FROSTBURG, Md. – First-year quarterback T.J. Peer and junior wideout Sergio Andino connected for a pair of third-quarter touchdowns and the Frostburg defense posted a big fourth-down stop late in the fourth as the 14th-ranked Bobcats rallied past Kean, 17-14, Saturday.
Kean (4-5, 4-4) scored two touchdowns late in the second quarter to give the home crowd a scare at halftime as the Cougars led 14-3.
However, Frostburg answered with a pair of touchdowns on its first two drives of the third quarter for a 17-14 lead.
The Bobcats took advantage of great field position on their first drive of the third. Frostburg took over at Kean's 48 and scored seven plays later when Peer tossed his first career touchdown. He found Andino who broke several tackles on his way to a 34-yard touchdown that brought the deficit to 14-10.
The Cougars were driving on their ensuing possession until senior linebacker Shawn Magginson picked off a pass at the Frostburg 26 and returned it 13 yards to the FSU 39.
On the first play of its second scoring drive of the third quarter, Peer found junior tight end Christian DiPaola for 39 yards down the home sideline to set up Frostburg at Kean's 22.
Five plays later, Peer tossed a 13-yard touchdown to Andino as Frostburg surged ahead for good at 17-14.
While the offense rallied to put points on the board in the second half, the Bobcat defense stepped up in a big way.
The Bobcats, who entered the game ranked 11th nationally in total defense, allowed just 36 yards in offense to the Cougars on five second-half drives. Aside from one drive that moved 45 yards until Magginson's interception, the Bobcats held Kean to minus nine yards on 12 plays in four drives.
The Bobcats allowed 194 yards in offense to the Cougars, but held them to minus three yards on 17 rushes. The two second-quarter scoring drives resulted in 126 of Kean's 194 yards. The minus three rushing yards marks the third time this season that the Bobcats have held an opponent to negative yardage.
Late in the fourth quarter with just 3:38 to play, Bobcat first-year linebacker Zach Strand dropped Kean quarterback Charles App for an 18-yard loss on a sack on fourth down and 12 at Kean's 43.
Peer, making his first career start, threw for 216 yards on 18-of-32 completions. Andino hauled in 94 yards on seven receptions with his two scores. Andino has now caught a touchdown pass in five-straight games and has pulled in two scoring receptions in the last four games.
Heading into the game with Kean, Andino led the NJAC in touchdown receptions (7).
Each team scored their touchdowns in pairs, but it was Frostburg senior kicker Hassan Mostafa that gave the hosts the lead in the second quarter. The Bobcats capitalized on a 20-yard punt from Kean that landed at its own 25. FSU moved to the 20 before Mostafa hit a 37-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead.
Sophomore Vincent Persichetti led Frostburg with seven tackles, while Strand posted Frostburg's only sack.
App finished with 160 yards passing on 15 completions with two scores. Ben Guarino caught four passes for 59 yards, while David Patterson finished with two receptions for 19 yards.
Patterson caught Kean's first touchdown with 4:00 to play in the second, while Guarino caught his touchdown with 33 seconds left in the half.
Frostburg closes out its regular season next week at Salisbury for the 19th Annual Regents Cup at 1:00 pm.
Notes: The win is the fourth-straight overall for Frostburg … The win is the third-straight over Kean in the series … The Bobcats have won 10 of their last 11 games at Bobcat Stadium … The win is the 11th-straight against a New Jersey school.