FSU Football’s Exciting Season Opener Ends in Close Loss

Football season kicked off with a battle between the West Virginia State (W.Va.) Yellow Jackets, and NCAA Division II newcomer Frostburg State University (FSU).

Bobcat Head Coach, Delane Fitzgerald had a great message to start the season for all the FSU fans and players saying, “the first game of the season tonight and every week this fall our coaching staff expects our players to have energy and enthusiasm, be mentally and physically tough, play with discipline, and play harder than any team in the country.” The Bobcats carried their coach’s message onto the field Thursday night, as the team played their hearts out. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to come away with the victory.

The Yellow Jackets began the game in possession of the ball. A good kickoff return put West Virginia State at about midfield. 2 run plays were shut down by FSU, and it had looked like the Bobcat defense was getting off the field with a “3 and out,” but the Yellow Jackets converted the 3rd down. That would be the last 3rd down W.Va. would have to convert that drive because within 3 plays they were in the end zone, and converted the 2 point conversion after that. After a failed 4th down attempt by FSU’s offense on W.Va.’s 25-yard line, the Bobcat defense showed great resiliency. Frostburg’s defense forced a punt, which led to a 38-yard passing touchdown by graduate student Will Brunson. Junior wide receiver Dervonn Holton was at the receiving end.
Frostburg, coming out of the break fresh, knew there was another half to play. Getting the ball to start the 3rd quarter, their offensive coaching staff put the ball in Brunson’s hands 8 out of 10 plays. The 10th play they ended up cashing in a touchdown on a 14-yard pass to junior wide-receiver Lincoln Ikwubuo, putting the Bobcats up 17-8. The Yellow Jackets answered back with a field goal on the next possession, but they knew it would take more to overcome their deficit.

At the start of the 4th quarter, there was a string of defensive plays by both teams that shaped the game. The first came when FSU’s defense forced a fumble, W.Va. followed this by forcing a safety, tightening the score to 17-13 Bobcats. The Yellow Jackets turnover woes continued over the next two drives with consecutive drives ended by fumbles that would be recovered by the Bobcats deep in their own territory. FSU was creating several turnovers on defense but never capitalized with points on the offensive end. Eventually, the Yellow Jackets would take advantage of FSU’s stall offensively and score a touchdown putting them up by three in the waning minutes of the 4th quarter. With 17 seconds remained Bobcats kicker junior Jeremy Harrison left a 51-yard field goal short, ending the game in a 20-17 loss for FSU.

The Bobcats will travel to Concord University to take on the Mountain Lions on Sept. 14th with a 12 pm kickoff.