4 FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019
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Frostburg State University’s Ryan Landis (53) goes after a loose ball during the Bobcats game last season at Bobcat Stadium.
Ryan Landis named AFCA Good Works Team nominee FOR THE CUMBERLAND TIMES-NEWS
NORTHBROOK, Ill. — The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced its Allstate Good Works Team nominees, and for the fifth-straight season an FSU football player was named to the team as senior long snapper Ryan Landis was among the 137 nominees for 2019. A Berlin, Pennsylvania, native, Landis earned the nomination for his exceptional contributions in the community, the classroom and on the field. Landis is an EMT and a volunteer with his local rescue squad, in addition to a multitude of community service projects along with his Bobcat teammates. During his three years at Frostburg, Landis has been involved in the Frost Elementary and Granstsville Elementary reading programs. He’s participated in Beautify the Burg and the Cumberland City Beautify the Park, as well as the trash pick-ups in both towns. He’s joined with teammates for the M.S. Walk and Relay for Life, and col-
lected money and donated it to feed area families Thanksgiving dinner and for FA research. Landis is one of 59 nominees from the FCS, Division II and III and NAIA levels. He is one of two nominees from the Mountain East Conference, joining Brandon Plyler of Concord. As a junior, Landis appeared in all 11 games as the Bobcats’ primary long snapper. He helped FSU finish second in the NJAC in fields goals made and first in successful PATs. Frostburg State took home the NJAC championship for the second time in team history and made its second-consecutive and third NCAA Playoff appearance, advancing to the second round. The Bobcats finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record, their first undefeated regular season in the program’s history. Frostburg finished eighth in the AFCA Coaches poll and 12th in the D3football.com poll. The Bobcats have finished the season ranked in both polls in each of the past three seasons.
FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 5
Frostburg State enters new era with move to Mountain East Conference Bobcats play first Division II game hosting West Virginia State on Sept. 5 This fall is going to be “ very different for us as we
NOAH BECKER TIMES-NEWS CORRESPONDENT
FROSTBURG — Frostburg head coach DeLane Fitzgerald has seen consistency throughout his coaching staff and roster in his six years at the helm of the Bobcat program but change is on the horizon and is quickly approaching for the 2019 season. Frostburg State University is on the move to NCAA Division II after a 41-year stay at the DIII level and with the change comes more challenging competition, new opponents, the loss of rivals and the uneasiness of being the new kid in town. “We had a great last four years with 37 wins, which is something special considering we could only schedule 10 games a year,” said Fitzgerald on leaving DIII. “I believe the success we have had gave the university and our administration the courage to try the Division II transfer.” Over the last four seasons, Frostburg has not only won 37 games, but three NCAA Playoff games and an ECAC Bowl Game. The Bobcats have been one of the most consistent and competitive teams on the east coast during that stretch and Fitzgerald and his program will rely on that momentum and success as it prepares for DII. “This fall is going to be very different for us as we make the transition and learn our way through the league,” added Fitzgerald. “Everything that comes at us will all be things we haven’t encountered in the last four years. However, the things our players have come to value, and the things that our fans, alums and administrators have come to appreciate on game days won’t change. Our football program is going to prepare well each week and we are going to play extremely hard each Saturday.” Aside from the change outside the program, Fitzgerald will also have to replace a four-year starter under center, an All-American on the offensive line and his two leading rushers from last fall. Connor Cox graduated last spring as Frostburg’s all-time leader in passing TDs (86), passing yards (8,447), completions (601), attempts (1,011) and total offense (9,720 yds.). Riley Hartman garnered both D3football.com and AFCA All-American honors last fall and is now part of the coaching staff, while Jamaal Morant and Grayson Boyce combined for 1,287 rushing yards with 12 TDs as seniors. “On offense, we lost seven extremely good players as most of them were three and four-year starters,” added
make the transition and learn our way through the league. Everything that comes at us will all be things we haven’t encountered in the last four years. However, the things our players have come to value, and the things that our fans, alums and administrators have come to appreciate on game days won’t change. DeLane Fitzgerald,
”
Frostburg State head coach
Defensive back Vincent Perischetti Fitzgerald. “On defense, we return nine starters, including 16 of the top 22 players on our defensive depth chart from a year ago. We also return two valuable specialists and one being an all-conference kicker and the best long snapper I have ever coached.” It may seem like a tall task for the Bobcats to overcome the challenges on the horizon, but Fitzgerald and his staff are very optimistic for their first season as a scholarship program with the players who are returning along with the school’s first-ever signed recruiting class.
