FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State football team picked up a convincing home win over West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 45-7.
WV Wesleyan started the game with the ball and the FSU defense would make an impact right away, as on the second play of the drive, graduate Kamari Ramsey would force a fumble that was recovered by junior Amari Johnson for a quick turnover. With a short field, Frostburg would lean on senior KJ Smothers for five carries and 18 yards, including a 4-and-1 pickup from the four-yard line. He then would finish off the drive with a one-yard touchdown, as sophomore Tyler Cook converted the point after to give FSU an early 7-0 lead.
WVWC would respond quickly, overcoming a holding call with a 42-yard strike to Amari Colon-Brown to get into Frostburg territory. The visitors continue dto move through the air, aided by a pass interference call before Liam McGuire found Jeremiah King on a swing pass to tie things at 7-7. On the resulting kick-off, graduate Owen Doyle would return a short boot 50 yards to the 26-yard line, setting up junior Jordan Brooks to hit classmate Ray Adames for a TD on the first play, regaining a 14-7 lead.
Look to respond again down seven, WVWC went on a long drive that brought them all the way to the Frostburg two-yard line. A mix-up on the hand-off allowed Gavin Kendrick to break through and force a fumble, which Ramsey recovered to prevent the visitors adding a score. Brooks then passed to Adames for 12 yards as the first period came to an end.
Frostburg opened the second quarter giving Adames a reverse for 43 yards down to the WV Wesleyan 14. The drive didn't last much longer, with three plays gaining six yards before Cook hit from 25 yards out. FSU was able to get the ball back quickly, as junior Zack Isaac forced a bad throw with some pressure. Seeking to move up-field quickly, Brooks found junior Tra'Shaun Timmons for 19 and graduate JeVonn Gilyard for 23 to move into the red zone.
Doyle capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, putting FSU up 24-7. Frostburg would continue to look strong on the defensive side, forcing a punt on the next WVWC drive. Frostburg would add another score before the half was over, as junior backup QB Peyton Murphy would throw his first Bobcat touchdown, hitting Timmons on an out route for a 31-7 advantage, which they held onto at the break.
The third would be the only scoreless quarter of the game, as the teams would trade three-and-outs without much offense. WV Wesleyan would go on a long drive in the middle of the quarter, getting to the Frosburg 20, however sophomore Keegan Thorne sacked McGuire out of bounds before senior Zion Bryson and sophomore Isaiah Osafo-Mensah went for one of their own. Seeking a miracle, WVWC went for it on 4th-and-21, where graduate Ramal West would break up a pass to force a turnover on downs.
WV Wesleyan looked to score on their first drive of the final frame, thinking they would score until Kendrick caused another sack fumble that would get picked up by Osafo-Mensah for a 68-yard scoop-and-score that left the lead at 31. WVWC again worked their way into FSU territory, however junior Zack Isaac produced a drive-ending sack on fourth down. Swiftly getting the offense going, Doyle took the ball from 25 yards out to the end zone for a 45-7 score. After WV Wesleyan couldn't do much on their next drive, the clock would eventually run out on the 38-point Frostburg win.
Brooks finished an efficient 16-20 for 181-yards and a TD, with Gilyard and Timmons combining for 10 catches and 152 yards. Dyole led the ground game with 62 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Kendrick had nine total tackles and two sacks while also forcing a pair of fumbles.
With the win, Frostburg moves to 2-2 on the season while WVWC falls to 2-3. FSU hits the road next week as they travel to play Concord on Saturday, October 3 at 1 PM. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.
