FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State football team didn't back down from the lights or TV cameras on Thursday night with a dominating effort in a 42-7 win over Charleston.
 
Frostburg jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter and kept its foot on the gas for a win that was featured live on MASN that was broadcast to nearly 10 million people. The game was also on replay on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
 
Those fans that tuned in saw the Bobcats win their sixth-consecutive game and improve to 6-1 overall and 6-1 in the Mountain East Conference.
 
Frostburg capitalized on several Charleston (4-3, 3-3) turnovers and bottled up the Golden Eagle offense in all four quarters.
 
The Golden Eagles entered the contest with the MEC's second-ranked offense in yardage (459.3) behind the league's top passing attack (351.8). The Bobcat defense limited UC to just 252 yards in offense and 170 yards through the air.
 
The Bobcats turned a pair of Charleston turnovers in the first half into touchdowns, recovered a pooch kick that led to six more points and limited the visitors to just 141 yards on five possessions over the first two quarters.
 
Junior tailback Gavin Lavat finished the contest with 143 yards rushing on 30 carries and got the scoring started for the Bobcats with a two-yard touchdown run on FSU's first drive. The drive covered 60 yards on 11 plays for the only touchdown from either team in the first quarter.
 
The second quarter featured three touchdowns from Frostburg and it was started by junior Zach Strand as he strip sacked quarterback Brant Grisel at the UC 39. He scooped up the ball and raced 39 yards for a 14-0 cushion.
 
On Charleston's next drive, junior Trevor Booker stepped in front of a Grisel pass at the UC 32 and returned the interception to the 13. Lavat scored from two yards out to push the Bobcat lead to 21-0.
 
The first-half momentum clearly resided with Frostburg as the ensuing kickoff became a pooch kick as it bounced at the Charleston 19 and was recovered by sophomore Michael Morgan. Three plays later, Lavat scored for the third time in the half as he rumbled 12 yards for a 28-0 lead.
 
The visitors finally got on the board in the third quarter when Grisel connected with Mike Strachan for a 24-yard touchdown with 5:19 to play.
 
However, the night belonged to Frostburg as it tacked on two more TDs in the fourth. Frostburg's longest drive of the night started in the third quarter and carried into the fourth as the drive covered 64 yards in nine plays. Graduate quarterback Will Brunson tossed a ball towards the corner of the end zone  and junior wideout Lincoln Ikwubuo hauled in the 27-yard pass for the score.
 
Junior Aizsha Horne closed the night when he scored from a yard out with 5:24 to go that set the final at 42-7.
 
Lavat's three scores match his three-TD effort against Concord earlier in the season and give him eight for the year. Brunson threw for 128 yards on 8-of-16 completions, while Ikwubuo hauled in four passes for 77 yards and a score.
 
Frostburg outgained UC 272-252, but the Bobcats held the football for 37:25 and kept the Golden Eagle offense on the bench for much of the contest.
 
Grisel completed 17-of-23 passes for 170 yards and two interceptions, while Joe Street led the way in rushing with 45 yards on six carries.
 
The Bobcat defense limited Charleston to just two drives over 31 yards, with three sacks and eight tackles for loss. Senior Wayne Palmer led Frostburg with nine tackles and a recovered fumble. Strand filled up the stat sheet with four tackles, two sacks, two TFLs, two forced fumbles, a recovered fumble and a TD.
 
Frostburg returns to action next Saturday at Wheeling at 1:00 pm.