Frostburg State (0-0)   vs.   Geneva (0-0)
Live Stats  I  Live Video
Frostburg Game Notes
Bobcat Stadium  I  7:00 pm
* Fireworks directly following the game
 

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Setting the Scene
Frostburg State opens its 2016 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 3 with Geneva College at 7:00 pm at Bobcat Stadium. This fall marks the eighth-straight season that the Golden Tornadoes and Bobcats will open their respective seasons against one another.

Frostburg has won the last two meetings, including three of the last four contests. Since the two programs reunited on the schedule in 2009, the series between the two is in favor of Frostburg 4-3.

However, head coach DeLane Fitzgerald has guided the Bobcats to a pair of wins over Geneva in each of his first two seasons at the helm in '14 and '15.

The Bobcats finished their '15 campaign 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.

Meanwhile, Geneva capped its fall season with a 2-8 overall record and a 1-7 mark in the President's Athletic Conference. After falling to FSU in the opener, the Golden Tornadoes posted wins over Grove City and Waynesburg. However, they ended the season with seven-consecutive losses.

Fitzgerald, 10-10 after two seasons in Frostburg, is the only coach in the 56-year history of Bobcat football to win his first game as head coach.

The Series
Saturday's matchup between the Bobcats and Golden Tornadoes is the 26th between the two program's.

The series is tied between the two schools at 12-12-1, but the Bobcats have won the last two meetings and four of the last five contests.

This Saturday's meeting represents the third-longest series for Frostburg against an opponent in its 56-year history.

FSU and GC met regularly throughout the 60's, 70's and 80's and the series was halted in 1992. In 2009, the series was renewed with Geneva winning 22-7.

The Bobcats are trying for their third-straight win in the series with Geneva. Frostburg has never won three in-a-row against the squad from Beaver Falls, Pa. FSU has come close, however, winning two-straight contests four separate times in the 25-year history of the series.

Scouting Geneva
Geneva College has a rich tradition of winning throughout the history of its football program as head coach Geno DeMarco has guided the Golden Tornadoes for the last 24 years. During that span, he has led them to 138 wins and 14 postseason appearances.

However, Geneva has finished under .500 in each of the last two seasons with just three and two wins, respectively.

This fall, DeMarco's team is poised to rebound and earn the program's 15th trip to the postseason. The Golden Tornadoes return 10 starters on offense, nine on defense and three on special teams.

Leading the way on offense, quarterback Javid Ellis returns as GC's leader in passing (476 yds. 2TDs) and rushing (315 yds. 7TDs) and Trewon Marshall (254 yds. 1 TD) returns as the team's leader in receiving from last fall.

No doubt, Jimmy Quinlan will pace the defense after making 99 tackles, including 12.0 TFLs (59 yds.) and 2.5 sacks (26 yds.) during his junior campaign. Austin Mirizo is also back for his final season after making 48 tackles  with 9.0 TFLs and 5.0 sacks last season.

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 was 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 Division III's opening weekend ...
"NCAA DIII Football's opening week is always interesting in the fact that you don't know who has what until the first game is played. DIII Football does not publish its signees or transfers, so week one you don't know who you are playing against until it happens."

On the offseason and game one ...
"Our guys have worked very hard the last nine months for this and they are excited to play! How could you not be excited? Opening game of the season, #41 d3football.com ranking, new cannon, fireworks, etc……….. What more could you ask for?"

On Geneva ...
"After back to back subpar seasons at Geneva, I expect coach DeMarco to have Geneva ready to play Saturday night. Coach DeMarco is a competitor and he'll have his guys ready to play."

On Geneva ...
"Geneva's offense will unveil a new look triple option attack this Saturday, featuring quarterback #7 Javid Ellis and fullback #6 Trewon Marshall, while the Geneva defense returns 12 starters from 2015, led by linebacker #6 Jimmy Quinlan and corner #3 Timmy Martin. Geneva is experienced and talented, they will be a tough out on Saturday night."

