NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Junior Connor Cox found classmate Christian DiPaola all alone for the game-winning touchdown and a defensive stand from 11th-ranked Frostburg sealed a 33-30 come-from-behind win over Christopher Newport, Saturday night.
The game featured six lead changes, over 750 combined yards in total offense, 63 points and eight turnovers. The game was also a meeting between the league's top two passing offenses and they combined for 602 yards through the air.
Frostburg (3-0, 2-0 NJAC) had the final say with an exclamation point when it needed it most. The Bobcats' game-winning drive started on their own 48 and lasted just seven plays.
On third and six, Cox found DiPaola all alone in the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown toss for a 32-30 advantage. Senior kicker Hassan Mostafa added the extra point to put the visitors up three.
On the ensuing Captain (2-1, 1-1 NJAC) possession, Bobcat senior All-American Niles Scott and senior Jordan Procter each sacked Kearney and he tossed two incomplete passes to end the evening.
Frostburg took a 26-24 lead early in the fourth quarter when junior tailback Jamaal Morant found the end zone from a yard out.
The Captains answered right back with a go-ahead touchdown three minutes later. K.J. Kearney connected with Danny Mattson for a 25-yard touchdown that capped an eight-play 76-yard drive that gave the hosts a 30-26 lead.
Two drives later and the Bobcats scored the game-winner.
While Christopher Newport passed for 319 yards, the Bobcat defense held the Captains to -8 yards rushing on 24 carries. It marks the fourth time in the last seven games that Frostburg has held an opponent to negative rushing yards in a contest. FSU also sacked Kearney three times and made 14 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
Morant finished the evening with 108 yards on the ground on 32 carries and two scores. He also hauled in three receptions for 83 yards, including a 49-yard screen pass in the fourth. Cox threw for 283 yards behind 18 completions and he ran for 62 yards on 15 carries.
Cox completed nine of his passes to senior wideout Russell Neverdon for 153 yards and Frostburg's first touchdown in the first quarter. The duo hooked up for a 52-yard score just past the midway point in the opening quarter that gave Frostburg a 7-3 lead.
Defensively, Scott posted seven total tackles with 2.0 sacks (19 yards) and 4.0 tackles for loss (24 yards). Seniors Josh Washington and Aaron Gibson each finished with six stops. Scott also blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt by CNU in the first quarter.
With much of the load on his right shoulder, Kearney completed 21-of-34 passes for a season-high 319 yards and four touchdown passes. He tossed first-half scores to Joshua Davis and Khiry Weaver as he pulled his Captains to a 17 all deadlock in the second quarter.
Mostafa connected on two first half field goals for Frostburg and his second FG came from 30 yards out and handed the visitors a 20-17 lead at intermission.
The last time Frostburg visited Christopher Newport it needed a late defensive stand to hold off the Captains. In 2015, the Bobcats knocked down a pass on fourth down on their own 16 as CNU was trying to rally for the win. The pass break up came with 3:36 left in the fourth and sealed a 19-14 FSU victory.
Frostburg travels to Rowan for another key NJAC matchup next Saturday at 1:00 pm.
Notes: Frostburg remains perfect in night games (8-0) under head coach DeLane Fitzgerald … The win is the 12th-straight for the Bobcats dating back to week three of last season … The victory is also the 10th-straight league win for Frostburg … It marks the first 3-0 start to a season for Frostburg since 1999.
#11 Bobcats Win Seesaw Battle Against CNU
/seasons/2017/boxscores/20170916_t22o.xml
2017
Frostburg State
33
Christopher Newport
30
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 15 Frostburg State (3-0) | 14 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 33 |
| Christopher Newport (2-1) | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
Sep 16, 2017