FSU Football Loses Season Finale to Salisbury

In the final game of their season, the Frostburg State University (FSU) Bobcats lost 27-10 against the now 6-4 Salisbury Sea Gulls. The Bobcats finish the season with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-5 record in the Empire 8 Conference.

To start the game, the Salisbury Sea Gulls returned a short kickoff almost to midfield. Salisbury drove the ball into Frostburg territory with its dangerous running attack, which is ranked first in the conference. A second down sack by FSU junior William Sewell put the Sea Gulls into a third and long situation. Failing to convert on third down, Salisbury opted to go for it on fourth down, scoring on a play action pass over the middle. After the touchdown, Salisbury missed the extra point, making the score 6-0.

FSU’s offense got off to a good start after senior quarterback Kenny Emmons converted 3rd and six on a crisp slant pattern. On the next play, however, Emmons bobbled the snap from center Ian Smith. The offense lost yardage on the play and never recovered. The Bobcats’ drive was halted two plays later when Emmons’ third down pass fell incomplete.

After receiving the punt, the Sea Gulls drove back down into Frostburg territory, but they missed the short field goal, keeping the score close. The Bobcats failed to take advantage of the missed field goal and went three and out.

Early in the second quarter, the Sea Gulls found themselves yet again in Frostburg territory after a big play off of a triple-option run play. Salisbury capped the long drive with a touchdown, also managing an extra point. FSU answered quickly with an impressive drive that ended with a field goal, cutting Salisbury’s lead to ten points with less than two minutes left in the first half. Neither team would score for the rest of the half.

Emmons attempted a deep pass early in the second half to junior wide out Haydan Roberts, but the ball fell through the receiver’s hands. After the dropped pass, the Bobcat offense stalled and was forced to punt.

The Sea Gulls went right back to business with several long runs, including a reverse that gained nearly 20 yards. They made the score 20-3 after scoring a touchdown on the drive.

FSU tailback Stephen Stewart, a sophomore, took a handoff from Emmons and ran nearly 50 yards down to Salisbury’s 35, sparking a comeback attempt. The offense didn’t get much farther than that, though, as the drive stalled. Facing fourth down and five, the Bobcats opted to run the clock out in the third quarter instead of trying to run a play.

In a series of miscues, an apparent miscommunication on the field led to a timeout which was followed by an FSU false start and a missed field goal.

Despite the halted momentum, FSU’s defense managed a quick stop. Then, the Bobcats finally found the end zone when Emmons completed a pass to a wide open Thomas Moore, who outran defenders into the end zone.

Salisbury and FSU exchanged punts, and then Salisbury put the game out of reach with another rushing touchdown.

In the end, the Bobcat defense had no answer for Salisbury’s vicious rushing attack, which averaged over 300 yards a game in 2014. Offensively, the Bobcats could not build any momentum to keep up with the Sea Gulls.

Although the team lost a tough game, many would call this season a success for new Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald and the Bobcats. Finishing 4-6, the Bobcats improved from 2013, when they won just one game. Their 4-6 record was the best the team finished since 2011. The Bobcats and their fans will hope to improve even more in 2015.