Defense returns 9 starters from last season’s nationally-ranked squad While there are holes on the offensive side of the ball, the Bobcat defense returns nine starters to a unit that has ranked inside the top-40 nationally in total defense in each of the last four years. Last fall, the Bobcats held seven of their opponents under 300 yards of offense and managed a total of 26 takeaways. A closer look at the numbers reveal that FSU finished 15th in the country in tackles for loss (8.7), 19th in team sacks (8.7) and 10th with 14 recovered fumbles.
Aside from the nine starters returning for the first season at the Division II level, the Bobcats return five senior starters who will close their careers in unfamiliar territory. On the line, senior Walter Riley and junior Zach Strand helped disrupt opposing quarterbacks all season in 2018. started all 11 games at defensive end, while Riley started eight games on the interior. Strand finished fourth on the team with 50 tackles, while leading FSU with 7.0 sacks (42 yds.) and 14.5 tackles for loss (65 yds.). He was a First Team AllNJAC selection and closed the season with 15 tackles, three TFLS and a sack in the NCAA Playoffs. Riley ended the season ranked eighth on the team with 27 total tackles to go along with 6.0 tackles for loss (24 yds.) and 2.5 sacks (18 yds.). He was an Honorable Mention All-NJAC and capped his junior campaign with 11 TFLs and five sacks over the final three contests. Juniors Carl Igweh and Navar Solis will provide depth to the defensive line. Igweh posted 13 tackles, 6.0 TFLs (41 yds.) and 4.5 sacks (35 yds.), while Solis registered four tackles including 2.0 TFLs in four games. Sophomore Luke Freeman and junior Trevor Booker will also figure into the mix at DE this fall.
In the secondary, senior defensive backs Vincent Persichetti and Michael Bell and junior Avery Thurman combined to start 29 games last season. The trio helped the defense rank 14th in the nation in fewest passing yards allowed (150.5). Since arriving at Frostburg, Persichetti has started 33 games and has moved from cornerback to safety during his time as a Bobcat. Last fall, he was a Second Team All-NJAC award winner after posting 45 tackles with two interceptions and a team-best eight pass break ups. Thurman broke into the starting lineup last fall with 11 starts and he led FSU with 68 total tackles, while Bell started seven games and posted 10 total tackles. Providing depth to the secondary will be junior Stacey Watts and sophomore Xavier Campbell. Watts played in all 11 games last fall with 22 total tackles. Junior Tyler Winbush and sophomore Zachary Willett should see increased minutes at safety this fall following a combined 12 tackles last season. The defense as a whole returns talent at every position, but none are as a deep or talented as the linebackers, as two seniors and a total of seven players return with significant playing experience. Seniors Matt Meier and Wayne Palmer return for their final seasons and
SEE FSU — 9
6 FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019
Head coach DeLane Fitzgerald DeLane Fitzgerald enters his sixth season at the helm of the Frostburg football team entering 2019 and is the program’s winningest coach with 41 victories. He is also the program’s alltime leader in win percentage (.745) and boasts the fewest number of losses of any coach in the 58-year history of the program who coached at least five years. The Bobcats have posted one of the best three-year runs in DIII football as they won 31 games during that span, with two trips to the NCAA Playoffs in 2017 and 2018 and an ECAC Bowl Game victory following the 2016 season. FSU spent the entire ‘17 and ‘18 seasons ranked inside the top-25 polls, while the 11-win campaign in 2017 is a school record for wins. Frostburg has defeated five ranked opponents since the start of the 2016 season and six ranked opponents during his five seasons. The Bobcats close their run at NCAA Division III with three-straight 10-plus win seasons and three-consecutive Regents Cup trophies. FSU boasted 44 All-NJAC selections, 10 All-Region honorees and six All-American awards over the last three years. Last fall, the Bobcats hosted a pair of NCAA Playoffs games for the first time
in program history, finished the season ranked eighth in the AFCA poll, posted the first undefeated regular-season in program history (9-0) and won the NJAC Title for the second time in three seasons. FSU opened the playoffs with
