Frostburg (2-4, 0-4 E8)
vs.
Ithaca (4-1, 3-1 E8)

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014
Bobcat Stadium - 1:00 pm

Frostburg Game Notes
Live Videos & Stats
 

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Setting the Scene
Frostburg State welcomes Ithaca to Bobcat Stadium for Homecoming and an Empire 8 matchup this Saturday at 1:00 pm.

The Bobcats sit at 2-4 overall on the season after defeating both Geneva (24-19) and Shenandoah (20-10) in their first two contests. FSU has endured four losses since starting conference play to Utica (20-12),  seventh-ranked St. John Fisher (48-7), Buffalo State (31-14) and Brockport (46-0).

Ithaca enters Saturday with a 4-1 overall record and a 3-1 league slate. The Bombers spent much of the season ranked inside the top-25 after opening the year with four-straight wins; Union (21-6) , Hartwick (42-7), Alfred (17-6) and Utica (27-10). However, IC suffered a 38-27 home loss to Buffalo State last Saturday and fell out of the top-25 in both the D3football.com and ACFC polls.

The Series
Saturday's matchup between the Bobcats and Bombers will be the sixth meeting between the schools and the previous five meetings have come in the least six seasons. Ithaca currently leas the series 5-0.

It's A New Day
DeLane Fitzgerald was named Frostburg's 13th head football coach following a national search in January 2014. Upon his arrival at Frostburg, Fitzgerald quickly filled out his coaching staff and began recruiting his first class. He also set about raising the team's G.P.A. through new study hall rules.

On the field, Fitzgerald has Frostburg off to a 2-4 start. The Bobcats defeated Geneva (24-19) and Shenandoah (20-10) in their first two games. Over the last four weeks, Frostburg has suffered four losses in Empire 8 play against Utica (20-12), seventh-ranked  St. John Fisher (48-7), Buffalo State (31-14) and Brockport (46-0).

Fitzgerald came to Frostburg following an eight-year stint at Southern Virginia in Buena Vista, Va., including the last five seasons as head coach. Prior to his arrival, SVU averaged just two wins per season and after his fifth year, Southern Virginia finished 8-2 and was ranked No. 1 in the United States Collegiate Athletic Conference coaches' poll.

Fitzgerald also has coaching stints at Bethel University (Tenn.), Tennessee-Martin, James Madison and the Bridgton Academy (Maine).

Frostburg Football History
Frostburg is in its 54th year of collegiate football in 2014 and the Bobcats have an overall record of 237-272-8. The Bobcats appeared in the 1993 NCAA Playoffs and have played in seven ECAC Bowl Games, the last coming at Bobcat Stadium against Moravian in 2005.

Prior to joining the Empire 8, FSU competed in the Atlantic Central Football Conference for 12 seasons from 1999-2010, capturing league titles in 1999, 2003 and 2004.

A Win Would ....
- Lift the Bobcats to 238-272-8 overall
- Be the second three-win season for Frostburg in three years
- Hand FSU its 15th win over a school from the state of New York (14-37-1)
- Be the second home win of the season for Frostburg (Geneva, 24-19)

Empire 8 Update
All nine Empire 8 football schools opened their 2014 seasons with a week-one victory. Following last weekend, however, the Empire 8 Athletic Conference is without an undefeated team. Buffalo State (5-1), Ithaca (4-1) and St. John Fisher (4-1) all have just one loss.

This Week In The Empire 8
Eight of the nine Empire 8 teams are in action in week seven of the 2014 football season and all eight schools are in conference play. St. John Fisher visits Utica, Brockport travels to Alfred, Frostburg hosts Ithaca and Hartwick travels to Salisbury.

St. John Fisher at Utica - 1:00 pm
Brockport at Alfred - 1:00 pm
Ithaca at Frostburg - 1:00 pm
Hartwick at Salisbury - 1:00 pm

Empire 8 Preseason Poll
The Frostburg State football team was picked to finish ninth in the 2014 Empire 8 Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released in late August. St. John Fisher received eight of the nine first-place votes along with 64 points and was picked to win the league title. Salisbury (53 pts.) and Ithaca (52 pts.) round out the top three.

