ERIE, Pa. — For the third time in program history, and the first since 1999, Frostburg State defeated a Division I opponent on Saturday.
The Bobcats left Saxon Stadium with a 25-24 victory over Mercyhurst.
“Mercyhurst is greatly improved, they added some guys,” FSU head coach Eric Wagoner said. “Their quarterback is talented, their running back’s a great football player. We knew we had our work cut out for us. To come out with a win is very exciting, but still knowing we left a little on the table.”
FSU (4-0) opened the game with a surprise onside kick, which kicker Brandon Keen recovered.
“From film review, they gave us a really open middle,” Wagoner said. “Brandon Keen is great at it, so we knew going in, if we’re open with the kickoff, we’re going right at it.”
Taking over at its own 48, the Bobcats ended the initial drive with a four-yard touchdown pass from Myles Fulton to Jordan Marcucci.
Leading 7-0, Frostburg went for another onside kick, and once again, it was the kicker who recovered as Harrison Fritz fell on the football.
With the ball at the FSU 47, the Bobcats’ drive once again ended in the end zone.
Amari N’namdi-Hall caught a 25-yard pass from Fulton to go up 14-0.
“You need to capitalize, and we did,” Wagoner said of recovering both onside kicks. “We’re at the point where we can really do some damage and get a nice little lead. We had momentum, excitement, would’ve liked to keep it. The momentum kinda stalled out after those first two scores.”
On Mercyhurst’s next drive, Anthony Smith blocked a 24-yard field goal attempt after the Lakers went 67 yards in 10 plays.
A short punt early in the second quarter gave the Lakers (1-4) possession at its own 15.
Ten plays and 85 yards later, Adam Urena threw a 10-yard pass to Ayron Rodriguez for a touchdown.
After a false start on the extra point, Frostburg’s special teams came through.
For the third time in four games, the Bobcats blocked the PAT.
Wylan Harich blocked the kick and Rob Jackson recovered to keep the score 14-6.
FSU took over midway through the quarter, and drained over nine minutes in 12 plays, but the drive stalled after five straight runs by Andre Smith.
At the four-yard line, the Bobcats chose to take the points, and Keen hit a 14-yard field goal.
The Lakers took over, picked up three first downs before a one-yard score from Rylan Davison.
Mercyhurst went for two and was stopped, as Frostburg went into halftime up 17-12.
On the Bobcats first drive of the second half, Fulton threw an interception to Tyler Buterbaugh who returned it 30 yards to the Bobcat eight.
“They made some really good adjustments,” Wagoner said. “We didn’t operate at a high level. The offense was moving the ball very well today, just had a couple drives we needed to finish.”
Three plays later, Brian Trobel scored from a yard out.
After failing another conversion, the Laker lead remained 18-17.
Frostburg answered with a 10 play, 85-yard drive that took 6:14 off the clock.
The drive ended with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Fulton to Jeremiah Gibson.
Fulton completed a conversion to N’namdi-Hall that pushed the lead to 25-18.
Mercyhurst answered on a six-play, 68-yard drive with a 35-yard pass from Urena to Trobel.
The Lakers were once again denied on the conversion.
The Bobcats took over and drove down to the Laker 30 after running 10 plays and taking 6:47 off the clock.
Keen lined up for a 40-yard field goal and pushed it right, giving Mercyhurst one more chance with 3:05 remaining.
Six plays later, Joshua McTier knocked the ball out, and Colby Street recovered.
“That’s the one you feel really good when you get that fumble,” Wagoner said. “Defense did a great job of taking the ball away, really solidified that fourth quarter.”
Street led the Bobcats with seven tackles and the recovered fumble.
Owen Doyle picked up a pair of first downs to ice the game, sending FSU into victory formation.
Doyle led Frostburg with 97 yards on 18 carries.
Last week against Concord, Fulton completed 13 of 29 (44.8%) of his passes.
On Saturday, he was 18 of 27 (66%) for 184 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
“Great decision making, had a good week of practice,” Wagoner said. “I think last week wasn’t a great week, we’re now in start four. It’s gonna come with time, he’s gonna keep seeing new things. He’s gonna have ups and downs, but when you have a down like last week and respond, it’s important.”
Urena finished 18 of 23 for 223 yards and two touchdowns for Mercyhurst while Zach Hill led all players with 10 tackles.
The Bobcats hadn’t played a Division I opponent since 2007, falling 37-10 at Duquesne.
Frostburg has now beaten three Division I teams, Central Connecticut State 22-16 in 1999 and it shut out Maryland-Eastern Shore 30-0 in 1978.
Both games were in Frostburg. Saturday’s game is the first where FSU has beaten a Division I opponent on the road.
“We needed this game, Mercyhurst is very talented,” Wagoner said. “We needed a tough game going in, nothing against our first three opponents, but we didn’t have the toughest opening schedule. The guys are aware, it’s gonna get harder as the season goes on.”
The Bobcats host West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday at 1 p.m.