SEE FITZGERALD — 11
8 FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019
2019 Bobcat Coaching Staff John Kelling Defensive coordinator John Kelling is in his sixth year as the defensive coordinator for the Frostburg State football team in 2019 and will again work with the linebackers. Frostburg has emerged as one of the nation’s most complete defensive units over the last four seasons and has produced a pair of All-Americans in William Sewell and Niles Scott. The Bobcats have ranked inside KELLING the top 40 nationally in total defense in each of the last four years, including a national ranking of ninth in 2016. The Bobcats have posted one of the best three-year runs in DIII football as they won 31 games during that span, with two trips to the NCAA Playoffs in 2017 and 2018 and an ECAC Bowl Game victory following the 2016 season. FSU spent both the ‘17 and ‘18 seasons ranked inside the top-25 polls, while the 11-win campaign in 2017 is a school record for wins. Kelling’s defensive units have averaged nearly 40 sacks, 110 tackles for loss and 25 turnovers per season during that three-year run. A year ago, Frostburg hosted two NCAA Playoff games for the first time in program history, while in ‘17, the Bobcats advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time following wins over No. 9 Wittenberg (35-7) and No. 10 Washington & Jefferson (46-23). Last fall, the Bobcats finished 39th in the country in total defense (287.9), 15th in team tackles for loss (8.7), 50th in scoring defense 18.4, 19th in team sacks (3.45) and fifth in thirddown conversion defense (.254). In 2017, the Bobcats were 13th in the country in rushing defense (82.2) and 16th in total defense (265.6). Following the 2016 season, the Bobcats were the DIII leader in team tackles for loss (10.7). They also finished sixth in the country in scoring defense (12.9) and ninth in total defense (240.6). Kelling earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in coaching from MSU Mankato in 1993. He completed his master’s degree in recreation and sports sciences with a concentration in coaching in 2013 from Ohio University.
Peter Mayer Special teams coordinator Peter Mayer enters his eighth season with the Frostburg State University football coaching staff in 2019. Mayer served as the Bobcats’ special teams coordinator for the last five seasons and was the program’s defensive coordinator for the 2013 campaign. He also assisted with the defensive backs from 2014-18 and the linebackers in ‘13. Frostburg has proven to be one of
the top special teams units over the last five years. The Bobcats have blocked 27 kicks during that time frame, finishing 12th in the country three years ago and 17th following the ‘14 campaign. The Bobcats have MAYER posted one of the best three-year runs in DIII football as they won 31 games during that span, with two trips to the NCAA Playoffs in 2017 and 2018 and an ECAC Bowl Game victory following the 2016 season. FSU spent both the ‘17 and ‘18 seasons ranked inside the top-25 polls, while the 11-win campaign in 2017 is a school record for wins. A year ago, Frostburg hosted two NCAA playoff games for the first time in program history, while in ‘17, the Bobcats advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time following wins over No. 9 Wittenberg (35-7) and No. 10 Washington & Jefferson (46-23). Over the last three seasons, the Bobcat secondary is averaging 12 interceptions and 29 pass breakups per year. Mayer brought with him an extensive background at both the NCAA Division I and III levels in all three phases of the game. He served in numerous roles of college recruiting at all three levels, including a stop in the high school ranks. A 2004 graduate of Ithaca College, Mayer coached at his Alma Mater for three years from 2008-2011. While with the Bombers, Mayer coached the secondary and played a major role in coaching the special teams and recruiting. During his tenure, Ithaca’s secondary received seven All-Empire 8 awards, two All-Region honors and one First Team All-American award. As a team, Ithaca won 22 games during Mayer’s three seasons, including a spot in the NCAA Playoffs in 2008. Mayer is married to the former Jenelle Partelow and the two were married in late July of 2012 prior to the start of camp. Together they have two girls, Liza (4) and Daphne (2).
