FROSTBURG, Md – The Frostburg State football team defeated 16th-ranked Notre Dame (Ohio) at home on Saturday afternoon for Homecoming. The Bobcats won in double overtime on a 39-yard field goal by junior Dayne Koontz to seal the upset victory.
 
FSU opened the afternoon with the ball after NDC deferred to the second half. Junior Graham Walker took the field at QB in his first action since week three. After having to punt the ball to the Falcons, junior Akyian Loney came up with a big interception to set the tone for the Frostburg defense. The Falcon pressure forced another punt from the Bobcats and set up the first points of the game on a 41-yard field goal to end the first quarter with a 3-0 NDC lead.
 
The second quarter saw the Bobcat defense stiffen up and keep the Falcons out of the endzone, forcing another field goal to push the Falcon lead to 6-0. With both defenses playing well, back-to-back punts came from each team before the FSU offense would find its groove. Walker found redshirt freshman Sean Aaron on two passes in the drive, the second being a 12-yard lob over the defense for FSU's first score of the game. Koontz knocked through the extra point for the 7-6 Bobcat lead. The Falcons would answer with time expiring in the half on their third field goal, going up 9-7 at halftime.
 
The Bobcats came out of the half down by shocking the Falcons with a great onside dribbler that was kicked and recovered by Koontz. After a short drive, Koontz boomed a 45-yard field goal that put Frostburg in front 10-9. Junior AJ Felton then came up with the second takeaway for the Bobcat defense on Notre Dame's next drive, handing the ball back to the offense. Another surprise move for FSU saw sophomore Kisaye Barnes come in at QB to catch the NDC defense off guard. After two runs of 10-plus yards from Barnes,  Aaron scored again, this time on an eight-yard rush around the left side for a 17-9 lead. Junior Robert Horsey would cause a fumble that was recovered by sophomore Yasir Holmes for the third FSU takeaway. Notre Dame was able to answer, however, getting the ball back and scoring a TD at the end of the third quarter for a narrow 17-16 Frostburg lead.
 
With momentum back on their side, the Falcons would force FSU into a quick punt, then drove down the field again to regain the lead 23-17. Frostburg's offense would cut into that lead, putting together a solid drive that was capped off with a 39-yard field goal from Koontz to bring the score to 23-20. The Bobcat defense again came up big, forcing a punt with time winding down and setting up another Koontz field goal, as he nailed a career-long 51-yarder to tie things at 23-23. Each side traded late possessions, as NDC looked to win the game on a walk-off field goal from 49 yards, but the effort sailed just wide to take the game into overtime. 
 
FSU got the ball first and scored as quick as possible, as Aaron scored from 25 yards out after running through one tackle for a 30-23 lead. Notre Dame answered on their possession after just four plays to tie things again 30-30. With the Falcons getting the ball first in the second overtime, Frostburg's defense would smother a speed option play to the left from four yards out and force a field goal that hit off the post to give FSU a chance at a win. After three straight runs from Aaron, Koontz came up clutch once again, hitting the game-winning 39-yard field goal to upset the No. 16 Falcons.


Walker finished an efficient 17-of-28 for 185 yards and a touchdown, while Barnes added 37 yards rushing on just five attempts. Aaron had 73 yards on 18 carries and two scores, while also catching three passes for 37 yards and another TD. Horsey and senior Dylan Culpen led the defense with 11 tackles each, as Horsey tacked on two and a half tackles for loss and half a sack (combining with redshirt sophomore Isaiah Sewell) to go along with a forced fumble. Senior Luke Freeman had a team-high three tackles for loss, including a sack for his team-leading fourth of the season. 


The win was the Bobcats' first victory over a ranked opponent in Division II and the team's first ranked win overall since 2018. 


With the victory, Frostburg improves to 4-2, while Notre Dame falls to 4-2 on the year. FSU returns to action on the road next Saturday, October 15 to face Wheeling, with kick-off set for 1 p.m. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.