Frostburg (3-1, 2-1 NJAC)  vs.  William Paterson (2-2, 1-2 NJAC)
Live Stats  I  Live Video
Frostburg Game Notes
Bobcat Stadium  I  1:00 pm
 

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Setting the Scene
Frostburg State hosts its third team at Bobcat Stadium this season when it welcomes William Paterson on Saturday for a 1:00 pm kickoff. The Bobcats are 2-0 at Bobcat Stadium this fall and have outscored those two opponents 55-17. FSU also enters the contest having won back-to-back games in New Jersey Athletic Conference action. Frostburg is currently 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the NJAC.

William Paterson comes to Frostburg with a 2-2 overall record and a 1-2 mark in the league. The Pioneers defeated Montclair State, 18-13, last Saturday after suffering back-to-back NJAC losses to Rowan (31-0) and Kean (24-13).

Saturday's contest will be the fifth meeting between the Bobcats and Pioneers and is Frostburg's third of six home games this fall.

Frostburg enters the machup with a 3-1 overall slate after downing Geneva in its season opener, 31-10, and grabbing its first NJAC victory with a 24-7 win over Southern Virginia three weekends ago. Last Saturday, FSU posted its first road win of the season with a 25-18 victory at Kean.

The matchup with FSU will be William Paterson's second road trip of the fall campaign after it suffered a 31-0 shutout at Rowan in week two.

The Pioneers opened the season with a 43-13 victory over Alfred State. WPU then suffered back-to-back losses in NJAC play to Rowan and Kean, before defeating Montclair State last Saturday.

Frostburg is trying for its second-consecutive 4-1 start and second-straight win over William Paterson. Last fall, FSU defeated William Paterson 37-19 at Wightman Stadium.

Last season, the Bobcats finished at 6-4, including a 5-4 finish in their first season as a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. FSU collected a five-game winning streak during the middle part of the season, the longest streak in the program since the 1999 team opened the season 6-0.

The Series
Saturday's matchup between the Bobcats and Pioneers is the fifth in the series between the two programs.

The series started in 1972 with a 22-0 victory for Frostburg. The win in '72 was the season finale for both schools and capped Frostburg's season with a 5-4 overall record. The next season, William Paterson evened the series at 1-1 with a 24-18 win.

The series stopped for nearly 20 years until the two schools met again in 1991 in an ECAC Bowl Game. Frostburg ran away with the game for a 46-16 finale and a 9-2 overall record that season.

A year ago, the Bobcats traveled to Wightman Stadium for a 37-19 victory.

Scouting William Paterson
William Paterson is under the direction of ninth year head coach Jerry Flora and the Pioneers are coming off a 2-8 season last fall.

This fall, WPU is currently 2-2 and is coming into the weekend following an 18-13 win over Montclair State. The Pioneers are eighth in the NJAC in total offense (238.2 ypg) and sixth among the league schools in total defense (285.8 ypg). WPU boasts the NJAC's fourth-best rushing defense (117.2) and it allows just 20.2 points per game.

Quarterback Isaiah Diaz-Mays paces the team in rushing with 103 yards and has one of WPU's two rushing touchdowns this season. As a passer, Diaz-Mays has thrown for 147 yards and two touchdowns and enters the contest with the Bobcats as the team's starting quarterback.

Diaz-Mays also splits time under center with James Waldron who has thrown for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Anthony DiMarsico leads the Pioneers with 16 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

On the other side of the line, the Pioneers' are led in tackling by linebacker Charles Faulkner who has 38 total stops with 2.5 tackles for loss. Taheem Jackson is second with 25 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one recovered fumble.

Scouting Frostburg
Frostburg is in its third season under DeLane Fitzgerald and he has his program headed in the right direction. He has increased Frostburg's win total in each of his first two years and his squad enters this weekend's matchup with William Paterson at 3-1 overall.

The Bobcats are averaging 257.0 yards per contest in total offense with 10 touchdowns through four games. The offensive numbers put the Bobcats in seventh place in the NJAC in total offense, while Frostburg's defensive unit is currently fourth in the league in total defense (266.0 ypg). In terms of scoring defense, the Bobcats are holding opponents to 19.5 points per contest.