J.C. McDonald Offensive coordinator J.C. McDonald is entering his second year as the offensive coordinator at Frostburg in 2019 and he will work with the quarterbacks this fall. In his first season, the Bobcats led the NJAC and finished 39arial, sans-serifth in the country in total offense (435.9) and 20arial, sans-serifth in Division III in scoring offense (40.7). MCDONALD The Bobcats totaled over 400 yards in offense in eight
games and scored the second most points in a single season (448) in program history. Frostburg finished the regular season at 9-0, captured the NJAC Championship for the second time in three seasons and eight players snared All-NJAC honors. Riley Hartman was named an All-American on the offensive line, while quarterback Connor Cox was named the NJAC and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year. McDonald arrived at FSU after serving as the offensive coordinator in 2017 at West Virginia Wesleyan. The Bobcats finished with five wins and averaged over 300 yards in total offense. For two seasons before Wesleyan, McDonald was the offensive coordinator at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. In his first season with the Lobos, McDonald guided the offense to 335.0 yards per game, while in his second season, SRSU averaged nearly 400 yards per game with 34 touchdowns. A Cumberland native, McDonald is no stranger to Fitzgerald’s coaching philosophy as he served as the offensive coordinator at Southern Virginia during the 2012 season, Fitzgerald’s fourth year as head coach of the Knights. In ‘07, McDonald was the passing game coordinator, while Fitzgerald was in his second season as the offensive coordinator. During the 2005 and 2006 seasons, McDonald served as the offensive coordinator for the Trojans of Virginia State University. During his first season, VSU won six games and averaged over 25 points per contest. McDonald served for five seasons on the Glenville State coaching staff in the early 2000s. He was the program’s wide receivers and quarterbacks coach during the 2000 and 2001 campaigns and he was elevated to the role of offensive coordinator from the 2002-04 seasons. In the fall of 1999, McDonald coached the wide receivers at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. He got his coaching start as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Potomac State College during the 1997 season. Under his tutelage, three players have garnered All-American awards, while in 2005 Joey Conrad became NCAA Division II’s all-time leader in passing yards and total offense. He has coached numerous WVIAC and CIAA all-conference selections through the years and he his offensive units have ranked inside the top-30 in the NCAA yearly record books three times. McDonald earned his master’s degree in education from West Virginia University in 2002 and earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Glenville State in 1998.
Angelo Luvara Offensive line coach Angelo Luvara is entering his seventh year with the FSU coaching staff in 2019 and he has coached the offen-
sive line for the last four seasons. In 2014, he helped with the tackles/tight ends, while in ‘13 he coached the quarterbacks. Over the last two seasons, the Bobcats have appeared in the LUVARA NCAA Playoffs behind some of DIII’s top offenses. Last fall, Frostburg led the NJAC and finished 39th in the nation in total offense (435.9), while in 2017, the Bobcats scored a school record 468 points en route to a school record 11 wins. In 2016, Frostburg allowed the fourth fewest number of sacks (19) and finished fifth in the NJAC in total offense (312.5). The Bobcat offense averaged 140.5 yards per in rushing and threw for another 172.0 yards per contest. In ‘15, the Bobcats were fourth in the NJAC in rushing offense (164.3 ypg) and allowed the fourth fewest sacks (13) in the league. In ‘14, Frostburg finished seventh in the Empire 8 in rushing yards (1,273) and rushing yards per game (127.3) and allowed just 16 sacks in 10 games. Frostburg also led the Empire 8 and finished 12th in the nation for fewest turnovers with 12. Under his direction, Frostburg threw for 1,922 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2013. FSU threw for more than 250 yards in five games, including a 384yard, four-touchdown performance against Waynesburg. For 13 years prior to FSU, Luvara served as the head football coach at Berkeley Springs High School. During that time, he helped guide his team to three postseason playoff appearances, including the first playoff berth in school history. Prior to Berkeley Springs, he served as head football coach at Potomac State College for 21 years. A native of Pittsburgh, he attended South Hills Catholic High School and then Potomac State College where he played offensive guard and linebacker. He graduated from Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. He resides in Keyser, West Virginia, with his wife Lynn. Luvara’s son Gabe is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Robert Morris, while his daughter Angie is a professor in social work at Hampton University.
