FROSTBURG, Md. – Frostburg State opened its 2016 season in style on Saturday night in front of a packed Bobcat Stadium with a 31-10 win over Geneva.
The Bobcats (1-0) scored in all four quarters of the contest and never trailed the Golden Tornadoes (0-1). The win is the third straight for Frostburg in the series and handed it the overall lead in the series 13-12-1.
Frostburg racked up 345 yards of offense behind 249 passing yards. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cox threw for a career-high 243 yards and tied a career-best with three passing touchdowns to power the Bobcat attack.
Cox opened the contest with a three-yard scoring toss to junior Russell Neverdon midway through the first quarter for a 7-0 cushion. The duo later connected on a 21-yard touchdown that sealed the final score at 31-10. Cox rolled to his right and found Neverdon running along the back of the endzone for FSU's fourth and final offensive touchdown of the night.
In between Neverdon's touchdown receptions, sophomore Rashawn Johnson squirmed out of the pack at the line of scrimmage for a five-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the second quarter for a 14-0 Frostburg advantage.
The Frostburg defense was just as impressive as it held Geneva to just 102 yards in offense on five first-half possessions. FSU forced Geneva to punt four times in the opening half and allowed a 33-yard field goal for the visitor's only points of the half.
Senior kicker Isaac Robinson added to Frostburg's edge on the opening possession of the second half. The Bobcats moved to the Geneva nine-yard line and Robinson connected on a 26-yard field goal for a 17-3 lead.
Geneva's offense finally got going on the ensuing possession as it moved 90 yards on two plays for its only touchdown of the night. Devin Kelosky darted up the home sideline for a 77-yard score that trimmed Frostburg's lead to just 17-10.
However, the Bobcats answered on their next possession by collecting their longest drive of the game. Frostburg covered 65 yards in eight plays and Cox found junior wideout Joe Beckford for a 15-yard touchdown that pushed FSU's lead to 23-10.
Early in the fourth, the Bobcat special teams swarmed Geneva punter Colton Booher in the endzone for a safety and Cox later found Neverdon for the game's final points.
Neverdon finished with 107 yards receiving on seven receptions and two touchdowns, while Johnson ran for 25 yards on nine carries and a score.
Aside from Kelosky's 77-yard scoring run, Geneva's option offense managed just 134 yards on 55 plays. The Bobcat defense registered 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. Senior William Sewell led the way with 10 tackles, including two TFL's and 0.5 sacks. Senior Matt Capozza added eight tackles, including a blocked punt in the second quarter that led to Johnson's scoring run.
Frostburg travels to #7 Wesley next Saturday for a 1:00 pm kickoff.
