Frostburg State (1-7, 0-5)
vs.
Hartwick (4-4, 1-4)
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013
Bobcat Stadium, Frostburg, Md.
1:00 pm
Live Stats
Frostburg Game Notes
Directions to Frostburg
Setting the Scene
Frostburg State hosts Hartwick for the final home game of the 2013 season for FSU. Saturday marks senior day for 13 student-athletes who will be suiting up for their final game at Bobcat Stadium. Both teams enter the Empire 8 matchup facing losing streaks and the Bobcats will look to capture their second win at home this season.
The Series
Frostburg currently leads the series 2-0 after capturing wins over the Hawks in each of the last two seasons. Two years ago, FSU earned a 35-28 win at home in the first meeting between the two schools.
This Week in the Empire 8
November 9th
St. John Fisher at Buffalo State 12:00 pm
Ithaca at Salisbury 12:00 pm
Hartwick at Frostburg 1:00 pm
Utica at Alfred 1:00 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 235-266-8. 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 239 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 33rd in the country and second in the Empire 8 with 10.6 tackles per contest. Sophomore Marcus Moody ranks 53rd in the nation and is fourth in the league with 10.1 tackles per game, while junior Keith Smith is 102nd in the country and fifth in the conference at 9.1 tackles per game.
Sophomore Salaman Riddell is currently 21st in the country and first in the conference in solo tackles per contest at 6.8, while Smith is 48th nationally and second in the Empire 8 at 6.0. Pinkett and Moody round out the group as they are tied for third in the league in solo stops (5.8).
Offensive Momentum
Entering its eighth contest of the season, the Bobcats have racked up 2,991 yards in total offense.
FSU currently leads the league and is 38th in the country in fewest penalties per game (4.75), is second in the Empire 8 and 97th in the country in rushing offense (170.9) and is fourth in the conference in total offense (373.9).
Additional Numbers
Aside from its total offensive numbers, FSU is also ranked 19th in the nation and leads the Empire 8 in blocked kicks (5) and 11th in the country and first in the league in fewest penalty yards per game (36.63).
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 608 rushing yards on 147 attempts with seven touchdowns. He has rushed for 100 or more yards in three of six games and is currently fourth in the league in rushing yards. Emmons has rushed for 378 yards and four scores. Billips has added 208 yards with two touchdowns on the ground.
A Win for Frostburg State Would ...
- Lift FSU to 237-264-8
- Keep the Bobcats with a perfect record in the series with Hartwick
- Earn the Bobcats their first Empire 8 victory in 2013
- Snap the Bobcats five-game losing skid
Bobcats Last Week
ITHACA, N.Y. – The Frostburg State football team suffered a 23-0 loss at the hands of Empire 8 foe Ithaca, Saturday.
Ithaca pushed its overall record to 7-1 on the season and 5-1 in the league with its fourth-straight win. The Bombers totaled 357 yards in offense and sealed a 13-0 halftime lead with 10 fourth-quarter points.
Meanwhile, the Bomber defense limited FSU (1-7, 0-5) to just 86 yards in offense and forced 10 punts. Sophomore Shacori Riddick ran for a team-high 24 yards (10 carries), while junior Ken Emmons completed three passes for 20 yards. Sophomore Percy Haskins totaled 49 all-purpose yards behind 33 kick return yards and 16 punt return yards.
Ithaca's Tom Dempsey threw for 248 yards and the game's opening touchdown, a 63-yarder to Joel Lynch for a 7-0 lead with 5:16 left in the first. In the second, IC's Sam Carney returned a punt 67 yards for a score and a 13-0 intermission lead.
In the fourth, Garrett Nicholson booted a 33-yard field goal and Tommy Padula scored from six yards out for the game's final points.
Freshman Shawn Magginson made a team-high 11 tackles for Frostburg, followed by freshman J.R. Lowery and sophomore Marcus Moody, each with eight.
Last Time Against the Hawks (2012)
FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State University football team jumped out to a 28-14 lead and held off a late charge from Hartwick College for 28-26 victory, Saturday in Empire 8 action.
The Bobcats (3-2, 1-1 E8) broke a 14-14 halftime tie with two third quarter touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Ken Emmons tossed a nine yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Antonio Wood at 9:27 and junior running back JD Hook scored from a yard out to give Frostburg a 28-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth, Hartwick (3-2, 0-2 E8) mounted a comeback and attempted to tie the game on its final possession. Joseph Rosiecki scored a two yard touchdown run on the Hawks' first drive of the fourth quarter to cut into the deficit. However, the hosts missed the extra point and trailed 28-20.
On its final drive of the game, Hartwick moved 76 yards on 15 plays and Keegan Corbett found John Horner for an eight yard touchdown with just 37 seconds remaining. The missed extra point earlier in the fourth forced Hartwick to go for a two-point conversion for the tie. Corbett's pass fell incomplete and the Bobcats recovered the on-side kick before running out the clock for the win.
Frostburg totaled 266 yards of total offense in their first league win of the season. Emmons finished with 179 yards passing on 19-of-27 attempts. Senior wide out Anthony Young led all players with 10 receptions for 122 yards.
Freshman defensive back Marcus Moody put the first points on the board when he returned an interception on the game's opening drive 29 yards for a score.
Hartwick answered with back-to-back touchdowns to cap the first quarter. Corbett found Tanner Williams with a 21 yard scoring pass (10:32) and Frankie Molina scored from seven yards out (1:08) as the Hawks grabbed a 14-7 lead.
On the ensuing drive, the Bobcats marched 62 yards on 15 plays and chewed up 7:03 before tying the game at 14. Frostburg ran the ball 10 times on the drive before the 11th rush found the end zone as junior Chuky Iweh scored from a yard out.
A pair of miscues, missed field goal by Hartwick and interception by FSU, prevented the teams from scoring before halftime.
Hartwick, who has suffered back-to-back Empire 8 losses, amassed 431 yards on total offense behind 213 on the ground and 218 through the air. Corbett finished with 218 yards passing on 19-of-40 attempts and three touchdowns.
FSU sophomore Tavis Henry made a game-high 12 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss. Senior Brendon Blanchette finished with nine stops and a breakup.
