Frostburg State (2-1, 1-1 NJAC) vs. Kean (3-1, 2-1)
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Frostburg Game Notes
Kean Alumni Stadium I 1:00 pm
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Setting the Scene
Frostburg State hits the road for the second time this year when it visits Kean this Saturday for a 1:00 pm kickoff. The Bobcats dropped their only road contest so far this season at then 17th-ranked Wesley and Frostburg is looking to even its road record at 1-1.
Saturday's contest will be just the third meeting between the Bobcats and Cougars and is Frostburg's first trip to the state of New Jersey this season.
Frostburg enters the machup with a 2-1 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 two weekends ago.
The matchup with FSU will be Kean's second home game of the season and fifth overall contest. The Cougars defeated TCNJ two weeks ago in their home opener, 16-7, and have won three-straight overall.
Kean opened the year with a 26-7 defeat at Christopher Newport, but have since downed Bridgewater State (15-14), TCNJ (16-7) and William Paterson (24-13).
Frostburg is trying for its second-consecutive 3-1 start and second-straight win over Kean. FSU downed the Cougars 29-15 at Bobcat Stadium in early October last fall.
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 Cougars is just the third in the series for the two programs.
Kean captured a 41-7 win over the Bobcats in an ECAC Bowl Game in 1994, while Frostburg won last year's matchup at home 29-15.
Scouting Kean
Kean is under the direction of 11th year head coach Dan Garrett and the Cougars are coming off an 8-3 season, that included the ECAC Presidents Bowl Championship.
This fall, Kean is currently 3-1 behind a rushing attack that ranks third in the NJAC at 173.5 ypg. In two of its four games this season, Kean has rushed for 200 or more yards, including a 232-yard effort in last week's win over William Paterson.
Brian Matthews leads the attack with 447 yards on 116 carries and is second in the league in rushing at 111.8.
To go along with its rushing attack, Kean is also passing for 134.5 yards per contest and it is currently sixth in the league in total offense (308.0).
On the other side of the line, the Cougars are third in the league in total defense, limiting opponents to just 262.2 yards per contest. They are also second in the conference in rushing defense, holding opponents to 94.0 yards per contest. Darin Hungerford paces the unit behind a league-leading 35 total tackles.
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 Kean at 2-1 overall.
The Bobcats are averaging 258.7 yards per contest in total offense with eight touchdowns through three games. The offensive numbers put the Bobcats in seventh place in the NJAC in total offense, but it's the FSU defensive unit that is pacing the conference through week four.
Frostburg is currently allowing just 249.3 yards per contest and those numbers place the Bobcats at 21st in NCAA Division III. FSU is also fourth in the country in passing yards allowed (98.3), 18th in team tackles for loss (9.3) and 20th in third-down conversion defense (23.3%).
Senior preseason All-American defensive end William Sewell leads the NJAC and is 11th in the country in tackles for loss (2.5) and he currently leads the Bobcats with 28 total tackles. Junior linebacker Dre'Quan Reed is second on the roster with 22 stops.
On offense, sophomore quarterback Connor Cox paces the team in total offense with 162.7 yards per game and he has accounted for five touchdowns. Junior Jordan Brown leads the rushing attack (48.0 ypg) and two scores, while junior Russell Neverdon is Cox's favorite target with 13 receptions for 178 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 Frostburg's preparation ...
"We used the bye week to fix our mistakes from the first three weeks and to get our players healthy and refreshed. We will be ready to go on Saturday at 1:00 pm."
On Kean and the coaching staff ...
"Dan Garrett and his staff do as good a job getting their players ready to play as any team in the NJAC and its Kean's Homecoming on Saturday. Kean will be ready to play!"
On Kean's philosophy ...
"Kean is a hurry-up, no-huddle offense led by #4 Charles App, #23 Brian Matthews, and #1 LeRon Dillard. We must adjust to the pace of play and contain those three players in order to have success on defense Saturday. Kean's defense is as good as anyone in the NJAC, they are a 4-3 attacking style defense led by #2 Robert Meade, #10 Stephan, and #52 Darin Hungerford. We have to execute on offense to be successful on Saturday."
A Win Would ...
- Lift the Bobcats to 248-279-8 overall in 56 seasons
- Give the Bobcats their second 3-1 start under coach DeLane Fitzgerald
- Improve Frostburg's record to 2-1 against Kean
- Be the first road win for Frostburg this season
- Hand coach DeLane Fitzgerald his 13th win in three seasons at FSU
Speaking of the NJAC
All 10 NJAC schools are in action on the fourth weekend of the 2016 season and all are in league play. On Saturday, four games kickoff at 1:00 pm, while Christopher Newport visits Rowan for a 6:00 pm start.
Saturday, October 1
Frostburg at Kean - 1:00 pm
Montclair State at William Paterson - 1:00 pm
TCNJ at Salisbury - 1:00 pm
Wesley at Southern Virginia - 1:00 pm
Christopher Newport at Rowan - 6:00 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 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 2-for-4 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 4-for-7 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.
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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).
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 247-279-8. 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 Kean
Frostburg 29   Kean 15   Frostburg, Md. - Bobcat Stadium   Oct. 3, 2015
Frostburg rode a stellar special teams and defensive effort to a 29-15 win over Kean. Junior Austin Bonsall returned a punt for a 67-yard TD and senior linebacker Rowan Pinkett returned an interception for a 34-yard score to help carry the Bobcats to the win.
The Bobcats were outgained in total offense and first downs and Kean entered the contest having received votes in the AFCA DIII Poll. Senior Percy Haskins returned a kickoff 74 yards in the first quarter that setup sophomore Jordan Brown's five-yard touchdown for the Bobcats' first lead of the game. Bonsall's punt return for a TD gave FSU the lead for good late in the first half.
