Frostburg Loses to Wheeling on the Road

The Frostburg State University Football team traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia to play the Wheeling Cardinals. 

The Cardinals elected to receive the ball in the first half and their offense got going right away. Wheeling QB Javon Davis threw two completions for 70 yards to put the Cardinals on the goal line. Two plays later QB Javon Davis ran three yards for a touchdown. Wheeling 7 – Frostburg 0.

Frostburg QB Graham Walker and the Bobcat offense wasted no time on their first possession, scoring in only 14 seconds. A personal foul penalty on the kickoff gave Frostburg the ball at the 50-yard line. Graham Walker aired a 47-yard pass to WR Jordan Marcucci and RB Sean Aaron finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Frostburg ties the game at 7.

Neither Wheeling nor Frostburg’s defenses showed out in the first half. A two-play drive that included a 62-yard catch from Cardinals’ WR Chris Canaday and a 3-yard run by RB Sy Alli IV put the Cardinals back up 14-7.

Frostburg’s first possession without a score was a 4 play drive that saw them gain only 5 yards. The Bobcat’s defense came back onto the field and gave up a few first downs, before flipping the script and stopping the hot Cardinals offense on a 4th and 5. A Pass breakup by cornerback Daquan Battle gave Frostburg’s offense the ball back.

Eager to get back on the field the Bobcats’ offense started to find its rhythm again. Two first downs on a 3rd and 8 kept the offense on the field. Three complete passes for 38-yards and a 17-yard run by RB Evan Branch tied the game back up at 14. 

The Bobcats’ defense held the Cardinals from scoring again after two pass breakups from Daquan Battle and Marquise Allsup.

RB Sean Aaron broke free for a 28-yard run before it got called back because of offensive holding. That didn’t stop Graham Walker from airing it out 3 plays later to WR Jordan Marcucci for a 74-yard touchdown pass. Frostburg takes the lead 21-14

Neither team scored on the next three possessions. FSU DE Daquan Battle came up with an interception. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, there was a “roughing the passer” penalty that took away what would have been his first interception of the season.

With the ball back in the Bobcats’ hands coach, Eric Wagoner pulls out his signature two-quarterback system which uses both his QBs in the same drive. RB Max Davis got a direct snap that he took for a 63-yard gain. Kisaye Barnes did not help much with this possession; he ran for a loss of 1-yard. A holding penalty put the Bobcats back 10-yards and truly stalled this offense that had just started off with a phenomenal run. A 42-yard kick from Dayne Koontz put Frostburg up 24-17.

The next Cardinals’ play started off with a few short runs to gain a first down before QB Javon Davis threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to WR Steven Mitchell that brought the Cardinals within 3 points. FSU 24 – Wheeling 21. 

Frostburg went three and out on their next drive and the Cardinals block the punt by Dayne Koontz which was returned to the FSU 3-yard line.

Just before halftime, the Cardinals run 3-yards to score a touchdown that puts them ahead 28-24.

The Bobcats go 3 and out again, giving the ball back to the Cardinals.

A five-minute possession from the Cardinals’ offense led to a 29-yard field goal from Kicker Matt Greenwood that extends the Cardinals’ lead to 31-24.

Yet another 3 and out from the Bobcats shows you how big momentum is in football. Luckily for Frostburg, their defense stopped the Cardinals, giving the ball right back to the offense. 

QB Graham Walker and RB Sean Aaron brought FSU all the way up the field with a couple of short passes and runs. On a 3rd down and 4, Frostburg WR Isaac Smith gave up an offensive pass interference penalty which pushed FSU from the nine-yard line all the way back to the 24-yard line. Instead of a touchdown, the Bobcats settled for a 41-yard field goal from Dayne Koontz. Wheeling 31 – Frostbrug 27.

The Cardinal’s first two possession in the fourth quarter were punts.

The Bobcats’ first fourth-quarter possession was an 11-play drive led by RB Evan Branch who gained 38 of the 53 yards this drive. After an incomplete pass to Jordan Marcucci, the Bobcats were forced to kick a field goal. The 41-yard attempt from Dayne Koontz was no good. Wheeling still leads 31-27

After another 3 and out from the Cardinals’ offense, the Bobcats had just under seven minutes to win the game.

The Bobcats forced their way up the field little by little. Two short passes to WRs Jordan Marcucci and Donnell Milligan and a hand full of runs by both Sean Aaron and Evan Branch moved the Bobcats 48 yards up the field. On a 1st and 5 QB Graham Walker threw a pass to the endzone that was intercepted by Fabian McNichlos for a touchback. 

The Cardinals run the clock down and win the game 31-27.

Frostburg falls to Wheeling dropping them to 4-3 on the year. FSU will look to get back in the win collum at home against Fairmont State on Thursday at 7 PM.