PEMBROKE, N.C. – Frostburg State football wrapped up its spring season by earning a 40-28 win over UNC Pembroke on Saturday afternoon.
First-year quarterback Graham Walker made his first career start, playing all but one snap on the afternoon. Walker helped orchestrate back-to-back scoring drives to open the game. The first drive ended in a field goal from sophomore Dayne Koontz, his first of four on the day. After a UNCP three-and-out, the Bobcats went right back down the field as graduate wide receiver Kyle Belack hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-0 Frostburg State.
Koontz would nail his second field goal on the day, this time from 35 yards away to make it a 13-0 Bobcats lead less than five minutes into the second quarter.
UNCP got the ball back and were finally able to get the offense clicking. The Braves would use 11 plays to make the 75-yard trek to the end zone, as Jai'Veon Smalls caught a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Jones to cut the FSU lead to 13-7.
After a Frostburg three-and-out, UNC Pembroke marched right back down the field. This time, their big play ability showed up, as Jones found a wide-open Sean Brown down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown to give the Braves a 14-13 lead.
Frostburg got the ball back with 1:30 remaining until halftime and put together a solid half-ending drive to reclaim the lead. On a second down play, Walker found senior Malik Morris over the middle of the field on a 46-yard connection to get into Pembroke territory. After a UNCP penalty moved the ball into the red zone, Walker and Belack combined for another touchdown, this time from 12 yards out to put Frostburg back ahead 20-14 at the half.
UNCP went with the ground game out of halftime, gaining all 64 yards of their touchdown drive on rushing plays. Raeshawn Griffin found paydirt from three yards out to give the Braves a 21-20 lead five minutes into the second half.
The Bobcats' offense stalled on its initial drive of the half, as the punting unit trotted onto the field on a 4th and 1 at the UNCP 47-yard line. However, the ball was snapped to first-year Seth Fitzgerald, catching the Braves' defense off-guard as he galloped for 17 yards to move the chains. On the very next play, senior Aizsha Horne went untouched on a 30-yard dash to the end zone to put Frostburg back on top 27-21.
After the Pembroke offense failed to move the ball forward, they lined up to punt from their own 13-yard line. Morris streaked in off the edge, got his hand on the punt, and scooped up the loose ball in the end zone for a Bobcat touchdown. The play swung momentum back to Frostburg's sideline as they took a 34-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth, the Braves put together a solid touchdown drive to pull back within a score. A slip screen to running back Joseph Early on a 3rd and 20 set up the Braves with a first and goal situation. UNCP would finish off the drive two plays later, as Jones found Shammond Hicks in the middle of the end zone to make it a 34-28 game.
The Bobcats were undeterred, formulating two straight scoring drives to ice the game. Both drives resulted in Koontz field goals, the first of which came from 37 yards out to give Frostburg a 37-28 lead. After FSU's defense forced a turnover on downs, Koontz would split the uprights again from 33 yards away to make it a 40-28 game.
Walker went 8-for-17 passing with a season high 208 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns. Morris was dynamic in multiple areas, catching three passes for 132 yards, as well as blocking two punts and scoring a special teams touchdown. Junior Zachary Willett paced the Bobcats' defense with a team-high seven tackles, while seniors Carl Igweh and Zach Strand combined for six tackles for loss and three sacks. Redshirt first-year Octavious Strong picked off a pass on the final play of the game, earning his first career interception.
With the victory, the Bobcats conclude their 2021 spring season with a record of 3-1. For more information, visit frostburgsports.com.
