All Three Phases Clicking for Football in 30-Point Road Win Over Fairmont

FAIRMONT, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Football team used a complete performance to take down Fairmont State 50-20 on the road Saturday afternoon.
 
Having won the toss, the Bobcats deferred to the second half, giving the Fighting Falcons the ball, where they quickly were forced into a three-and-out, after graduate Jaylen Parks and junior Leonard Scott made a huge tackle for loss on third-and-short. Frostburg wasn't able to drive far enough into Farimont territory to score on their opening drive, as the teams traded punts.
 
On the very next play, redshirt freshman Myles Fulton found sophomore Jamil Bishop down the right sideline for 55 yards, getting all the way to the Falcon 11-yard line. Fairmont's defense held firm, forcing Frostburg to settle for a field goal, which senior Dayne Koontz knocked through for a 3-0 lead. Junior Colby Street immediately gave the Bobcats the ball back, picking off Michael Floria on Fairmont's first play on the resulting drive, but the Falcons answered right back, as Fulton was hit while throwing, with Sam Fairley taking it back to the house for a 7-3 lead.
 
Fulton quickly recovered, as he found sophomore Amari N'namdi-Hall for a 20-yard gain that moved Frostburg into Falcon territory to end the first quarter. He then lofted a ball to sophomore Jevonn Gilyard for 37 yards that got the Bobcats inside the five. Once more, Fairmont put a wall up in front of their endzone, as Koontz made his second field goal of the day for a 7-6 score.
 
Frostburg's defense ensured that the offense would get another chance to shine, as junior Yasir Holmes sacked Floria on third-and-long for another punt. Senior Evan Branch moved the Bobcats just outside the red zone, taking a screen pass from Fulton for 22 yards, setting up Koontz's third through the uprights and a 9-6 lead. Floria didn't have much time to set up Fairmont's offense, as he was taken down by junior Rahsaan Simpson on third down, with a punt ensuing.
 
Branch started the drive with a bang, charging 32 yards up the right side on the first play. On third-and-11, Fulton got the ball into Gilyard's hands, with the latter taking it 33 yards all the way down to the Falcon two-yard line. Having been denied on first and second down, Fulton finally got Frostburg's first touchdown on the day, firing into the hands of Bishop with 21 seconds on the clock for a 16-7 halftime lead.
 
The Bobcats couldn't have asked for a better start to the second half, as Bishop ran the ball back 90 yards on the kick-off to push the lead to 23-7. After another Falcon drive stalled out, Branch and redshirt freshman Owen Doyle got the ground game going, working their way into Fairmont territory. On a fourth-and-three, Fulton kept the drive going with a quick pass to senior Max Davis, then from the Falcon 17, Koontz lined up for another field goal, but an offside call gave the Bobcats a new set of downs. Fulton made the most of the fresh start, throwing his second TD of the day to N'namdi-Hall for a 30-7 lead.
 
Sophomore Anthony Smith kept the momentum on Frostburg's side, intercepting Floria on the second play of the next possession, which ultimately led to Koontz firing from 33 yards out. Scott and Holmes ended the quarter on a high, sacking Floria on first down headed to the fourth. The Falcons swiftly recovered, as Floria found Kobe Harris for 44 yards, then took it in himself from six out to make it a 33-14 game.
 
Fairmont's defense forced a punt on the resulting drive, but a personal foul on the play kept the ball in Frostburg's hands. Fulton kept the drive alive once more on fourth-and-six, using his legs to pick up the first before dropping a dime to senior Alvaro Lora for a 40-14 lead. On the resulting kick-off, the Bobcats were the first to fall on the ball with an onside kick, with Fulton finding a wide-open crease up the middle, rushing in from 21 yards out for a 47-14 advantage.
 
Floria led the Falcon offense on their next possession, dunking in chunk plays before finding Gage Michael for a 29-yard score that put the game at 47-20 after a failed two-point conversion attempt. Branch and Doyle churned their way down the field, running down the clock en route to a fifth field goal from Koontz, one that tied the program's single-game record, ending the scoring at 50-20.
 
In his first career start, Fulton went 16-of-26 for 254 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a rushing score to his day. Branch, Doyle, and Fulton help lead the rushing attack to 175 yards, while Bishop and Gilyard combined for eight catches and 165 yards between the two. Parks led the defensive effort with a team-high six tackles, two and a half of them for loss, and a sack. Koontz went 5-for-5 on his field goals, while also converting all five of his PAT's.
 
With the win, Frostburg ends the regular season at 7-3, while Fairmont falls to 8-3. Each team will await to see if they are selected for the NCAA Tournament, with the selection show slated for Sunday, November 12 at 6 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostbursports.com.