Frostburg State (1-6)
vs.
Ithaca (6-1)
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013
Butterfield Stadium, Ithaca, N.Y.
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Frostburg Game Notes
Setting the Scene
Frostburg State travels to Ithaca this Saturday for its fifth Empire 8 contest of the season and fourth road game of the fall campaign. FSU and IC have met four times, but the Bobcats are seeking their first win in the series.
The Series
Ithaca currently leads the series 4-0 after capturing a 40-21 win a year ago. The Bobcats and Bombers have met twice as members of the Empire 8 and twice in non-conference action.
This Week in the Empire 8
November 2nd
Salisbury at Alfred 12:00 pm
Buffalo State at Hartwick 1:00 pm
Frostburg at Ithaca 1:00 pm
Utica at St. John Fisher 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 235-265-8. 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 226 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 seven games.
Junior Rowan Pinkett is currently 23rd in the country and leads the Empire 8 with 11.6 tackles per contest. Sophomore Marcus Moody ranks 46th in the nation and is second in the league with 10.4 tackles per game, while junior Keith Smith is 55th in the country and third in the conference at 10.3 tackles per game.
Sophomore Salaman Riddell is currently 15th in the country and first in the conference in solo tackles per contest at 7.3, while Smith is 25th nationally and second in the Empire 8 at 6.7. Pinkett rounds out the threesome at third in the league in the solo stops (6.4).
Offensive Momentum
Entering its seventh contest of the season, the Bobcats have racked up 2,905 yards in total offense.
They currently rank 46th in the country and lead the Empire 8 in first down offense (162), 78th in the nation and second in the league in rushing offense (188.0), 63rd in the country and second in the conference in total offense (415.0) and 92nd in the country in passing offense (227.0).
Additional Numbers
Aside from its total offensive numbers, FSU is also ranked 23rd in the nation and leads the Empire 8 in blocked kicks (4) and 23rd in the country and first in the league in fewest penalty yards per game (40.43). Frostburg also allows the third fewest sacks per game in the Empire 8 (1.57).
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 592 rushing yards on 136 attempts with seven touchdowns. He has rushed for 100 or more yards in three of six games and is currently third in the league in rushing yards. 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 their first win the series with Ithaca
- Earn the Bobcats their first Empire 8 victory in 2013
- Snap the Bobcats four-game losing skid
Bobcats Last Week
FROSTBURG, Md. – Junior running back Mike Fourth ran for over 100 yards for the third time in the last five games, but the Frostburg State football team suffered a 32-7 setback to Alfred, Saturday on Homecoming.
Fourth accounted for 156 all-purpose yards, that included the Bobcats' (1-6, 0-4) only touchdown of the game late in the third quarter. Fourth ran for 117 yards on 29 carries and caught three passes for 39 yards to power FSU offensively.
Trailing 22-0, Frostburg moved 61 yards on 11 plays and Fourth scored from two yards out with 5:24 to play.
Alfred, which scored in all four quarters, sealed the win with 10 points in the fourth quarter. Austin Dwyer ran for 101 yards (14 rushes) and Tyler Johnson threw for 139 yards and two scores to lead the Saxons (5-2, 3-1) to their second-consecutive league win. Alfred held the ball for 37:07 and totaled 381 yards in offense.
Sophomore Teron Tyre completed 7-of-12 passes for 79 yards, while classmate Percy Haskins collected 136 all-purpose yards, including 126 yards on six kick returns.
Defensively, sophomore Marcus Moody led the Bobcats with 13 total tackles, eight solo, with one tackle for loss. Junior Keith Smith was second with 11 tackles and a breakup.
Frostburg State travels to Ithaca next Saturday for a 1:00 pm kickoff.
Last Time Against the Bombers (2012)
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.
The Bobcats return to the field next Saturday when they travel to Hartwick at 1:00 pm.
