FROSTBURG, Md.

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WHEELING (3-3, 3-2 MEC) VS FROSTBURG STATE (5-1, 4-1 MEC)
-When: Saturday Oct. 16. 2021
-Where: Frostburg, Md.
-Stadium: Bobcat Stadium (4,000)
-Kickoff: 1 p.m.
-Live Video: (Frostburg State Broadcast)
-Live Audio: (99.5 WDZN Cumberland)
-Live State: (Frostburg State Live Stats)

SERIES BREAKDOWN
-All-Times Series: FSU Leads 2-0
-First Meeting: 2019 - FSU 42-12
-Last Meeting: 2020 Spring - FSU 27-20
-Streak: FSU +2

NOTES:

TICKETS/TAILGATING      
- Don't forget tickets need to be purchased online, as cash will not be accepted at the gate. Purchase at frostburgtix.universitytickets.com.

PRIOR TO KICKOFF      
- The Frostburg State Bobcats will host the Wheeling Cardinals this week as part of the homecoming weekend festivities on campus.

Frostburg enters the matchup vs Wheeling this week after a 23-21 defeat to the 14th ranked Notre Dame College Falcons in week five on Saturday afternoon in South Euclid, Ohio.

Wheeling enters the matchup after dropping their matchup last week against UNC Pembroke on the road, 34-28.

SERIES HISTORY      
-Frostburg State leads all-time series: 2-0. The last contest between the two teams was March 11, 2021 at Bobcat Stadium where the Bobcats captured the victory 27-20. Graduate student Kyle Belack caught a 38 yard touchdown pass and senior Malcom Facey also scored a touchdown run.

LAST TIME OUT ON EACH SIDE     
- Last time out for the Bobcats was a 23-21 loss to Notre Dame College on the road in Ohio. The Bobcats opened up with a strong first quarter, after senior Malik Morris found the endzone with a nine yard reception. Promptly when the clock flipped to the second quarter, the Falcons came alive and scored 20 unanswered points to take the lead at halftime, 20-7.

FSU would come out in the third quarter and get on the board with an electrifying 63-yard touchdown reception for graduate student Kyle Belack, cutting the lead to 20-14 for the Falcons. The rest of the third would go by without a change , setting up a dramatic fourth quarter. After an NDC field goal to make the score 23-14, junior Josh Maxwell would rip off a 62 yard rush and then convert from two yards out a few plays later to bring the score to 21-23.

After forcing the Falcons to punt on the next possession, the FSU offense would also punt the ball back to NDC again as the final minutes of the fourth quarter were slipping away. The Falcons set up for a 23 yard field goal to add to their lead late, but senior Carl Igweh would block it and give some hope to FSU very late with around two minutes left. However, the offense couldn't make their way down the field and turned the ball over on downs sealing the 23-21 loss.

- The Cardinals traveled down to UNC Pembroke last week and struggled in the first half going down 24-9 at the half. The Cardinals would create a strong third quarter, scoring two touchdowns and a safety, making it 24-21 at the end of three. The Braves would add a touchdown and a field goal to go up 34-21, but Wheeling would add another touchdown to make it 34-28. Wheeling would fail to take the lead on the last drive of the game and end up losing 34-28.

PUSHING THEM BACK      
- Junior Luke Freeman ranks third in the MEC in the tackles for loss department after six weeks with a stat line that reads: seven solo, five assisted for a 9.5 total and 56 yards. Additionally, senior Hauns White ranks eighth in the MEC with seven solo, two assisted for an eight total and 49 yards. Senior Carl Igweh entered the top ten this week as well at number seven with a stat line of: four solo, eight assisted for a total of eight and 40 yards.

GREAT HANDS      
- Senior Malik Morris sits at third in receiving leaders for the conference with 21 receptions for 473 yards, 5 TDs, with a 78.8 avg/g.

BRING THE PRESSURE      
- Frostburg State currently has one player within the top 10 for sacks amongst the MEC. Seniors Hauns White (5th, 4 solo, 3 assisted) continues to pace the defensive side of things.