Senior preseason All-American defensive end William Sewell leads the NJAC and is ninth in the country in tackles for loss per game (2.4) and he currently leads the Bobcats with 34 total tackles. Junior linebacker Dre'Quan Reed is second on the roster with 29 stops.

On offense, sophomore quarterback Connor Cox paces the team in total offense with 162.5 yards per game and he has accounted for six touchdowns. Junior Jordan Brown leads the rushing attack (48.0 ypg) and two scores, while junior Russell Neverdon is Cox's favorite target with 17 receptions for 239 yards and two scores.

Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald
DeLane Fitzgerald is in his third season at the helm of the Frostburg State football program in 2016 and his impact has been immediate. The Bobcats finished 4-6 overall in '14 and posted a 6-4 mark a year ago. The six wins mark the first winning season for the Bobcats since the 2005 season, while the Bobcats' five-game winning streak is the longest since the 1999 team.

Frostburg hasn't just improved in the win/loss column, but the team GPA has improved every semester since Fitzgerald became head coach. Fitzgerald and his staff also see vast improvements in the weight room and around campus and in the town of Frostburg in terms of volunteer hours.

On the field, Fitzgerald's squad continues to improve statistically in every aspect of the game. On offense, the Bobcats set the school record in completion percentage (61.1%) last fall and finished fourth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference in rushing (164.3 ypg.).

On the other side of the ball, the Bobcats' improved in total defense for the second-straight year. In his first year, Fitzgerald's defense allowed 359.6 yards per game, while a year ago, FSU finished third in the NJAC at 313.4 yards allowed per contest. Prior to Fitzgerald's arrival, Frostburg allowed 464.2 yards per contest during the '13 season.

Fitzgerald also placed an emphasis in special teams since the day of his arrival at Frostburg. Following the '14 season, the Bobcats finished 17th in the nation in blocked kicks (6) and they finished 18th a year ago (6). FSU also finished 11th in the country last season in punt returns (15.63) and 15th in kickoff return defense (14.95).

Fitzgerald's Weekly Quotes
On his players ...
"After a good win on the road during an opponent's homecoming weekend, our players are excited to play again this week! We've had a good week of practice thus far, I expect our guys to play well on Saturday."

On William Paterson ...
"William Paterson had its biggest win on Saturday in years, beating rival Montclair State for the first time since 1993. I expect their coaches and players to be ready to go on Saturday."

On William Paterson ...
"William Paterson played hard last week and head coach Jerry Flora has the players playing very hard. They are a spread/fly sweep/QB read offense led by #1 Anthony DiMarsico, #2 Isaiah Diaz-Mays, and #3 Malcolm Robinson. We have to contain those three to be successful on defense. On defense, they are a 3-4/Okie Defense led by #5 Charles Faulkner, #24 Ra'Keem Bennett, and #25 Pat Moran. We must play more physical on offense and execute to be successful."

A Win Would ...
- Lift the Bobcats to 249-279-8 overall in 56 seasons
- Give the Bobcats their second 4-1 start under coach DeLane Fitzgerald
- Improve Frostburg's record to 3-1 against William Paterson
- Push Frostburg's record this season at home to 3-0
- Hand coach DeLane Fitzgerald his 14th win in three seasons at FSU

National Rankings (Stats) ...
Through four games this season, Frostburg is ranked among some of the nation's elite teams. The Bobcats enter their matchup with WPU ranked ninth in the country in team tackles for loss per game (10.3), 17th in passing yards allowed (137.0), 25th in total defense (266.0), 28th in first down defense (56) and 32nd in third-down conversion percentage (27.9%).

Individually, a pair of preseason All-Americans find themselves among the nation's elite. Senior DE William Sewell is ninth in the country and leads the NJAC in tackles for loss per game (2.4), while senior return specialist Austin Bonsall leads the NJAC and is 38th in the country in combined kick returns (334 yds.). Both were named to the Football Gameplan 2016 Preseason D3 All-American Team.

Junior wide receiver Russell Neverdon paces the NJAC and is 27th in the nation in punt returns (13.0 ypr).

Speaking of the NJAC
Eight of the 10 NJAC schools are in action on the fifth weekend of the 2016 season and all eight are in league play. On Saturday, three games kickoff at 1:00 pm, while Salisbury visits Rowan for a 2:00 pm start.

