Football's Explosive First Quarter Lead Not Enough as Wheeling Scores Game-Winning Touchdown in Final Minutes

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Football team wasn't able to hold on to their early lead, falling in the final seconds of their Thursday night game to Wheeling with a final score of 26-25. 
 
Frostburg received the ball to start the game, with redshirt sophomore Jordan Marcucci catching the ball on the far side of the field at the five-yard line and running it back through the defense for a 95-yard touchdown return to start the game.  Senior Brandon Keen came out right away to knock the ball through the uprights for a quick 7-0 Bobcat lead.  Sophomore Harrison Fritz went out to kick to Wheeling, as the Cardinals bobbled the ball and picked it up in the endzone, where junior Marquise Allsup made the tackle, adding two more points to the Bobcat's score for a safety and a 9-0 game with just 20 seconds gone in the first. 
 
WU kicked back off to FSU after the safety, with Marcucci carrying the ball 14 yards for Frostburg to set up their offense at their 47-yard line.  Sophomore Jordan Brooks at quarterback, slung the ball to sophomore Trashaun Timmons for a 13-yard pick and a Bobcat first down.  Redshirt sophomore Owen Doyle then picked up two yards on the ground, before Brooks found junior Amari N'namdi-Hall for a 26-yard pick up and a Frostburg first down.  FSU earned one more first down, putting them in scoring position, before Doyle tried to push into the endzone but had the ball punched out, with Wheeling recovering the fumble at their two-yard line with 9:33 left in the quarter. 
 
The Cardinals pushed down field off a 26-yard pick up in the air, as they connected on a field goal attempt from their 27-yard line to see the score at 9-3.  FSU started their next drive at their own 45-yard line, as two passes from Brooks to junior Jeremiah Gibson and Timmons combined for 19 yards in the air.  Junior Sean Aaron ran for five yards on the ground, prior to Doyle picking up seven, all helping set up Brooks for a 13-yard dime to Gibson for another Frostburg score and a 16-3 game heading into the second quarter, after Keen tacked on the extra point. 
 
Wheeling quickly gave the ball right back to FSU to start the second, as Doyle led off the drive with a seven yard run up the middle.  WU was able to capitalize on the next play, earning themselves the ball back after picking off Brooks.  The Cardinals set up their offense on Frostburg's 12-yard line, as Wheeling settled for another field goal, bringing the game to 16-6 just less than three minutes into the quarter.  The Bobcats saw their first three and out of the game on their next possession, as Wheeling put up three plays of 17 yards each to set up their first touchdown of the game to see the score at 16-13 around the nine minute mark. 
 
Redshirt sophomore Andre Smith led the rush game for Frostburg on their next drive, seeing 20 yards on three carries, but FSU was unable to push down field, sending out sophomore Sam Dominguez to punt once again.  The Cardinals secured three first downs on their next possession, but a huge sack from senior Yasir Holmes sent WU back seven yards, causing them to punt the ball away.  With junior Wylan Harich making a block on the punt and Marcucci running the ball up the field off the kick, the Bobcats were given good field position with around a minute left in the half.  On Wheeling's 18-yard line, the Cardinals defense stepped up, pushing Frostburg back for a 45-yard field goal attempt that Keen was unable to knock in, leaving the game at 16-13.  WU got the ball back with under 50 seconds left in the half, but were forced to a three and out off standout defensive plays from senior Colby Street, Harich, and junior Anthony Smith.  Now with the ball on Wheeling's 26-yard line and back in the hands of FSU, the Bobcats looked to tack on some more points before the break as Brooks quickly threw to Gibson for a 16-yard gain.  Brooks spiked the ball to stop the clock, but with just a few seconds left on the clock, Doyle tried to push into the endzone on a run up the middle, but was denied by WU's tough defense, sending the game into the break with a 16-13 score. 
 
Fritz kicked off to WU to start the second half, with Wheeling's offense setting up at their seven-yard line.  On their fourth play of the drive, the Cardinals fumbled after junior Jaylen Boyd was able to punch the ball out, but WU was able to jump on the ball to keep possession. Wheeling then quickly bolted down field, racking up three first downs, leading them to set up for a 45-yard field goal.  The Cardinals came out looking to tie the game at 16, but Harich once again sprinted around the line to get his hands on yet another kick, allowing Frostburg to set up their offense at midfield.  FSU took over with 9:11 left on the clock in the third, as Smith started off the drive with a 10-yard rush up the lefthand side.  Brooks then threw two passes for a total of 14 yards, as the Bobcats got to Wheeling's 25-yard line, setting themselves up for a 43-yard field goal attempt.  Fritz jogged out to take the attempt, sending it right in on target, helping push the Bobcat's lead to 19-13. 
 
Freshman Malik Johnson, alongside Holmes combined for a big tackle to start off WU's drive, putting the Cardinals back two yards.  FSU's defense caused a three and out offensive outing for Wheeling, as the Bobcats set up their drive with 4:11 left in the third.  Brooks connected on a trio of passes to Marcucci, Gibson, and N'namdi-Hall for a total gain of 23 yards and a first down.  On 3^rd and 9, Brooks ran 10 yards himself to pick up the first down and send the game into the fourth quarter with FSU still on offense. 
 
The Cardinals were quickly able to take over the momentum, stopping Frostburg on their next three plays to get the ball back.  Holmes and senior Delonta Butler quickly tagged team for an explosive response from FSU with a huge sack on third down, backing up Wheeling by five yards.  The Bobcats quickly then shot down field on offense, as Brooks hit Timmons down field for a three-yard reception.  Smith then caught an 18-yard pass from Brooks, before he set himself for a one yard touchdown run.  Looking to go up 14, FSU looked to go for two, but were unable to convert, leaving the game at 25-13 with 7:38 left in the fourth. 
 
With time running out, WU looked to score, connecting on two big pass plays to move down field.  After three first downs, the Cardinals were able to fire a pass into the endzone for a score, causing the game to read 25-20 with under five left to play.  Frostburg looked to add to their advantage to seal the deal, but Wheeling read everything correctly on defense, causing the Bobcats to go three and out on their next offensive attempt.  With 2:50 left in regulation and the game on the line, the Cardinals looked to score once more.  WU quickly connected on back-to-back passes that advanced them 52 yards.  After the two-minute warning, Wheeling completed one more pass for a touchdown to go up by one.  The Cardinals set up for a two-point attempt to go up by three, but a huge tackle from Smith stopped WU at the one-yard line to keep the game at 26-25.  With 1:48 left on the clock, Brooks passed to sophomore KJ Smothers on back-to-back plays for a total of 16 yards.  A pass to Timmons gave the Bobcats four more yards, but on 3^rd and 4^th down with just three yards to go, Frostburg was unable to connect on a pass, turning the ball over on downs and giving the ball back to Wheeling.  Sealing the deal with just over a minute left, WU knelt twice to upset FSU 26-25. 
 
In his first collegiate start, Brooks went 19-for-29 in the air for 206 yards and one touchdown.  Smith led the rushing game for Frostburg with 46 yards on 11 carries, while Doyle was right behind him with 43 yards on 14 carries.  Timmons finished with five receptions for 61 yards, while Gibson caught four passes for 48 yards.  Holmes paved the way for FSU's defensive effort with 10 tackles total, three tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks, while both Boyd and Allsup finished with six tackles and Street provided five. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 6-2 on the season, while Wheeling moves to 4-4.  The Bobcats go on the road for their next contest, traveling to face West Virginia state at 12 PM on Saturday, November 2.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.