Fulton Dazzles as Football Takes 34-Point Victory Over Hilltoppers

WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – The Frostburg State football team used some first half air attack to pick up a 57-23 road win over West Liberty.
 
FSU took the road for the first time of the season, opening Mountain East Conference play against West Liberty. The Hilltoppers won the toss and chose to take the opening kickoff, where the FSU defense, fresh off a week one performance that kept Millersville under 200 yards in the game, started strong, forcing a three and out. The Frostburg offense looking to improve on passes down the field and came out the gates throwing. Redshirt sophomore Myles Fulton hit classmate Trashaun Timmons over the middle for a first play, 65-yard touchdown. FSU showed a muddle huddle for the point after, as sophomore punter Sam Dominguez took a direct snap and pitched to senior Yasir Holmes pick up the two-point conversion. The Hilltoppers responded quickly on a screen to running back Hunter Patterson, scoring from 81 yards out, though senior Demetrius Salley Jr. blocked the PAT to make the early score 8-6 FSU.

The Bobcats offense scored again on a throw from Fulton, this time finding junior Amari N'namdi-Hall for a 65-yard score, leading 15-6 after running four plays on offense. After the sides traded punts, the Hilltoppers answered on an 80-yard Patterson rush up the middle, making the score 15-13. FSU hit back with two long completions, the first a 20-yard strike to redshirt sophomore Jordan Marcucci and the second resulting in a second Fulton-Timmons connection on a 58-yard score for a 22-13 game. Frostburg forced another three-and-out but couldn't get going offensively, as West Liberty kept pace yet again, with Patterson running in from 17 out to make the game 22-20. FSU got the ball back with 34 seconds left in the quarter, where Fulton threw his fourth TD of the period, connecting with N'namdi-Hall again, this time for a 77-yard score and a 29-20 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Bobcat defense responded from a tough first quarter early in the second. Junior Jaylen Boyd picked off the Hilltoppers' QB for an 80-yard touchdown return less than a minute in, as the contest now stood at 36-20. After forcing a Bobcat punt, WLU pushed down the field, but senior Mitch West, not to be outdone, came up with his own pick to keep West Liberty from adding to their score. Fulton found his third different receiver for a TD on the day when he connected with junior Jeremiah Gibson 35 yards out to push the lead to 23 points. The Hilltoppers put together a late quarter drive, getting all the way to the Frostburg 7-yard line, but were forced to settle for a 23-yard field goal, ending the half with FSU ahead 43-23. 

The second half started with both teams punting in their opening drives. FSU took to the ground in the next possession, with senior Sean Aaron picking up all 73 yards of the drive, most of them on a 64-yard touchdown run through the middle of the defense. The Bobcat defense held strong on a fourth down conversion attempt from West Liberty to carry a 50-23 lead into the final quarter, giving up just 66 yards in the frame. 
 
In their third offensive possession of the fourth, the Bobcats picked up their final score of the game, as sophomore Andre Smith split the defense for 47 yards, running away from everyone for touchdown. The Bobcats would carry that 57-23 lead for the rest of the game, completing the second half shutout. 
 
Fulton threw for 350 yards and five TD's, both career-highs and the most for the program since 2021, on just 13 completions. Both N'namdi-Hall and Timmons had over 100 yards receiving and two TDs on the day. Holmes led the defense with eight total tackles, with senior Leonard Scott adding two TFLs, as well as a forced fumble. The 57 points scored are the ninth-most in program history and the most for the team since 2022, when they put up 58 against Alderson Broaddus. 

With the win, the Bobcats move to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in the MEC, while West Liberty is now 0-3 on the year. Frostburg returns to action next Saturday, September 14, when they host Concord for a 1 PM kickoff. For more information please visit frostburgsports.com.