Saturday, October 8
William Paterson at Frostburg - 1:00 pm
TCNJ at Wesley - 1:00 pm
Southern Virginia at Montclair State - 1:00 pm
Salisbury at Rowan - 2:00 pm

Kick It Up A Notch ...
Senior kicker Isaac Robinson is one of 16 place-kickers to be recognized during the month of September by the Fred Mitchell Award for his excellence on the football field and for his continued community service. He was also honored on the preseason watch list.

Of the 16 place-kickers on the watch list, Robinson is one of just five kickers from Division III and is the only NJAC representative on the list.

This fall, Robinson is 3-for-5 on field goal attempts with his longest FG coming from 44 yards out in FSU's 24-7 win over Southern Virginia. He is also 6-for-9 on extra point attempts.

Last year, Robinson earned First Team All-NJAC honors and was an ECAC All-Star kicker after finishing ninth in the nation in FG's per game (1.20) and 10th in the country in FG percentage (0.750). He led the NJAC with 12 field goals and he finished the season with 63 points that also included 23-of-26 PAT's.

In terms of community service, Robinson has volunteered with Beautify the Burg picking up trash around the city as well as mulching and painting parts of the town of Frostburg. He has volunteered at local nursing homes, Special Olympics, Storybook Forest, the Scottish Games and has helped with elementary school reading programs.

The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community.  Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com.

Bringing Home More Bacon ...
Robinson's Fred Mitchell Award Watch List honor isn't the only preseason nomination for a national award that also honors his work off the field. In mid-July, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced its 25th Anniversary Allstate Good Works Team nominees and Isaac Robinson was among the 156 nominations.

The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has recognized college football players from across the country who exemplify a superior commitment to community service and volunteerism.

During his time at Frostburg, Robinson has volunteered with Beautify the Burg picking up trash around the city as well as mulching and painting parts of the town of Frostburg. He has volunteered at local nursing homes, Special Olympics, Storybook Forest, the Scottish Games and has helped with elementary school reading programs.

A 2015-16 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Academic selection, Robinson is also a two-time Empire 8 Athletic Conference President's List honoree and a four-time Dean's List Student. He majors in engineering and carries a 3.56 GPA.
 
On the field, Robinson was named a 2015 ECAC South All-Star and was a 2015 First Team All-NJAC Special Teams player after leading the league in field goals (12), FG's per game (1.20) and FG percentage (75.0). He was third in the conference in PATs with 23.

He was the lone AFCA Good Works Team nominee from the NJAC.

Special Teams
When head coach DeLane Fitzgerald was hired at Frostburg, he made special teams a point of emphasis and it has showed through his first two seasons. The Bobcats have blocked six kicks in each of the last two seasons and have finished 17th and 18th, respectively, in NCAA Division III.

The Bobcats also finished the 2015 season ranked second in the nation in punt return touchdowns (4), 11th in punt returns (15.63), 15th in kickoff return defense (14.95) and 40th in net punting (34.41).

Frostburg Football History
Frostburg is in its 56th year of collegiate football in 2016 and the Bobcats have an overall record of 248-279-8. 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.

The '16 season marks the second year for the Bobcats as a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). It was announced in March 2014 that Frostburg, along with Christopher Newport, Salisbury and Wesley, would become associate members of the NJAC beginning with the 2015 season. Southern Virginia joined the conference a year earlier in 2014.

The NJAC also contains Rowan, Montclair State, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), William Paterson and Kean.

Prior to the NJAC, the Bobcats competed in the Empire 8 from 2011-14 and the Atlantic Central Football Conference for 12 seasons from 1999-2010, capturing league titles in 1999, 2003 and 2004.

Last Time Against William Paterson
Frostburg  37    William Paterson  19    Wayne, N.J.  - Wightman Stadium    Oct. 10, 2015
Junior kicker Isaac Robinson booted three field goals, freshman quarterback Connor Cox accounted for three touchdowns and Frostburg State won for the third-consecutive game with a 37-19 victory over William Paterson.
 
While the Bobcat offense racked up 353 yards in total offense, behind 211 on the ground, the special teams and defensive units also played a role. Sophomore Aaron Gibson recovered a fumble on the kickoff in the third and freshman Wayne Palmer picked off a pass in the fourth that led to 10 points.

Junior William Sewell blocked an extra point in the second quarter, while Robinson was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals.