BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Frostburg State football team opened its 2015 season with an exclamation point on Saturday night as the Bobcats posted a 52-21 victory over Geneva.
Frostburg raced out to a 35-0 halftime lead and never looked back. FSU scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions, were credited with two safeties in the first quarter and returned two punts for scores in the second half.
The Bobcats amassed 404 yards in total offense, behind 243 rushing yards on 53 carries. The 52 points are the second most scored in a season opener in program history, just four points shy of the school record of 56, also scored against Geneva back in 2012.
"Our players have worked relentlessly since the end of last season to become a better team and it showed tonight," said second-year head coach DeLane Fitzgerald. "Now we have to fix our mistakes from tonight and be a better football team next week. All the goals we set for ourselves are in front of us. We have to work towards them."
"I'm very proud of the way these young men have come together as a team," added Fitzgerald.
Freshman Connor Cox threw for 101 yards (7-of-12) and two touchdowns, including a 16 yarder to senior Antonio Wood in the first quarter. Sophomore Niles Scott tackled Dylan Jones in the endzone early in the first for a safety and later, a bad snap for Geneva handed the Bobcats another safety.
Senior Josh Burch scored a one-yard touchdown late in the first quarter and freshman running back Gavin Lavat found the endzone from six yards out early in the second as Frostburg surged ahead 35-0.
Midway through the second, Cox tossed his second touchdown of the ballgame, this time a 16-yard strike to junior Austin Bonsall and junior Isaac Robinson knocked home a 33-yard field goal with five seconds left until halftime as Frostburg held a 35-0 lead at the break.
Geneva got on the board early in the third with its first touchdown, but Frostburg answered with the first of two punt returns for touchdowns.
With 1:36 left in the third, Bonsall returned a Golden Tornado punt 47 yards for a touchdown and a 42-7 advantage.
A Geneva drive stalled again early in the fourth quarter and senior Myles Burgess had arguably the most exciting play of the night when he fielded a punt at the Frostburg 10 and sprinted 90 yards for the score and a 49-7 lead.
Geneva scored two touchdowns in the fourth and Robinson kicked a 37-yard field goal to end the scoring.
Cox added a team-best 86 yards rushing to go along with his 101 yards through the air. Burgess was his favorite target, hauling in two passes for 50 yards.
Sophomore Jordan Procter finished with five tackles, two for loss, while Scott made four stops with 2.5 behind the line of scrimmage.
Frostburg returns to action next Saturday when it hosts No. 5 Wesley at noon.
