Frostburg State (1-2)
vs.
No. 19 St. John Fisher (3-0)

Saturday, October, 5, 2013 - 2:00 pm
Growney Stadium

Live Stats
Live Video
Listen Live

Frostburg State Game Notes

Directions to SJFC

---

Setting the Scene
Frostburg State opens Empire 8 action with a road contest at No. 19 (D3Football) St. John Fisher in Rochester, N.Y. This showdown marks the second road contest of the season for FSU and the fourth meeting between the two schools.

The Series
Frostburg State and St. John Fisher have met three previous times with the Cardinals winning all three matchups. Saturday's contest marks the third trip to SJFC for Frostburg. Last season, St. John Fisher defeated Frostburg at Bobcat Stadium 21-0.

This Week in the Empire 8
October 5th
Salisbury at Utica 12:00 pm
Buffalo State at Alfred 1:00 pm
Frostburg State at St. John Fisher 2:00 pm
Ithaca at Hartwick 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. 

Frostburg State Football History
The Bobcats kick off their 53rd season of action with an overall record of 235-261-8. 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 could be spearheaded by senior Tavis Henry and junior Keith Smith who combined for 123 tackles a year ago.

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 three games.

Junior Rowan Pinkett is currently 14th in the country and leads the Empire 8 with 12.7 tackles per contest. Junior Keith Smith and sophomore Marcus Moody are both fifth in the conference at 9.7 tackles per game. Smith is 20th in the country and leads the conference in solo tackles per game with 7.3.

Emmons Amoung The Elite
Junior standout Ken Emmons compiled 521 yards of total offense against Waynesburg and that mark is currently second in the country for total offense in a single game amoung all 242 NCAA Division III teams.

Emmons also ranks 27th in the country in total offense per game (319.0), 30th in the country in points scored (60), 45th in passing efficiency (149.4), 51st in passing yards per game (251.7), 56th in passing yards per completion (16.78) and 65th in passing yards (755).  

Offensive Assault
Saturday's matchup will feature the Empire 8's two top teams in terms of total offense. St. John Fisher leads the league with 525.3 yards per game while FSU is second at 474.7. However, the Bobcats boast the league's number one rushing attack at 212.3.

Emmons and the Cardinals' Tyler Fenti are the league's individual leaders in total offense. Fenti is averaging 373.7 yards per game while Emmons sits at 319.0.

Additional Offensive Numbers
Aside from its impressive total offensive numbers, FSU is also ranked 23rd in the nation in passing yards per completion (15.43), 32nd in third down conversion percentage (47.8%), 42nd in fewest penalties per game (4.67) and 57th in passing offense (262.3).

Backfield Trio
The Bobcat rushing trio of Emmons, junior Mike Fourth and freshman Janai Billips have powered the ground game to the nation's 56th best rushing attack (212.3 ypg). Fourth currently leads the team with 258 rushing yards on 53 attempts, while Emmons has rushed for 202 yards and three scores. Billips has added 189 yards with one touchdown on the ground.

A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 236-261-8
- Hand the Bobcats their first win against St. John Fisher
- Give the Bobcats back-to-back wins for the first time since 2006.
- Provide FSU with its first road win since a victory over Hartwick in late September a year ago.

Bobcats Last Week
FROSTBURG, Md. – Freshman Isaac Robinson booted a 19-yard field goal with three seconds left to propel the Frostburg State University football team to a 36-33 victory over Case Western Reserve, Saturday at a rainy and windy Bobcat Stadium.

The Bobcats (1-2) picked the perfect time to post their longest drive of the season as FSU marched 93 yards on 14 plays in the closing minutes to setup Robinson's game-winner. Junior Michael Fourth ran for 27 of his career-high 185 yards, but the biggest play of the drive came on fourth-and-11 at the Case 34. Junior Ken Emmons scrambled to his right and found sophomore Haydan Roberts, who broke away from a defender up the home sideline for a 30-yard reception to the Case four. Following a timeout by both teams, Robinson handed the Bobcats the win.

The Spartans (1-2), who led 26-20 at halftime, answered a pair of Frostburg third-quarter touchdowns early in the fourth.  Billy Beecher found the end zone from a yard out just five seconds into the final stanza that knotted the contest at 33-33.

