
Live Stats
Directions to Frostburg
Frostburg Game Notes
Setting the Scene
Frostburg State hosts Alfred for FSU's Homecoming game and the fourth Empire 8 contest of the season. Frostburg has been highly successful in Homecoming games in recent history. Despite falling to Buffalo State last season, the Bobcats are 8-5 in their last 13 Homecoming contests with a four-game winning streak from 2004-07.
The Series
The series is currently tied at 2-2. Last season the Bobcats traveled to Alfred and suffered a 40-14 deficit. However, the last time the two teams met for FSU's Homecoming in 2011, the Bobcats captured a thrilling double-overtime win, 54-53.
This Week in the Empire 8
October 26th
Alfred at Frostburg (Homecoming)Â 1:00 pm
St. John Fisher at Ithaca 1:00 pm
Salisbury at Hartwick 2:00 pm
Buffalo State at Utica 2:00 pm
Coaching the Cats
Tom Rogish is in his sixth season as head coach of the Bobcats. Last season, Rogish guided FSU to a 3-7 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.Â
Frostburg State Football History
The Bobcats kick off their 53rd season of action with an overall record of 235-264-8. 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.
Returning Suitors
The Bobcats return eight starters on offense including four on the offensive line that has arguably been the team's biggest strength for the past two seasons. The foursome has combined to start nearly 80 games over the past few years and paved the way for the Empire 8's fourth best rushing attack last season (150.6).
On defense Frostburg returns five starters from a 2012 unit that had its struggles at different times throughout the year. However, Peter Mayer was named the team's defensive coordinator prior to the start of preseason camp. The defense is spearheaded by juniors Rowan Pinkett and Keith Smith and sophomore Marcus Moody. The trio has combined for 193 tackles this season.
Speaking of Defense
Just before preseason camp head coach Tom Rogish made the announcement of several changes to his staff for the 2013 season. Most importantly, Peter Mayer was named defensive coordinator and the Bobcats have seen significant results in their first five games.
Junior Rowan Pinkett is currently 15th in the country and leads the Empire 8 with 12.0 tackles per contest. Junior Keith Smith ranks 54th in the country and third in the conference at 10.2 tackles per game.
Sophomore Marcus Moody stands at 59th in the country and fourth in the conference at 10.0 tackles per game. Sophomore Salaman Riddell is currently fifth in the country and first in the conference in solo tackles per contest at 7.5. Pinkett stands at 28th nationally and third in the league at 6.7 while Smith is 20th in the nation and second in the Empire 8 at 7.0.
Offensive Momentum
Entering its sixth contest of the season, the Bobcats have racked up 2,665 yards in total offense.
They currently rank 26th in the country and lead the Empire 8 in first down offense (148), 66th in the nation and second in the league in rushing offense (193.5), 41st in the country and first in the conference in total offense (444.2) and 59th in the country in passing offense (250.7).
On paper, the Bobcat offensive numbers appear to line up well against the Saxon defense. Alfred is currently 101st in the country and fifth in the Empire 8 in total defense allowing 354.5 yards per game. Additionally, Alfred is 151st in the country and sixth in the conference in passing yards allowed (219.8), 98th and fourth in scoring defense (23.3) and 87th nationall and fourth in the Empire 8 in rushing defense (134.7).
Additional Numbers
Aside from its total offensive numbers, FSU is also ranked 18th in the nation and leads the Empire 8 in blocked kicks (4) and 22nd in the country and first in the league in fewest penalty yards per game (39.83).
Backfield Trio
The Bobcat rushing trio of Emmons, junior Mike Fourth and freshman Janai Billips have powered the ground game this season and have put the Bobcats near the top of the Empire 8 for much of the year.
Fourth currently leads the team with 475 rushing yards on 107 attempts with six touchdowns, while Emmons has rushed for 371 yards and four scores. Billips has added 208 yards with two touchdowns on the ground.
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 236-264-8
- Give the Bobcats the 3-2 advantage in the series with Alfred
- Earn the Bobcats their first Empire 8 victory in 2013
- Improve FSU's record to 9-5 in the last 14 Homecoming games
- Snap the Bobcats small three-game losing skid
Bobcats Last Week
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Frostburg State put up 426 yards in total offense, but Buffalo State pulled away with 31 points in the second half for a 60-28 win in Empire 8 action, Saturday.
BSC (3-4, 1-3) jumped out to a 29-14 halftime lead, but sealed the win with three scores in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to outpace FSU (1-5, 0-3).
Frostburg collected over 400 yards in total offense, including 300 in the air, but the Bengals ran for 302 yards, held the ball for 36:59 and converted on 8-of-9 chances in the redzone. Buffalo starting quarterback Casey Kacz accounted for seven touchdowns, including five through the air. He had a hand in all four first-half touchdowns as he threw three scores and opened the game with a 15-yard touchdown midway through the first.
Sophomore quarterbacks Nick Rosati and Teron Tyre each tossed a touchdown in the first half for FSU. Rosati connected with freshman Travis Arthur for a 27-yard score in the first quarter, while Tyre found junior Antonio Wood for a 29-yard touchdown just before halftime.
Following a Buffalo State score early in the third quarter, Tyre and Wood hooked up again. The pair capped a 67-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring pitch-and-catch .
The host Bengals tacked on two more touchdowns in the third quarter and Alex Debbins kicked a 21-yard field early in the fourth for a 53-21 lead.
Tyre capped FSU's scoring with a 16-yard rushing touchdown with 3:42 left in the fourth.
Buffalo State added a late touchdown run with 23 left for the 60-28 final.
Tyre completed 15-of-32 pass attempts for 238 yards with two scores. He connected with both Wood and sophomore Haydan Roberts for six receptions each. Wood finished with 133 yards and two scores, while Roberts grabbed 103 yards. Sophomore Shacori Riddick led the team with 49 yards rushing on seven carries.
Kacz threw for 203 yards (21-for-30) and five touchdowns and added 43 rushing yards on six carries with two more touchdowns. Caesarae Lewis caught eight passes for 86 yards and three scores.
Sophomore Marcus Moody and freshman Alphonzo White each posted 10 tackles, while Moody added two stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Frostburg returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Alfred on Homecoming at 1:00 pm.
Last Time Against the Saxons (2012)
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.
FSU returns to action next Saturday when it hosts Salisbury on senior day in the 14th Annual Regents Cup game at 1:00 pm.