HOLD ON TO THE FOOTBALL      
- Freshman Payton Payne is second in the MEC in fumbles recovered with two this season and a yardage return total of 55, which includes the touchdown he scored from one against Concord this season.

THROUGH THE AIR      
- Redshirt freshman Graham Walker ranks fifth in the MEC in passing through six weeks of the season, with a stat line of 69-131, 7 int, 52.7%, 1266 yds, and 14 TD and an average of 211.0/game.

ON THE RETURN      
- Graduate student Zae Giles has entered the top five in kick return rankings in the MEC at number four. Through six games, Giles has 10 returns for 192 yards, a long of 38 yards and an average return of 19.2 yds.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN    
- Senior Gavin Lavat is 488 yards away from taking the spot of all-time leading rusher for the Frostburg State University football program. Fellow senior Malik Morris is also 489 yards away from taking the spot of all-time leading receiver for the Frostburg State University football program.

SCOUTING FROSTBURG STATE    
- 5-1 Overall in 2021.
- Second in MEC in scoring offense (33.0 avg/g), seventh in scoring defense (20.8 avg/g).
-  Fifth in total offense (365.2 avg/g), seventh in total defense (361.2 avg/g).
- Fourth in rushing offense (148.0 yds/g), third in rushing defense (98.2 yds/g).
- Seventh in passing offense (217.2 avg/g), tenth in passing defense (263.0 avg/g).
- First in MEC in sacks (24); fifth in MEC in sacks allowed (12).
- Third in time of possession in MEC (30:19 avg).
- Seventh in MEC in 3rd down conversion percentage (28-76, 36.8%).
- First in MEC in Opponent 4th down conversion (4-11, 36.4%)
- Sixth in red zone offense in MEC, (17-21, 81% / 14 TDs / 3-3 FGs)
- Eleventh in the MEC for penalties, 51 for 435 yards.

SCOUTING WHEELING     
- 3-3 overall in 2021.
- Wheeling ranks fifth in MEC in scoring offense (25.0 avg/g), third in scoring defense (16.2 avg/g).
- Sixth in total offense (340.8 avg/g), second in total defense (275.3 avg/g).
- Fifth in rushing offense (112.2 yds/g), second in rushing defense (97.2 yds/g).
- Fifth in passing offense (228.7 yds/g), second in passing defense (178.2 avg/g).
- Fourth in MEC in sacks for (15); sixth in MEC in sacks allowed (15).
- Eleventh in time of possession in MEC (27:11 avg).
- Third in MEC in interceptions for (8).
- Ninth in MEC in penalties, 53 for 426 yards.
- Third in MEC in 3rd down conversion (32-83, 38.6%).
- First in MEC in kickoff returns, (22.6 avg/ret).

ADDITIONAL WHEELING NOTES     
- First year of football - 2018 (exhibition), 2019 first season
- All-time program record: 6-15
- Program's best recent single season is currently 2021, at 3-3.
- Zac Bruney was hired in 2017 to lead the Cardinals and build the program in its initial years.

A VICTORY WOULD      
- Lift the Bobcats to 297-288-8 overall in 60 seasons.
- DeLane Fitzgerald his 58th victory at the helm of Frostburg State.

FSU SUCCESS MONTH BY MONTH     
The month of October has been a stellar month for Frostburg football, netting a winning percentage of 80% (0.800).

In fact, since the 2015 season, Frostburg is 24-6 in the month of October.

Follow along monthly as month-by-month winning percentage is tallied here.

Frostburg Month-By-Month Over The Last Five Seasons
Month    W-L
September    21-6
October    24-6
November    12-6

TEAM GAME STREAKS    

HOME WINS: 5
last loss: vs Notre Dame (OH) (13-35) 11/2/19

ROAD WINS: 0
last loss: at Notre Dame (OH) (21-23) 10/9/21

CONFERENCE WINS: 0
last loss: at Notre Dame (OH) (21-23) 10/9/21

SCORING: 71
last shutout: at SUNY Brockport (0-46) 10/11/14

SCORING A TD: 64
last contest without a TD: vs Wesley (3-44) 9/12/15