Bobcats Lead Season 3-1 After Win Over Kean Cougars

Rainclouds encompassed the campus on Saturday, October 3, as the Frostburg football program hosted the undefeated Kean Cougars. Frostburg was able to hold off the Cougars with late game heroics on the part of the Bobcat defense. FSU stripped Kean of its undefeated title and handed the Cougars their first loss of the 2015 season. This marks first time in 10 years that the Bobcats have started their season 3-1.

The rain was falling steadily over the Bobcat stadium when the Frostburg Bobcats took the field to defend their home turf. It was apparent that the weather had become a factor in hindering both offenses through the duration of the game. The Bobcats totaled only 194 yards on offense, 59 of which came through the air, while the remaining 135 came from the Bobcat ground attack.

Kean was able to post an early field goal, however the Bobcats were able to recover fast, scoring one minute and 18 seconds later (via a 5-yard touchdown run by running back Jordan Brown). After a 2 point conversion courtesy of an Isaac Robinson run, the Bobcats led the Cougars by a score of 8-3. Kean would score once again just before the end of the first quarter. This time, Quarterback Charles App found Kean wide-out Tahj Hammary for a 46-yard passing score. The Cougars’ extra point would be blocked, holding the score at 9-8 in favor of the visiting Cougars.

The low scoring affair would continue until just before halftime. Neither offense would be able to find the endzone until after the halftime break. The Bobcat special teams however, created a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown just five minutes prior to the halftime break. Return specialist Austin Bonsall burnt the Cougars punt coverage and earned the Bobcats a touchdown and six more points.

Following the halftime intermission, the Bobcats retook the field leading the Cougars by just six points. The third period featured a scoring drive by each team. First to strike in the second half was the Bobcats. Taking advantage of an extremely short field, redshirt freshman quarterback Connor Cox, crossed the plane of the goal line from one yard out, expanding the Bobcats lead to 12 points. Following Cox’s score, the Bobcat’s two point conversion pass attempt would fail, leaving the Bobcats lead unchanged.

The Kean Cougars would also find the endzone in the third quarter. Cougar running back Brian Matthews found the end zone from 26 yards out. Kean’s extra point attempt would be blocked however, cutting the Bobcat lead back down to six.

The remainder of the contest remained close. The fourth quarter saw the separation of the six points hold until there were just 2 minutes and 25 seconds left in the game. Faced with one last chance to score off offense, The Kean Cougars’ two minute drill was cut short by senior preseason All-American linebacker Rowan Pickett, who picked off the Cougar quarterback Charles App. Pickett returned the interception to the house, posting the game’s final score in the process.

Pickett’s late interception would prove too much for the Cougars to overcome. The Bobcats 29-15 win over the Cougars brought both teams’ records to 3-1. The Bobcats have now started 3-1 for the first time in 10 years. The Bobcats will go on to play William Paterson on Paterson’s home turf, Saturday, October 10th.