October 8th, 2023 by WCBC Radio
Frostburg State Football defeated UNC Pembroke at home on homecoming weekend by a score of 31-21.
With the colors of Fall starting to show at Bobcat Stadium, the Bobcat alumni showed up in a big way to support FSU. Frostburg won the toss and decided to defer the ball to the second half. UNCP took the ball methodically down the field working through their opening drive with success. The Bobcat defense tightened up for a bend don't break opening drive, holding the Braves to a 29-yard field goal. Frostburg saw chunk yards from senior Graham Walker both on the ground and through the air. The drive stalled right before the Bobcats entered the redzone, setting up a 45-yard field goal for senior Dayne Koontz, who knocked through the kick to tie the game back up at 3-3. UNCP stated their second drive with seven left in the opening quarter. Again, the Braves worked the ball down the field on the ground with run plays on seven of nine play calls. The Braves finished this drive off with the first touchdown of the game, putting them up 10-3. Frostburg finished the quarter with a three and out, trailing the Braves going into the second.
To open the second quarter the Bobcats and Braves both forced three and outs, with the Bobcat defense tightening things up by forcing four punts and keeping the Braves off the board. FSU started in UNCP territory near the 10-minute mark with two nice runs from sophomore Sean Aaron. In the redzone Walker found graduate Will Hall to set up the Bobcats first TD. Aaron finished off the drive with a two yard run into the endzone with the Koontz point after making the score 10-10. The FSU defense and a hurry from junior Delonta Butler set up another FSU possession after a punt. On the opening play Walker hit sophomore Jevonn Gilyard on a 20-yard completion. FSU then took to the ground with redshirt freshman Owen Doyle scoring from nine yards out to give the Bobcats a 17-10 lead into the half with FSU set to receive the second half kick.
Head Coach Eric Wagoner's half time speech saw an inspired team come out of the looker room for the second half. Walker threw a beautiful ball over the top, dropping a pass into the hands of Gilyard for a 50-yard touchdown. Now up 24-10 Koontz hit a great onside kick recovered by sophomore Wylan Harich, but couldn't capitalize on the free possession. The Bobcats and Braves then traded of two long drives without putting any points on the board.
UNCP started the fourth down 14 and with the possession of the ball. The Braves cut into the lead hitting a 37 yard field goal early into the final quarter making the score 24-13 FSU. UNCP would continue to mount a comeback forcing a FSU punt on the next drive and score on their next drive through the air. After converting a two point play on a throwback pass, the score was now 24-21 with the Bobcats still leading. FSU started the next drive on the 23 yard line, then on the second play of the drive Walker found sophomore Amari N'namdi-Hall for a 40-yard gain to flip the field. FSU then proceeded to bleed six minutes off the clock, settling initally for a field goal, but a roughing the kicker call gave them the ball for a first down on the four-yard line. Aaron ran into the endzone for his second score of the day to seal the win, as the defense finished off the game for the 31-21 victory.
Walker was 11-of-21 on the day for 256 yards and a touchdown, with Gilyard his favored receiver with three catches for 78 yards and a score. Aaron finished the game with 98 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. The Bobcat defense finished the day with one sack, six QB hurries and two interceptions.
With the win the Bobcats move to 4-1 on the season and Braves fall to 3-3. FSU hits the road next week traveling to Concord for a 1 PM Saturday start. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
