FROSTBURG — Frostburg State started the season 6-0.
The Bobcats (6-5, 4-5 Mountain East Conference) ended the year with five straight losses, falling in the season finale on Saturday to Fairmont State 31-28 at Bobcat Stadium.
“We played well in spots, we played poorly in spots,” FSU head coach Eric Wagoner said. “When the offense was doing well, defense wasn’t matching it. When the defense stepped up late, offensively we turned the ball over. Didn’t finish the game, didn’t finish the season, didn’t finish the last five games.”
On the Bobcats opening drive, they faced a fourth-and-one on its own 41.
Frostburg ran a fake punt with a direct snap to Owen Doyle who was stopped just short of the line to gain.
On the next play, Leonard Farrow took off down the right sideline for 21 yards to the Bobcat 20.
It set up a quarterback sneak for Nino Marzullo from a yard out to put the Fighting Falcons (7-4, 6-3 MEC) up 7-0.
Two plays into Frostburg’s ensuing drive, Myles Fulton hit a wide open Trashaun Timmons on a slant for a 45-yard touchdown to even the score.
After Fairmont went three-and-out, Frostburg took over at its own 30.
Facing a fourth-and-nine at the Falcon 34, Fulton’s pass was behind the intended receiver and nearly picked.
The teams exchanged punts over the next couple drives, then the Falcons began marching early in the second quarter.
Fairmont went 59 yards in 11 plays, picking up three first downs including one on a facemask penalty.
The drive ended with a one-yard score from LeJay Hatcher.
Frostburg’s offense went cold in the second quarter, gaining only 69 yards across 20 plays (3.45 yards per play).
“We had some missed throws and things along those lines,” Wagoner said. “Just didn’t execute the way we needed to in those situations.”
Two of the three drives ended in punts, the other was a turnover on downs.
Fairmont pushed the lead to 21-7 on a one-yard score from Leonard Farrow with 29 seconds left, but the Bobcats pulled off a miracle.
A squib kick was fielded by Jordan Marcucci and returned to the Falcon 37.
With five seconds left at the 32, Fulton was hit as he threw up a prayer for Jeremiah Gibson, who caught it for a touchdown to end the half.
At halftime, Fairmont had a slight 183-165 advantage in yards with 162 on the ground, led by Farrow’s 20 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown.
“Our run defense just has not been good the last couple weeks,” Wagoner said. “We’re banged up, three linebackers down, but you gotta play the next guy up.”
The Bobcats opened the second half and picked up two first downs to set up first-and-goal at the nine.
Fulton took a deep shot for Gibson that went for 45 yards on third and nine.
Two plays later, Doyle punched it in from the five.
Fairmont’s ensuing drive only lasted three plays as Marzullo took a shot downfield, but Mitchell West was there for the interception.
Frostburg took over and another deep ball from Fulton to Timmons went for 36 yards to the Falcon 38.
It set up Doyle for another five-yard touchdown run to put the Bobcats up 28-21.
“When we hit, we do well,” Wagoner said. “When our guys are catching balls, guys are running good routes, putting the ball where it needs to be, everything goes well. Unfortunately, offensively, we’re feast and famine. We’re either feasting or we’re famine, you saw both ends today.”
After Fairmont went three-and-out, Frostburg faced a third-and-11 at its own 32.
Fulton’s pass over the middle was intercepted by Nasir Enoch.
On the opening play of the fourth quarter, five plays into the ensuing drive, Marzullo fired to the back of the end zone where Gage Michael got his feet down for a touchdown.
Tied at 28, the Bobcats drove to the Falcon 22 and Brandon Keen missed a 40-yard field goal off the left upright.
Frostburg forced a turnover on downs on the next drive, but three plays into the ensuing drive, Fulton was picked off by Jehvonn Lewis.
“The two turnovers destroy the game,” Wagoner said. “We got no takeaways, they got two extra possessions.”
Fairmont failed to capitalize, but got the ball back with 3:31 remaining at midfield.
The Bobcats had two timeouts but chose not to use them, allowing the Falcons to drain the clock down to three seconds.
Fairmont’s Emmanuel Richardson split the uprights on a 28-yard field goal to win the game.
The Falcons finished with 273 rushing yards on 54 carries.
Farrow rushed for 256 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown while Hatcher added 21 rushes for 123 yards and a score.
Marzullo only threw for 30 yards compared to Fulton’s 283.
Frostburg outgained Fairmont 383-303 including 218-120 in the second half.
Doyle led the Bobcats with 16 carries for 94 yards and two scores while Timmons led in receiving with five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Frostburg’s Colby Street led all defenders with 18 tackles, two for loss and half a sack.
Wylan Harich finished with 14 tackles and a pass breakup for the Bobcats.
Since defeating Glenville State 41-9 on Oct. 12, Frostburg was outscored 161-125 in the final five games.
After scoring over 40 points in four of the first six games, the Bobcats failed to score more than 28 the rest of the season.
“Offense became stagnant, defense wasn’t doing very well,” Wagoner said. “The run game took a big hit towards the end of the year defensively. Special teams did pretty well but we have to go back and get it fixed. It all falls on me and I need to go get it fixed.”
Before the game, 22 players were recognized on Senior Day.
“They’ve been great, three of them were here before me,” Wagoner said. “Leonard (Scott), Mitchell West and Tranell Clanton. Everybody else either came the same year I came or sometime after that. They’ve meant everything to this program and meant a lot to myself personally.”