Matt Puffenberger Assistant coach Matt Puffenberger is entering his second season as an assistant coach with the Frostburg State football coaching staff and he will be working with the safeties in 2019. Last fall, the Bobcats finished 39th in the country in total defense (287.9), 14th in passing yards allowed (150.5) and 12th in passing yards per comple-
SEE STAFF — 10
FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 9
FSU: Four are competing to replace Cox CONTINUED FROM 5 will have to fend off a bevy of younger players if they want secure starting spots. Palmer started all 11 games last fall and finished second on the team in tackles (65), while leading the charge with 39 assisted stops. Meier, meanwhile, played in nine games with 17 tackles, 3.0 TFLs (9 yds.) and one sack (4 yds.). Junior Jake Broschart started nine games at linebacker and was seventh on the team in tackles (37). He closed his sophomore campaign with a season-high 11 tackles, with 4.5 TFLs, one sack and one pass break up in FSU’s win over Western New England in the NCAA Playoffs. A pair of sophomores will push the upperclassmen for plenty of playing time and will be face of the defense in the years to come. Diron Accoo was named the NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week after posting two tackles with the game-clinching interception in a win over Wesley, while Michael Morgan also garnered NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting eight tackles with 0.5 TFLs and recovered a fumble in a week two win over TCNJ. Junior Ashton Walker will also push the group for playing time.
Veteran receiving corps will be called upon early for the offense The Bobcats led the NJAC and finished 39th in the NCAA last year in total offense (435.9), but will have to reload quickly in order to match the numbers from the last few seasons. Fitzgerald stressed that it will be a four-way competition for the starting spot throughout camp. Replacing Cox under center will be a battle between Division I graduate transfer Will Brunson, junior Chad Palmer, junior T.J. Peer and sophomore Shawn Bliss. A former two-time South Carolina All-State performer and one-star recruit according to 247sports, Brunson started 11 games at the University of Albany in 2017, throwing for 1,889 yards and nine touchdowns. Palmer played in four games at QB a year ago and he completed 9-of11 passes for 57 yards. Peer ran for a touchdown against TCNJ, while Bliss completed two passes for 27 yards in five games. A quartet of pass catchers will provide stability and consistency for the young QBs on the roster. Senior Malik Morris started 10 games and garnered First Team AllNJAC honors after ranking third in the nation in yards per reception (24.02). A legitimate NFL prospect, Morris also caught 42 passes for 1,009 yards and nine TDs, while also finishing seventh in the country with four blocked kicks. Nearly half of his receptions went for 20 yards and nearly one third of his catches were longer than 30 yards.