The Coaches
Fitzgerald hit the ground running following his hire at Frostburg State and he quickly filled out his staff with some of the nation's top coaches. Tye Hiatt (OC/QB), John Kelling (DC/LB) and Peter Mayer (ST/DB) will serve as the Bobcats' coordinators. Joining them are Ben Crowder (RB), Sam Daniels (DT), Pete Hansen (DE), Angelo Luvara (T/TE), Nate Sievers (OL), Tyler Condiff (Asst. LB), Kenny Johnson (WR), Tyler Stevens (Asst. WR), Dernard Bryan (Asst. OL), Victor Andersen (Asst. DB) and Tim Arnold (Asst. RB).

Preseason All-American
Frostburg has had several players named Preseason Division III All-Americans by USA College Football over the last few years and this summer junior linebacker Rowan Pinkett was named to the preseason third-team defense.

Pinkett had a breakout season last fall after leading the Bobcats and finishing fifth in the Empire 8 with 104 total tackles. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Empire 8 Second Team. He averaged 10.4 tackles per contest and finished with 10 or more tackles in five games.

Pinkett picked up in week one where he left off a year ago, finishing with 12 total tackles, one tackle for loss with a forced and recovered fumble against Geneva. Those numbers earned him both Empire 8 and ECAC Northeast Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Following six games, Pinkett leads the Bobcats and is seventh in the league with 47 total tackles. He also paces the conference with three recovered fumbles.

Behind Enemy Lines
Following six weeks of the 2014 season, sophomore defensive end William Sewell is tied for third in the conference with 5.5 tackles for loss. He is also tied for fourth with three sacks.

I'll Take That
The Frostburg State defense has generated eight turnovers in six games this season, four fumbles and four interceptions.

Where The Bobcats Rank
Blocked Kicks - 5  
 - Seventh in Division III   
 - First in th Empire 8

Fewest Penalties Per Game - 5.00  
 - 33rd in Division III
 - 38th in Division III

Time of Possession - 32:25
 - Second in the Empire 8
 - Third in Empire 8

Junior DL Roland Kamara
 - Ranked fourth in the nation and leads the Empire 8 with two blocked kicks

Junior LB Rowan Pinkett
 - Tied for the Division III lead with three recovered fumbles

Calling the Signals
Senior Ken Emmons returns for his third year as the starting quarterback for the Bobcats and has the talent around him to have his best season to date. He enters his final season ranked ninth in program history in passing yards (2,866), eighth in touchdown passes (18) and seventh in career completions (218).

A year ago, Emmons accounted for 1,718 yards in total offense and 13 total touchdowns. He threw for 1,338 yards and nine touchdowns. Over the past two seasons, Emmons has also rushed for 626 yards and seven touchdowns.

Through six games, Emmons has accounted for 792 yards in total offense and six touchdowns. He is currently eighth in the Empire 8 at 132.0 yards in offense per game.

On The Horizon
Frostburg State University, along with Christopher Newport University, Salisbury University and Wesley College recently agreed to become associate football members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) beginning in the 2015-16 academic year. In addition, Southern Virginia will be an affiliate member of the NJAC starting in the fall of 2014 and will elevate to associate member in 2015-16.

Frostburg State currently competes in the Empire 8 as an affiliate football member and will begin its fourth season of competition in the league this fall (2014). The other associate football members, like FSU, compete primarily in the Capital Athletic Conference; the CAC does not sponsor football.

With the addition of the five schools in 2015-16, the NJAC will increase its football membership to 10 institutions, including full-league members Kean University, Montclair State University, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey and William Paterson University.

Last Time Out
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014     -     Brockport 46, Frostburg 0

BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Brockport scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and held the Frostburg State offense in check all game as the Golden Eagles earned a 46-0 victory in Empire 8 action, Saturday.
 
Brockport racked up 483 yards in total offense and quarterback Chase Venuto tossed three touchdowns as Brockport improved to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the league. All three Venuto scoring passes came in the first half as the hosts built a 28-0 edge at the half. Dan Andrews ran for 125 yards on 30 carries and a third quarter touchdown as Brockport built a 37-0 cushion after three quarters.
 
Frostburg totaled just 80 yards of offense and was forced to punt seven times. Bobcat freshman Stephen Stewart ran for 44 yards on nine carries, while junior wideout Myles Burgess caught three passes for 21 yards.
 
Freshman Gordon Rowe finished with nine tackles, including eight solo stops. Sophomore William Sewell added eight stops, while senior Matt Heacock and sophomore Shawn Magginson each made two tackles for loss.
 
Junior Roland Kamara blocked a 21-yard field goal midway through the first quarter and junior Salaman Riddell blocked an extra point attempt in the third.
 
The Bobcats host 13th-ranked Ithaca next Saturday on Homecoming at 1:00 pm.