WHEELING, W. Va. – The Frostburg State football team dropped a road game to the Wheeling on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 31-27.
 
The Bobcats started the game off with a kick-off from junior Dayne Koontz that sailed into the endzone for a touchback. Wheeling came out throwing and completed two long passes to set up a three-yard run, opening the scoring at 7-0. FSU responded immediately with an opening completion to redshirt freshman Jordan Marcucci for 47 yards, setting up a first and goal from the three-yard line. Fellow redshirt freshman Sean Aaron finished off the drive the next play, going untouched up the middle to even the game after Koontz knocked in the extra point. Wheeling started their next drive again through the air, picking up 62 yards and setting up another touchdown run from the three-yard line to regain the lead 14-7. 
 
After a fast start from both offenses, the Cardinals were able to force the first punt of the game on the next Frostburg drive. Wheeling was able to take the ball the length of the field before the FSU defense would come up big on a fourth down stop with some nice coverage from senior AJ Felton. With the swing in momentum, FSU put together an 11 play, 86-yard drive, including two third down pickups from sophomore Graham Walker through the air and punctuated by a 17-yard touchdown run from sophomore Evan Branch to even things up at 14-14.
 
The second quarter started with the FSU defense forcing three straight incompletions and forcing a punt. Walker found his favorite target so far in the game, sophomore Jordan Marcucci, for a runaway 74-yard touchdown and a 21-14 lead. Things would settle down on both sides until the Bobcats got the ball back with six minutes to go. The drive started off with a jet sweep from sophomore Max Davis that went for 63 yards. Koontz would eventually knock a kick into the wind through the uprights from 42 yards out to increase the lead to 24-14. The Cardinals would strike on the ensuing drive on another big pass play for 48 yards, cutting the Bobcat lead to 24-21. With 1:23 left on the clock, WU was able to force another punt and came up with a huge block to set up another TD and take a 28-24 lead into the half.
 
Frostburg opened the second half with the ball, though were unable to manage a score, giving Wheeling the bal back for a drive that ended with a 29-yard field goal, making the score 31-24. Back-to-back punts ended drives from both teams, the latter of which saw FSU start on their own five yard line. Walker found senior Donnell Milligan for a 30-yard screen to jump start the drive, which culminated in Koontz knocking through a 41-yard field goal to go into the fourth down 31-27.
 
The Bobcat defense opened the final quarter by forcing a punt from the Cardinals. Three big plays from Branch would set FSU up for another try at a field goal, though for the first time all day, Koontz couldn't convert on his attempt into some strong wind. Frostburg's defense came up big again to get the ball back with just under seven minutes remaining. The ground attack would kick into full gear, with Aaron and Branch taking FSU down the field looking to take the lead. With 1:38 left in the game, Walker would take a shot down the field on a contested ball in the end zone, as it was a Wheeling defensive back that made a play on the ball to intercept and effectively seal the win. The Cardinals were able to run out the clock, getting a late first down to end the game with a 31-27 victory.  
 
Walker had 332 yards passing, going 22-35 with a touchdown and an interception. Marcucci had 153 yards receiving on six catches and a touchdown. Junior Robert Horsey led the defense with eight tackles, while sophomore Yasir Holmes had the lone Bobcat sack on the day. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 4-3 on the year, while the Cardinals move to 5-2. The Bobcats will host Fairmont State on a short week Thursday night under the lights at Bobcat Stadium for a 7 PM kickoff, where the game will be broadcast on regional television by MASN and AT&T SportsNet. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.