In week two, he blocked a punt in the endzone for a TD against TCNJ, while in the NCAA Playoffs against Western New England, he caught 11 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Juniors Lincoln Ikwubuo and Christian Thornton will also be valuable weapons at wideout. Ikwubuo was second on the team with five touchdown receptions after hauling in 34 passes for 514 yards. In seven games, Thornton caught 11 passes for 170 yards and three scores. Junior Terrell Brown will add depth to the WRs after catching eight passes for 151 yards with three TDs as a sophomore. Junior Aaron Curtis and senior Jay Smith will help fill out the depth at wideout this fall after seeing limited time in 2018. Junior Chandler Breeden along with sophomores Bryant Evans and Ben Sexton will all compete for the vacant tight end starting spot due to the graduation of Noah Teeter. On the stat sheet, Breeden led the way with one reception and a TD against Southern Virginia in late October. Despite the loss of Cox at QB, the biggest losses from a year ago are arguably at running back and on the offensive line. Morant and Boyce led the ground attack for each of the last two seasons and the responsibility will now rest on the shoulders of juniors Malcolm Facey and Aizsha Horne. Facey carried the ball 42 times for 232 yards and two scores last fall, while Horne ran 33 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Facey capped his season with 18 carries for 112 yards and one score in Frostburg’s win over Western New England in the playoffs. Junior Gavin Lavat had a great spring and returns to the roster after sitting out the 2018 season with an injury. Two seasons ago, Lavat carried the ball 103 times for 716 yards and three scores. At fullback, junior Nate Forte started all 11 games a year ago and will fight for the starting job with fellow junior Daniel Bittinger. The duo helped the Bobcat offense lead the NJAC and finish 39th in the nation in total offense (435.9). The offensive line has collected the most postseason awards over the last few seasons with an All-American in both 2017 and 2018 in Christian Walsh and Riley Hartman, respectively. Both are gone and the torch is now being carried by seniors Jason Money and Wade Olson along with juniors Gene Robinson and Andrew Griffith. Olson started all 11 games at right guard last fall, while Money started two at left tackle. Robinson started eight games over Money at left tackle, while Griffith played in eight games. Sophomores Chris Escobar and Samuel Davis will also see time on the line and Fitzgerald noted that FSU will have a battle between four or five guys for playing time at both tackle posi-
SEE FSU — 10
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Staff: Former Berkeley Springs head coach in charge of safties on nationally-ranked defense CONTINUED FROM 8 tion (15.78). The Bobcats also intercepted 12 passes and broke up another 25 passes. Puffenberger came to the Bobcat program after coaching at Berkeley Springs High School in nearby Berkeley Springs, PUFFENBERGER W.Va. since 2001. Over the last five seasons, Puffenberger served as the head coach of the Indians after serving as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers coach from 2001-12. Last fall, Puffenberger was named the Potomac Valley Conference Coach of the Year after guiding Berkeley to a 6-4 record, the 13th most wins in a single season in school history. The Indians scored the third most points in a single season in ‘17 and Puffenberger increased the program’s win total each of his five seasons. Puffenberger earned his bachelor’s degree from Frostburg in health and physical education in 2001.
Bill Shimko Assistant coach Bill Shimko is entering his first season as an assistant coach for the Frost-
burg State football team in 2019. He will primarily be working with the team’s wide receivers. Last season Shimko was an assistant coach with the football program at Towson University, working as SHIMKO the Defense and Special Teams Quality Control Assistant. While with Towson, he was in charge of running both offensive and special teams scout units, assisted in running special teams drills and charting defensive calls during games. Off the field, Shimko conducted scout team meetings to review opponent film. He also was in charge of the breakdown of film from Towson’s games and practices. Prior to his season at Towson, Shimko was hired by his alma mater at Montclair State University prior to the 2016 football season. He served as the Defensive Backs coach for two seasons, and was responsible for running and developing safeties drills, running special teams drills, the offensive scout team unit and assembling special teams units during games. He was also responsible for breaking down opponents film and assisted the Special Teams and Defensive Coordinators to develop game plans.
Shimko was a four-year starter at defensive back at Montclair State and was named to the 2014 and 2015 FirstTeam All-NJAC.
