BUCKHANNON, W.Va. - Frostburg quarterback Will Brunson threw for three touchdowns and FSU scored 21 points in the second half to outpace West Virginia Wesleyan 35-13, Saturday in MEC action.
Frostburg found the endzone in the first and second quarter for a 14-6 lead at halftime. However, FSU scored three-straight touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to secure its fifth-straight win.
The defense also played a vital role in the win for Frostburg as the unit produced nine sacks, 13 tackles for loss and forced Wesleyan to punt eight times. Juniors Trevor Booker ad Carl Igweh led the defensive effort with 3.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks each.
FSU entered the game as the MEC's leader in both sacks and tackles for loss and Saturday's number should keep Frostburg at the top of the league's statistical ledger.
Brunson finished the afternoon with 244 yards passing on 14-of-23 completions with one interception. Junior running back Gavin Lavat ran for 73 yards on 22 carries, while sophomore Isaac Smith had a breakout game at wide receiver with two receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Brunson and junior Christian Thornton connected for the game's first touchdown on Frostburg's first drive. Junior Vinny Persichetti intercepted Wesleyan QB Jarrett Northrop at the WCWV 27 and two plays later, Brunson found Thornton for a 21-yard TD and a 7-0 lead.
Wesleyan narrowed its deficit to 7-6 late in the first quarter when Derek Drapen found Jarrett Northrop for a five-yard score on a "Philly Special".
Brunson tossed his second touchdown of the opening half that gave FSU a 14-6 lead at the break. Brunson found Smith for a 39-yard touchdown with 13:34 showing on the second quarter clock that capped FSU's longest drive of the first half.
Frostburg started to put the game away when it scored on its second possession of the third quarter. The visitors marched 75 yards on six plays and Brunson found first-year George Richardson for a 34-yard TD pass along the Wesleyan sideline for 21-6 lead.
Frostburg's final two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter as its lead ballooned to 35-6. Senior Wayne Palmer stripped Northrop at the 27 and on first down, junior Terrell Brown weaved his way through traffic for a 27-yard scoring run with 11:01 to play.
Junior Aizsha Horne capped the afternoon for Frostburg with a five-yard scoring run that extended the lead to 35-6. Northrop found Kenny Lewis for Wesleyan's second and final touchdown with a 24-yard strike that narrowed the final count to 35-13.
Northrop finished with 234 yards through the air on 20-of-32 completions. Laurence Brown ran for 61 yards on 12 carries to lead the Wesleyan ground attach.
FSU returns to action on Thursday when it hosts Charleston at 7:00 pm. The game will broadcast to nearly 10 million homes on MASN. The game will be re-broadcast on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh at 9:00 pm.
Notes: Frostburg posted its 19th win in its last 21 road games … FSU is now 37-3 under coach DeLane Fitzgerald when scoring first … Frostburg allowed just its second sack in six games this fall … Frostburg is now 19-5 in the month of October in the last five years … FSU is now 3-0 in Saturday games in 2019.
