FROSTBURG, Md.

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#23/- FROSTBURG STATE (4-0 MEC, 5-0) @ #14/#14 NOTRE DAME (OH) (3-1 MEC, 4-1)
-When: Saturday Oct. 9, 2021
-Where: South Euclid, Ohio
-Stadium: Mueller Field (2,000)
-Kickoff: 12 p.m.
-Live Video: (Notre Dame OH Broadcast)
-Live Radio: (99.5 WDZN Cumberland)
-Live Stats: (Notre Dame OH Live Stats)

SERIES BREAKDOWN
-All-Time Series: NDC 2-0
-First Meeting: 2019 - NDC 35-13
-Last Meeting: 2020 Spring - NDC 25-19
-Streak: NDC +2

NOTES:

PRIOR TO KICKOFF      
- The Frostburg State Bobcats will travel to the home of the Notre Dame (OH) Falcons this Saturday afternoon in the sixth game of the 2021 season with kickoff at 12:00 p.m.

Frostburg enters the matchup vs NDC this week after a 51-21 victory over the UNC Pembroke Braves in week five on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.This season marks the first time the Bobcats have gone 5-0 to open the season since 2018, with wins over Stevenson 34-7, TCNJ 47-7, Rowan 34-7, Wesley 35-34 and William Paterson 56-0. This the first undefeated season start in the DII era.

Notre Dame (OH) enters the matchup after dropping their matchup last week against Charleston (WV) on the road, 38-28.

SERIES HISTORY      
-Notre Dame (OH) leads all-time series: 2-0. The last contest between the two teams was March 20th, 2021 in South Euclid where the Falcons captured the victory 25-19. Redshirt freshman Graham Walker scored two touchdowns in the matchup, one via rush and one passing to graduate student Kyle Belack in the loss.  Senior Carl Igweh also scored a safety in the loss for FSU.

LAST TIME OUT ON EACH SIDE     
- Frostburg State captured a 51-21 victory on October 2nd over UNC Pembroke in conference play. A back and forth affair in the first quarter had multiple scores for both teams, but the Bobcats would open up a two score lead at 28-14 right before the first half ended. Into the second half, FSU would take over scoring a safety on defense for the first time since 2019, in addition to the three total touchdown receptions for graduate student Zae Giles throughout the afternoon.   

The Bobcats would post over 500 total yards of offense in the victory, and the defense would stand strong only allowing one touchdown in the second half of the contest. One last touchdown late for the Braves would add to their total, but FSU went on to win 51-21 in front of a stellar crowd.

- Notre Dame (OH) fell on October 2nd in upset fashion to Charleston (WV) 38-28 on the road. The Falcons never lead in the second half of the contest, as UC kept at least a three point cushion between the two teams at a minimum.

The Falcons originally took leads of 7-3 and 14-10 in the first half of the contest, but struggled to contain the rushing attack of UC throughout the contest. Scoring rushes of 35, 58, 61 and 70 yards throughout the contest were registered by the Golden Eagles. The lost dropped NDC from the top ten of both DII ranking polls (AFCA and D2.com).

CLEAR SKIES      
- Frostburg State has a top five player in the MEC in passes defended after five weeks of the season. Senior Akyian Loney has tallied six pass breakups and one interception totaling seven on the year to date.

GETTING NOTICED      
- Frostburg State was mentioned in the weekly AFCA Coaches Poll receiving the rank of 23 which is the first time the program was ranked in the DII version of the rankings. The highest the program ever reached in the DIII poll was a rank of 6 near the end of the 2018 season.
 
PUSHING THEM BACK      
- Junior Luke Freeman ranks second in the MEC in the tackles for loss department after five weeks with a stat line that reads: seven solo, five assisted for a 9.5 total and 56 yards. Additionally, senior Hauns White ranks fourth in the MEC with seven solo, two assisted for an eight total and 49 yards. Sophomore Leonard Scott entered the top five this week as well at number 5 with a stat line of: four solo, six assisted for a total of seven and 37 yards.

GREAT HANDS      
- Senior Malik Morris sits at 4th in receiving leaders for the conference with 16 receptions for 422 yards, 4 TDs, with a 84.4 avg/g.

