Football Taken Down by UNC Pembroke in Regular Season Road Finale

Frostburg won the toss and elected to take the ball in the second half. UNCP started the game off strong, moving the ball down field on six plays. The Braves scored their first points of the game on a 33-yard pass over the middle to make things 7-0. For the third straight game, redshirt sophomore Jordan Marcucci broke free for a kickoff return touchdown. Marcucci's return was 92 yards, and with the extra point from senior Brandon Keen, the game stood at 7-7. The Bobcat defense settled in on the second time out, forcing a quick three and out from Pembroke. On offense, FSU failed on a fourth down try after a solid drive, giving the ball back to the Braves. UNCP turned the opportunity into a made 25-yard field goal, retaking the lead at 10-7. The final drive of the first quarter for FSU would end with a 32-yard punt from sophomore Sam Dominguez.

The Braves started the second quarter moving the ball 73-yards in two plays, knotting another score to go up 17-7. After a FSU three and out, Pembroke had a six play 50-yard drive to add another TD, going up 23-7 less than halfway through the quarter. Frostburg ended the first half on a high note, as redshirt sophomore Myles Fulton connected on two long passes to sophomore Trashaun Timmons and Marcucci to set up a field goal. Sophomore Harrison Fritz trotted out to knock through a 40-yarder to make the half time score 23-10 in favor of UNCP. 

The Bobcats started with the ball in the second half, running into a tough Braves defense. Pembroke, with all the momentum, scored as the clock went under the 10-minute mark to go up 20 on FSU. Needing an answer, Marcucci hit another big return going for 86-yards off the kickoff.  Setting up their offense, Fulton found Timmons for the score, as Frostburg then trailed 30-17 after another big play from special teams. The Braves would answer on the next drive, stretching their lead back out to 20 to head into the final quarter of play. 

FSU came out and made a stand on the Braves opening drive, forcing a punt after a sack from senior Leonard Scott. Hoping to take that energy to their offensive drive, UNCP's defense was able to stand in the way, coughing up three straight turnovers from Frostburg to easily stay in command of the game.  The Braves would cut out any thoughts of a comeback, scoring three more times in the fourth quarter to bring the final score on the day to 58-17. 

Fulton went 15-for-30 on the day for 95 yards, while the run game combined for just 30 yards.  Marcucci led the team in receptions with three for 35 yards, while Timmons and junior Amari N'namdi-Hall recorded over 20 yards each.  Junior Wylan Harich led the team in tackles with seven solo, while seniors Mitchell West and Colby Street both recorded six solo.   

With the loss, Frostburg drops to 6-4 on the season, while UNCP moves to 5-5.  The final game of the year for the Bobcats will come in a home matchup against Fairmont State on Saturday, November 16 with a 1 PM kickoff. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.