FSU seemingly took charge of the contest when it quickly moved 65 yards on just four plays for a score just 1:10 into the second half. Fourth capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown.

The second third-quarter score came on the ensuing Bobcat possession. Sophomore Salaman Riddell intercepted a Beecher pass at the Case 38 and two plays later, Emmons connected with junior Antonio Wood for a 22-yard touchdown.

The victory marks the second-consecutive offensive explosion for the Bobcats. FSU posted 567 yards of offense and 29 first downs, while five of the Bobcats' six scoring drives covered at least 50 yards. Frostburg ran for 281 yards and tacked on another 286 through the air. The Bobcats have averaged 588 yards of offense over the last two weeks.

Fourth finished the ballgame with 210 all-purpose yards to lead both teams. He added two receptions for 25 yards on to his impressive 185 rushing yards (35 carries). Emmons had another outstanding day in the pocket, throwing for 286 yards (14-of-23) with three touchdowns. He tossed a pair of scores to sophomore Myles Burgess in the second quarter that helped Frostburg rally from a 17-6 deficit. Burgess finished the afternoon with four receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

For all the success the Bobcats had in running the ball, Case Western was just as good. The Spartans finished with 295 rushing yards, led by Ricky Hanzlik, who finished with 105 yards on 20 carries. Erik Olson threw for 111 yards on nine completions with one touchdown.

Junior Rowan Pinkett posted his second-straight game with 15 tackles. Sophomore Marcus Moody made 11 stops, while junior Keith Smith added 10.

Frostburg State has a bye this Saturday but travels to St. John Fisher on Saturday, Oct. 5 (1:00 pm) for the Empire 8 opener for both schools.

Notes: Fourth's 185 rushing yards are 11th on the single-game record list … Emmons has totaled 863 yards of offense with 10 touchdowns in the last two games … FSU has lost the time of possession battle in each of the last two weeks, despite averaging 588 yards of offense … The Bobcats have scored in each of the last eight quarters of play after scoring just three points in the first four quarters of the season.

Last Time Against the Cardinals (2012)
FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State University football team fell victim to untimely turnovers and St. John Fisher needed just 21 points for a 21-0 shutout victory, Saturday afternoon.

The Bobcats, who fall to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Empire 8, were held out of the end zone despite four trips inside the SJFC 20 yard line. FSU tossed a pair of interceptions in the end zone and fumbled the ball away twice.

Frostburg's final and longest drive of the afternoon covered 11 plays and 74 yards. The Bobcats started on their own 21 and moved down to the Fisher two. Following a timeout, FSU fumbled the ball, but recovered at the five. Junior running back Chuky Iweh pushed his way back to the two on his final carry of the ballgame. On the next play, Sean Preish busted through the Frostburg line and knocked the ball to the ground on a handoff exchange to halt FSU's final scoring attempt.

Frostburg also had a pair of scoring opportunities late in the second and third quarters. However, the hosts tossed two interceptions in the end zone inside the final two minutes of each quarter. Frostburg's first turnover of the afternoon came on its fourth drive of the ball game. FSU maneuvered to the 16 of the Cardinals, before a big hit on the visitor sideline knocked the ball out of the grasp of the FSU ball carrier.

The Cardinals (6-2, 2-3), ranked 24th in the country according to D3football.com, scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter and one in the third for all the points they would need.

Cody Miller scored on a 50-yard run at 6:05 in the first and found the end zone from nine yards out with 8:20 showing in the third. Ryan Kramer tossed a 26 yard touchdown late in the first quarter as Fisher led 14-0 after one.

FSU totaled 184 yards on the ground, itssecond highest total of the season. Iweh led the way with 19 carries for 68 yards, followed by junior Michael Fourth with three rushes for 44 yards. Senior Brendon Blanchette and sophomore Keith Smith each finished with 11 tackles, while Blanchette forced a fumble on a punt return midway through the second quarter.

Miller finished with 104 yards on 15 carries and two scores to lead St. John Fisher as it totaled 336 yards of total offense, including 268 on the ground.

Frostburg hits the road for its final away game of the season next Saturday when it travels to Alfred at 1:00 pm.