SOUTH EUCLID, OHIO. - The Frostburg State football team came up just short against Notre Dame. The final score of the game was 23-21 in favor of the Falcons.

The Bobcats won the toss and decided to take the ball in the second half. The FSU defense set the tone on the opening drive forcing a punt after a penalty erased the Falcons first down. Redshirt freshman Graham Walker couldn't have asked for a better first drive. Walker went 5-6 on the drive with 84 yard passing and a touchdown throw to senior Malik Morris. Sophomore Dayne Koontz knocked through the extra point to make the score 7-0 FSU. After giving up a big run on the first play of the drive the Bobcats defense again forced a quick punt.

The second quarter started with a punt from freshman Chris Retzbach forcing NDC to start on their own 26-yard line. The Bobcat defense continued their strong start to the game and forced a three and out to get the ball back in the hands of the offense. After a 20-yard completion to Morris, the offense stalled and again pined the Falcons back. The Falcons drove the field and were able to hit a field goal from 27 yards out. After the field goal the Bobcats had to punt out of their own endzone after a three and out. Five plays later the Falcons took the lead on a touchdown rush from their QB. The Bobcats gave the Falcons the ball again when Walker fumbled on the second play of the drive. The Falcons were able to capitalize on the turnover with another touchdown bringing the score to 17-7. The Falcons added an additional field goal before the half expired extending the lead to 13 points.

The Bobcats came out of the half with the ball in hand and the biggest deficit of the season. Walker found graduate student Kyle Belack on the fifth play of the second half to close the gap down to six points. Belack broke two tackles on the 63-yard catch and run. The Bobcats defense then held the Falcons to a field goal that went wide. FSU put together another threating drive getting to the ND 26-yard line. The Bobcats failed to pick up a 4^th and 6, when Walker's pass to Morris was a bit behind the intended target..

Notre Dame (OH) held position into the start of the fourth quarter and drove close enough to tack on the eventual game winning field goal from 31 yards out. Junior Josh Maxwell answered on the next play from scrimmage with a 62-yard rush. Maxwell eventually capped of the drive with a two-yard run for a touchdown. After the Koontz extra point went through the score was 21-23 in favor of the Falcons. The Bobcats had two more possessions to try and win the game but were unable to get anything together.

The loss is the first of the season for Frostburg and makes them 5-1 overall. The win also makes the Falcons 5-1 on the year. Frostburg, Notre Dame and Charleston now sit at the top of the MEC with five wins and one loss.  

The Bobcats return home next week for homecoming to face Wheeling on October 16 at 2 PM. For more information on Frostburg athletics please visit frostburgsports.com.