Scott Fahey Assistant coach
Scott Fahey beings his first season as an assistant coach for Frostburg State and with work primarily with the tight ends and fullbacks in 2019. Fahey comes to the Bobcat coaching staff after a two-year stint coaching at his alma mater Christopher Newport University where he coached outside linebackers in 2017 and offensive line Fahey in 2018. In 2017, Christopher Newport’s defense led the New Jersey Athletic Conference in takeaways with two All-NJAC selections. In 2018, the CNU offense led the conference in passing and placed another duo on the all-conference team. In 2018, Fahey functioned as the team’s assistant film coordinator, offered weekly film breakdowns and assisted in scouting.
J.R. Lowery Assistant coach
J.R. Lowery is in his third season as an assistant coach working primarily with the defensive tackles after concluding a four-year playing career with the Bobcat football program. Last fall, the Bobcats finished 39th in the country in total defense (287.9), 15th in team tackles for loss (8.7), 50th in scoring defense 18.4, LOWERY 19th in team sacks (3.45) and fifth in thirddown conversion defense (.254). The Bobcats hosted two NCAA Playoff games and finished 10-1 overall follow-
ing a perfect 9-0 regular season. In 2017, Frostburg finished 16th in the nation in total defense (265.6), posted 40 sacks and 108 tackles for loss. The Bobcats won a school record 11 games and advanced to the NCAA Playoff quarterfinals. Lowery was part of a historic 2016 season as a player for the Frostburg football team that finished 10-1 overall. Lowery, part of one of the top defenses in the nation, was a Second Team AllNJAC selection. Frostburg captured a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference title, defeated in-state rival Salisbury for the 18th Annual Regents Cup trophy and capped the season with a rout of 22nd-ranked St. John Fisher (38-14) in the ECAC’s Asa. S. Bushnell Bowl Game. Lowery won the Frostburg State Male Athlete of the Year award in 2016 and was selected as the Male Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year in 2017.
Shawn Magginson Assistant coach Shawn Magginson is in his second season as a Frostburg assistant coach in 2019 and will work with the defensive ends. Last fall, the Bobcats finished 39th in the country in total defense (287.9), 15th in team tackles for loss (8.7), 50th in scoring defense (18.4), 19th in team sacks (3.45) and fifth in third-down conversion defense (.254). The Bobcats hosted two NCAA Playoff games and finished 10-1 overall following a perfect 9-0 regular season. MAGGINSON Magginson was a four-year player for the Bobcat football and he appeared in all 13 games and made two starts as a senior. He finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also added one interception, one forced and one recovered fumble.
FSU: Harrison returns as top field goal kicker CONTINUED FROM 9 tions.
Standouts Harrison, Landis will lead special teams Junior kicker Jeremy Harrison and senior long snapper Ryan Landis return to headline the special teams units. Harrison led the Bobcats and NJAC a season ago with 80 points along with a 7.3 point per game average. He finished 19th in the nation in FG percentage (75.0) and 38th in FGs per game (0.82). Since arriving on campus, Landis has started every game at long snap-
per and enters his final season with 35 starts over his previous three seasons. The return duties will be handled by Persichetti, Morris, Ikwubuo, Horne and Brown. Ikwubuo returned six punts 105 yards with a touchdown, while Horne took six kickoffs back 100 yards. Morris will see more an expanded role this season as he will be returning kicks and punts after posting six blocks in his previous three seasons. Brown led the Bobcats in both kick and punt returns. He returned 28 punts 424 yards and a touchdown and returned 15 kicks for 375 yards. He garnered Second Team All-NJAC honors as one of the league’s top returner.
FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 11
Frostburg State University LOCATION
— 101 Braddock Road, Frostburg, Md.
