CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Frostburg State Football team continued their run in the NCAA Tournament with a Second Round road victory over Cal (Pa.) by a 23-21 final.
 
In a rematch from earlier this season, each team secured upsets in the first round over CIAA opponents to set up an unseeded chance to get to the regional championship.
 
Receiving the ball to start the game, FSU immediately fumbled the ball away, giving the Vulcans the first chance to score. The Bobcat defense stood up to the task, as after a 3^rd-and-2 conversion, senior Dom Tiaga came up with a tackle for loss, while back-to-back incompletions forced a field goal attempt on 4^th-and-11, which was put wide left by Harry Radcliffe.
 
FSU started the resulting drive with a 15-yard run by redshirt junior Owen Doyle and a pass interference call that got into CalU territory. After converting a third down from the 42, another fumble put a halt to the momentum and again put the ball in Vulcan hands. An offside call allowed them to overcome a 4^th-and-5, as the hosts again advanced on fourth down to get into the red zone. Kendrick Agenor then took the ball three times for a combined 16 yards, while Da'sjon Craggette scored from a yard out to give California the lead 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Frostburg was stopped on a third-and-short, forcing the first punt of the afternoon, with CalU having a shot at a two-score lead. After getting to the Bobcat 22, redshirt sophomore Carter Mazalewski made a tackle at the line of scrimmage before breaking up a pass, while seniors Nick Presson and Rainer Halveland combined on a sack to force 4^th-and-15. The Vulcans decided to go for it, but another incompletion resulted in a turnover without adding to their advantage.
 
Redshirt sophomore Jordan Brooks was finally able to get the offense moving, finding classmates Amirr Coles and Max Heineman for a couple first downs, as well as senior JeVonn Gilyard for completions of 10 and 15 yards. California looked to made a late stand, holding FSU out on a pair of goal-to-go plays before Brooks lofted to the right side of the end zone for redshirt sophomore Cruiz Paul-Umstead, as classmate Harrison Fritz knocked through the extra point to tie the game at seven.
 
Both teams were then forced to punt, giving the Vulcans the ball with just under a minute on the clock. With just two plays, they regained the lead, as Agenor had a multi-broken tackle 59-yard gain before Roman Purcell found D'Avay Johnson deep down the right side for a 34-yard strike and a 14-7 advantage headed into the half.
 
Having the ball to start the third quarter, CalU looked to extend their lead, however they fumbled the ball trying to convert a 3^rd-and-1, as senior Kamari Ramsey jumped on it and set Frostburg up in great field position. They wouldn't need very long, as Brooks darted a ball over top the defense to sophomore Ray Adames for a 48-yard score on the first play to pull even again at 14-14.
 
California again drove into Bobcat territory with Kenny Lewis IV taking a touch pass for 26 yards followed by a personal foul moving the ball up another 15. On 2^nd-and-1, a false start was followed by senior Marquise Allsup and Mazalewski breaking through a run play for a three-yard loss, setting up third-and-long. A dropped ball by Lewis IV resulted in another defensive stand, as the punt had a penalty on it that put the ball at the two-yard line for FSU.
 
Brooks again drove the team downfield, finding Gilyard for a pair of receptions netting 21 yards, followed by a pass interference call and a 20-yard pass over the middle to Adames to convert a 3^rd-and-10. Redshirt sophomore KJ Smothers then took things over on the ground, going six carries for 34 yards, polished off with a 3-yard TD for the Bobcats' first lead, though the extra point was missed for a 20-14 score at the end of the third period.
 
Not to be deterred, CalU marched their way down the field, as Amire Spencer took a jet sweep 20 yards down to the six before Purcell found Johnson on third down to pull ahead 21-20. Frostburg continued the rhythm they had built from their previous drive, as Brooks found Paul-Umstead for 22 yards on 3^rd-and-10, while Adames had a 10-yard grab to move into Vulcan territory. It seemed as if the Vulcans had done enough to halt the momentum, as a pass break-up on 3^rd-and-5 threatened to close things out, however Brooks fired over the middle to Paul-Umstead for a seven-yard conversion to keep things moving. Smothers went a further 15 yards on three carries, then California was able to make their stand, keeping FSU out on three straight goal-to-go plays. Head Coach Eric Wagoner sent the field goal unit out in hopes of taking a late lead, as Fritz' attempt from 20 yards out was true enough, making things 23-21 with four minutes to play.
 
Purcell found Diontae Williams for 23 yards to start the comeback bid, however a pair of incompletions brought them to 4^th-and-6 with the game effectively in the balance. Down the left side, Purcell was able to get the ball to Johnson for 20 yards to keep moving at the two-minute timeout. Mazalewski and junior Daquan Stevenson ensured the Vulcans would go no further, combining on a run for no gain, while the former joined Halveland in a pair of pass break-ups to force 4^th-and-10. The Vulcans elected to go for a go-ahead field goal from 45 out, as Radcliffe's effort was straight enough but lacked the necessary power, falling shy of the crossbar.
 
With just one timeout to work with and 1:38 on the clock, California needed a stop in hopes of a miracle, however Doyle ensured it never came, going nine yards on 2^nd-and-8 to run the clock down and end things 23-21.
 
Brooks had one of the most efficient performances of his career, going 20-of-25 for 240 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Smothers led the rushing attack with 78 yards on 15 carries, while Gilyard, Adames, and Paul-Umstead combined for 16 catches and nearly 200 yards. Mazalewski was the driving force defensively with a team-high seven tackles and two pass break-ups.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 11-2 on the year, tying the 2017 team for the most wins in program history, while CalU ends their season at 9-4. FSU will next travel to the top seed in the region, Kutztown, on Saturday, December 6 with a time to be determined. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.