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FROSTBURG STATE (4-1, 3-1 MEC) VS CONCORD (0-6, 0-5 MEC)

-When: Saturday, October 14, 2023
-Where: Athens, W. Va.
-Stadium: Callaghan Stadium (3,700)
-Kickoff: 1 p.m.
-Live Audio: (99.5 DZN Cumberland)
-Live Stats: (Concord Live Stats)

SERIES BREAKDOWN

-All-Time Series: Fourth Meeting: FSU 2-1
-First Meeting: 2019: FSU 52 CU 14
-Last Meeting: 2022: CU 23 FSU 22
-Streak: N/A

GAME NOTES

-LAST TIME OUT FOR FROSTBURG STATE  
   -Frostburg State returns to action this weekend after defending home turf on homecoming last week by defeating UNC Pembroke 31-21. The Braves jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first quarter, but FSU would rattle off 21 straight points between the second and third quarters, capped off with a 50 yard long passing TD from senior QB Graham Walker to sophomore WR Jevonn Gilyard. The Braves would kick off a small rally in the fourth quarter, picking up 10 straight points including a rushing TD as their ground attack found success with 159 rushing yards and an average 5.1 yards per carry. The Bobcats would tack on one more TD in the fourth, and the Braves would turn the ball over on downs to end the contest as FSU would capture their 10th straight homecoming victory at Bobcat Stadium dating back to 2014. 

-SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS 
   -The Mountain Lions traveled to Fairmont State last week for an edition of MEC Thursday Night Football against the Fighting Falcons. Concord's lone TD would come in the first quarter, to make it 14-7 Fairmont State. A safety in the fourth quarter would be the other scoring marker for CU, as Fairmont State would run away with a 42-9 win on primetime. CU managed 331 total yards in the loss, with 309 coming through the air. The 21 rushing yards mark a team struggling on the ground, as last season CU averaged 152 yards rushing and now sits at just 38 yards per game.  

-FROSTBURG STATE HEAD COACH  
   -Eric Wagoner enters his second season as head coach of the Football program, having spent the previous two seasons as the team's defensive coordinator. Wagoner came to Frostburg after serving on the coaching staff at the University of Saint Francis in Indiana for the last 12 years, having been the program's DC for seven seasons. He helped the Cougars win NAIA National Championships in 2016 & 2017 and he was named the 2016 Football Scoop NAIA Coordinator of the Year. In 2016, his defensive squad finished second in the country in scoring (18.4) and second in rushing defense (101.0 ypg). In '17, his Cougar defensive squad led the nation in scoring defense (17.2) and finished first in both total defense (298.0) and rushing defense (92.0). In 2018, he helped the defense to second in NAIA in rushing defense (99.6). Wagoner also served as the Cougars' special team's coordinator and his unit led the Mid State Football Association in kick returns five times in a seven-year stretch. Those return groups also returned eight kicks for TDs.

-CONCORD HEAD COACH 
   -CU made a late coaching change in 2023, naming Brian Ferguson as the 21st Head Coach on May 15. After the conclusion of his playing career at Division II Adams State, he joined the strength and conditioning staff for Tony Dungey's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts in 2000. Later stops at NFL Germany, Jacksonville University, Tiffin the Arena Football League Jacksonville Sharks, among other highlight a true "football life". Ferguson was the offensive coordinator for a high flying CU unit in 2021 and 2022 before taking the HC job.    

 -A TALE OF TWO SEASONS 
   - The Mountain Lions have seen a drastic difference this football season, after winning nine games in 2022 CU finds themselves still in search of their first in 2023. The Mountain Lions averaged just under 40 points per game a season ago, and now average 18 points per contest. CU's last victory came on November 12 of 2022 in a 5OT win over UNC Pembroke. The losing streak is the longest since 2019, where CU lost eight straight games to open the season.

-HOME AWAY FROM HOME
   - Frostburg State has recorded 94 points in just two visits to Callaghan Stadium on the campus of Concord, which is the highest mark for the Bobcats against MEC opponents in the Division II era. 

-SHUT DOWN THE PASS
  - The Bobcats own the fourth best team passing efficiency defense rating coming into play this weekend. The 87.19 measurement also places them at first in the MEC. 

-ROLLING THE DICE
   - FSU ranks third in the country in fourth down conversions (5-6). The only two programs ahead of the Bobcats among the 159 ranked coming into play this weekend are Ouachita Baptist and Truman State. 

-2023 TEAM CAPTAINS
   -The following players have been named team captains for the 2023 season:
-Sr. OL Michael Hudren #68
-Gr. QB Graham Walker #18
- Sr. K Dayne Koontz #37
- Jr. DE Yasir Holmes #8
- R-Jr. LB Colby Street #0

-ALL SEASON LONG ON 99.5 DZN
   -Join Colin Kirkwood all season long on 99.5 DZN FM for radio coverage of Frostburg State Football. Games are available on local radio as well as online via www.995wdzn.com. Be sure to drop by the radio home of the Bobcats for pregame and postgame coverage of the Bobcats.