A Win Would ...
- Lift the Bobcats to 246-278-8 overall
- Give the Bobcats their third-consecutive season-opening victory
- Be the 13th win over Geneva as the series stands at 12-12-1
- Hand coach DeLane Fitzgerald his 11th win in three seasons
- Mark the 25th time that Frostburg football has opened the season with a win
- Improve Fitzgerald's record to 5-0 in night games as Frostburg's head coach
- Push Fitzgerald's record to 3-0 against Geneva

Speaking of the NJAC
Nine of the 10 NJAC schools are in action on opening weekend of the 2016 season. On Friday night, #7 Wesley hosts Delaware Valley at 6:00 pm, while Salisbury hosts Albright at 7:00 pm. Kean travels to Christopher Newport on Saturday at 1:00 pm and open NJAC play in week one.

Friday, September 2
Delaware Valley at #7 Wesley  - 6:00 pm
Albright at Salisbury - 7:00 pm

Saturday, September 3
Alfred State at William Paterson - 12:00 pm
TCNJ at Wisconsin-Whitewater - 12:00 pm
Rowan at Widener - 1:00 pm
Kean at Christopher Newport - 1:00 pm
Southern Virginia at Earlham - 2:30 pm
Geneva at Frostburg State - 7:00 pm

All-Americans ...
Frostburg State had a pair of players take home preseason All-American honors during the month of the August. For starters, senior defensive end William Sewell was selected as a d3football.com Second Team All-American after leading the Bobcats in tackles (64), tackles for loss (14.5) and tied for the team lead with 6.0 sacks. He also garnered preseason All-American honors heading into the '15 season by USA College Football.

Sewell and senior return specialist Austin Bonsall were later named to the Football Gameplan 2016 Preseason D3 All-American Team. Sewell was named to the first team defense, while Bonsall was placed on the third team specialists as a punt returner.

A year ago, Bonsall was named the NJAC Special Teams Players of the Year after leading the NJAC and finished second in the nation with two punt return touchdowns. He also finished second in the league and 22nd nationally with a 12.9 yard per return average.

Kick It Up A Notch ...
Senior kicker Isaac Robinson has been recognized for the second-straight preseason for his excellence on the football field and in the community as he has been selected to the 2016 Fred Mitchell Award watch list.

The Fred Mitchell Award recognizes 27 place-kickers on its annual Watch List for their excellence on the football field during the previous season and for continued community service during their off-season.

Of the 27 place-kickers on the watch list, Robinson is one of just four kickers from Division III and is the only NJAC representative on the list.

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.

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 2016 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).

NJAC Preseason Poll
The NJAC released the 2016 Preseason Coaches Poll in early August and Frostburg State was picked to finish third in the 10-team league. The Bobcats were chosen as the league's dark horse team for the second-straight season and received one first-place vote.
Defending champion Salisbury was picked to repeat as the league champion in '16, followed by seventh-ranked Wesley in second place. Rowan, which received one first-place vote, was picked fourth, while Kean was fifth. Rounding out sixth through 10th place are Montclair State (6th), Christopher Newport (7th), TCNJ (8th), William Paterson (9th) and Southern Virginia (10th).

Frostburg Football History
Frostburg is in its 56th year of collegiate football in 2016 and the Bobcats have an overall record of 245-278-8. 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 Geneva
Frostburg  52    Geneva  21    Beaver Falls, Pa. - Reeves Field
Frostburg opened its 2015 campaign with exclamation point as the Bobcats rolled to 52-21 victory over Geneva. FSU scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions and jumped out to a 35-0 halftime cushion.

Freshman Connor Cox threw for 101 yards and two touchdowns and ran the ball for another 87 yards and a score. Possibly the most impressive stat of the evening is that Frostburg tallied two safeties, returned two punts for touchdowns and booted a 37-yard field goal with six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

On back-to-back Geneva punts, junior Austin Bonsall returned a punt 47 yards for a score before senior Myles Burgess took one 90 yards for another scored as FSU led 49-7 early in the fourth quarter.