BRING THE PRESSURE      
- Frostburg State currently has two players within the top 10 for sacks amongst the MEC. Seniors Hauns White (4th, 4 solo, 1 assisted) and sophomore Leonard Scott (8th, 1 solo, 5 assisted) continue to pace the defense this season.

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 last week.

THROUGH THE AIR      
- Redshirt freshman Graham Walker ranks fourth in the MEC in passing through five weeks of the season, with a stat line of 55-106, 7 int, 51.9%, 1036 yds, and 12 TD and an average of 207.2/game.

ON THE RETURN      
- Graduate student Zae Giles has entered the top five in kick return rankings in the MEC at number four. Through five games, Giles has seven returns for 149 yards, a long of 38 yards and an average return of 21.3 yds.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN    
- Senior Gavin Lavat is 503 yards away from taking the spot of all-time leading rusher for the Frostburg State University football program. Fellow Senior Malik Morris is also 554 yards away from taking the spot of all-time leading receiver for the Frostburg State University football program.

SCOUTING FROSTBURG STATE    
- 5-0 Overall in 2021.
- Second in MEC in scoring offense (35.4 avg/g), sixth in scoring defense (20.4 avg/g).
-  Fourth in total offense (374.2 avg/g), fifth in total defense (353.0 avg/g).
- Third in rushing offense (159.6 yds/g), first in rushing defense (71.6 yds/g).
- Sixth in passing offense (228.8 avg/g), twelfth in passing defense (281.4 avg/g).
- First in MEC in sacks (24); fifth in MEC in sacks allowed (9).
- Third in MEC in interceptions for (6).
- Fourth in time of possession in MEC (29:47 avg).
- Sixth in MEC in 3rd down conversion percentage (25-65, 38.5%).
-Third in MEC in opponent 3rd down conversion, (20-59, 33.9%)
- Third in red zone offense in MEC, (15-19, 78.9% / 12 TDs / 3-3 FGs)
- Ninth in the MEC for penalties, 42 for 351 yards.

SCOUTING NOTRE DAME (OH)     
- 4-1 overall in 2021.
- NDC ranks third in MEC in scoring offense (31.4 avg/g), sixth in scoring defense (20.4 avg/g).
- First in total offense (446.4 avg/g), sixth in total defense (360.8 avg/g).
- Second in rushing offense (188.8 yds/g), seventh in rushing defense (155.6 yds/g).
- Third in passing offense (257.6 yds/g), third in passing defense (205.2 avg/g).
- Second in MEC in sacks for (20); first in MEC in sacks allowed (6).
- Seventh in time of possession in MEC (29:35 avg).
- First in MEC in interceptions for (10).
- First in MEC in penalties, 54 for 525 yards.
- Third in MEC in 3rd down conversion (29-73, 39.7%)

ADDITIONAL NOTRE DAME (OH) NOTES     
- First year of football - 2009
- All-time program record: 86-48
- Program's best recent single season was 2018 at 13-1 overall (lost in semifinals of NCAA Playoffs to Valdosta State 24-30).
- Mickey Mental is 9-1 in the midst of season number two as head coach at NDC. He was originally brought on as a graduate assistant in 2009, promoted to recruiting coordinator in 2013, offensive coordinator in 2015, assistant head coach in 2016 and then finally head coach in 2019.

A VICTORY WOULD      
- Lift the Bobcats to 297-287-8 overall in 60 seasons.
- DeLane Fitzgerald his 58th victory at the helm of Frostburg State.
- Be a 6-0 start for Frostburg State for the first time since 2018.

FSU SUCCESS MONTH BY MONTH     
The month of October has been a stellar month for Frostburg football, netting a winning percentage of 82% (0.827).

In fact, since the 2015 season, Frostburg is 24-5 and has won its last 12 games straight in 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    24-5
November    12-6

TEAM GAME STREAKS    

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

ROAD WINS: 4
last loss: at Notre Dame (OH) (19-25) 3/20/20

CONFERENCE WINS: 6
last loss: at Notre Dame (OH) (19-25) 3/20/20

SCORING: 70
last shutout: at SUNY Brockport (0-46) 10/11/14

SCORING A TD: 63
last contest without a TD: vs Wesley (3-44) 9/12/15