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NOTRE DAME COLLEGE (2-2, 1-2 MEC) VS FROSTBURG STATE (3-0, 2-0 MEC)

-When: Saturday, September 30, 2023
-Where: Frostburg, Md.
-Stadium: Bobcat Stadium (4,000)
-Kickoff: 1 p.m.
-Live Audio: (99.5 DZN Cumberland)
-Live Video: (Bobcat Sports Network)
-Live Stats: (Frostburg State Live Stats)

SERIES BREAKDOWN

-All-Time Series: Fifth Meeting, NDC 3-1
-First Meeting: 2019, NDC 35-13
-Last Meeting: 2022, FSU 33-30 2 OT
-Streak: N/A

GAME NOTES

-LAST TIME OUT FOR FROSTBURG STATE  
   -Frostburg State sat idle in week four as their contest against Alderson Broaddus was canceled, so the last time out for the Bobcats was a 37-7 home opener victory over West Liberty on 9/16. FSU's rush game was rolling downhill all afternoon, with three RBs finding the end zone for the Bobcats. Frostburg State kept the Hilltoppers virtually silent on the ground, holding WL to three net yards on the ground in 28 rushing attempts. The secondary came up with two interceptions as well, marking three straight games with at least one interception for the defense. The win marked five straight victories over the Hilltoppers and the win marks the third straight season of Frostburg State opening the season with a 3-0 record. 

-SCOUTING THE FALCONS 
   -The Falcons find themselves in the midst of an early season free fall in September. NDC has been struggling offensively since their outburst two weeks ago, and in their matchup last weekend against Fairmont State, the Fighting Falcons kept NDC off the board for the entire first half. NDC would look to rally from the 17-0 hole they found themselves in at the half, but were only able to muster 14 points. The Falcons made a strong push in the final drive of the game to either tie or take the lead within the final minute of the fourth, but an interception would seal their fate, as Fairmont State would escape with a 17-14 win. NDC has turned the ball over four times via interception in their last two games.

-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.

-NOTRE DAME COLLEGE HEAD COACH 
   -NDC features Garrett Mack in his second season as the Head Coach of the Falcons. Mack joined the Notre Dame staff in 2020, holding multiple positions of run game coordinator, defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the program before his promotion in February 2022. Before his stint in Division II, he would spend time with Oberlin College in 2017 and 2019 working with the linebackers and as the wide receivers/strength coach at Baldwin Wallace University in 2018.

 -FALCON HIGHS AND LOWS
   - The 2023 season has been filled with highs and lows for the Falcons. Two weeks ago against West Virginia Wesleyan, NDC set new conference and program records in their 87-9 win, but promptly fell on hard times in the next two weeks. In the two losses following the big win, NDC was only able to score 35 points. The two losses in a row marks the first occurrence of that on a Falcon schedule since 2015.

-NO FLY ZONE
   - FSU currently resides at 8th in the country in passes intercepted and second in the MEC following the bye week. The seven pick total sits behind the national leader Emporia State (Kansas), who has racked up 11 this season to date. 

-BEND BUT DON'T BREAK
  - The Bobcats own the seventh best red zone defense in the country, with a value of 0.500. In conference play, they rank first. 

-CONTROL THE TEMPO
   - FSU continues to work the time of possession stat, leading the MEC and ranking 11th in the country with an average time of 33 minutes controlling the football. 

-ONE OF THE FEW
   - The Bobcats remain as one of only 28 remaining teams in Division II with an undefeated record. The MEC as a whole features two of those teams, with FSU and Charleston (WV). 

-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.