OPENED
— 1902
FOUNDED
— 1898
MASCOT
— Bobcat
BUILT
— 1900
PRESIDENT
— Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk
STUDENTS
— 4,592: 3,939 undergraduate, 588 graduate and 65 doctoral (Spring 2019)
Fitzgerald: Enters his 6th season coaching the Bobcats as the team’s winningest head coach CONTINUED FROM 6 a dominating 42-24 win over Western New England at Bobcat Stadium. In 2017, The Bobcats captured a program record 11 wins (11-2) that included NCAA Playoff victories over No. 9 Wittenberg (35-7) and No. 10 Washington & Jefferson (46-23). Frostburg captured second in the NJAC standings (8-1), scored a school record 468 points and tied a school record with 13-straight wins that started in the 2016 season. The season marked FSU’s first trip to the NCAA Playoffs since 1993 and the first appearance in the quarterfinals since the playoffs expanded to 32 teams. Statistically speaking over the last three seasons, Frostburg has been one of the most impressive teams in DIII. Last fall, the Bobcats finished 39th in the country in total offense (435.9), while in 2016, the Bobcat defense was ninth in total defense as it limited opponents to just 240.6 yards per game. In 2018, FSU was second in the country with five blocked punts. Frostburg has ranked near the top of the NCAA statistics in blocked kicks in every year he’s been at the helm. Four different players have garnered six All-American honors since 2016 and
Fitzgerald has twice been named the NJAC Coach of the Year. The 2016 team concluded the season with nine-straight wins and a 10-1 overall record. At the time, it was just the second Bobcat team to record 10 wins in a season and the first team since 1990 to win nine straight. Frostburg earned a spot in the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s (ECAC) Asa S. Bushnell Bowl Game against 22nd-ranked St. John Fisher on November 19, 2016 at historic Franklin Field. The 24th-ranked Bobcats dominated the contest, earning a 38-14 victory and limiting St. John Fisher to -26 yards on the ground. The Bobcats also posted 10 sacks in the win. Fitzgerald continued the upward trend of his program in 2015 after he led his Bobcats to a 6-4 overall record, including a 5-4 mark in their first year in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The six wins mark the most for Frostburg in a season since 2005. FSU totaled nine All-NJAC honorees, including the league’s Special Teams and Rookie of the Year awards. Frostburg also collected numerous D3football.com All-Region and ECAC All-Star honors. In his first season, Fitzgerald led the Bobcats to a 4-6 overall record, the
most wins since 2011. Frostburg finished 2-6 in its final season as a member of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference that included a 38-37 double overtime upset of 25th-ranked Ithaca at Bobcat Stadium on Homecoming. The Bobcats capped the season with four All-Empire 8 selections, three on defense, and a USA College Football All-American. Fitzgerald was a speaker for the Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) in 2014 and was an AFCA Coaching Mentor in both 2014 and 2015. Fitzgerald came to Frostburg after coaching at Southern Virginia University for eight years from 2006-2013, including the last five as the program’s head coach. He was tasked with turning around the Knights that averaged just two wins per year over the program’s history. Fitzgerald, who had 24 wins in five seasons at the helm of Southern Virginia, helped the Knights set the single-season school record for wins twice. In 2013, he led SVU to a program-best 8-2 record behind a sixgame winning streak. The Knights finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final United States Collegiate Athletic Association coaches’ poll. In 2012, he led the Knights to a 5-6
overall record, the third highest single-season total. As the offensive coordinator in 2007, Fitzgerald helped the team a 6-5 record, a then school record. That same season, the Knights set school marks in rushing, passing, total offense and points scored and finished seventh in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in total offense (474.3 yards per game). His collegiate football playing career started at Potomac State College from 1995-96. As a sophomore, he was named Team Captain and was a Lough Award and Student-Athlete Award winner. After PSC, Fitzgerald transferred to James Madison for the 1997-1999 seasons. He helped lead JMU to an 8-4 record in ‘99 with a spot in the NCAA Playoffs and a share of the Atlantic 10 Championship. He was twice selected to the Academic All-Atlantic 10 team and was the John David Kraus Award Winner as a senior at JMU. Fitzgerald received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from James Madison in 1999. In 2012, he earned his master’s degree in education from Bethel University. Fitzgerald and his wife Kim have three daughters — Mattie (18), Afton (9) and Laila (7).