FROSTBURG, Md. – The West Virginia State University football team completed a fourth quarter comeback to earn a 20-17 victory over Frostburg State in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) showdown on Thursday night at Bobcat Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets improve to 1-0 overall, 1-0 in the MEC with the win. The Bobcats fall to 0-1 on the season, 0-1 in league play with the loss.
Senior quarterback Austin Hensley went 18-for-29 passing for 251 yards and one touchdown. In order to lead the Yellow Jackets in receiving yards, senior wide receiver Zach Pate made seven catches for 84 yards and averaged 12 yards per reception. Senior wideout Isiah Scott also had a big game. He came down with the game-winning touchdown reception and averaged 20 yards per catch. Defensively, junior linebacker Dustin Crouser led all players with 14 tackles.
The first drive of the game for the Yellow Jackets included two passes for over 20 yards to slot receiver Zach Pate that gained the yardage needed to get into opposing territory. The drive was capped off by a 19-yard rushing touchdown from running back Dant'e Jones. Pate put an exclamation point on the end of the scoring drive by flipping over a defender for a successful two-point conversion. The score put West Virginia State up 8-0 with 12:50 remaining in the first quarter.
After successive drives by each team stalled out, the Bobcats were able to score on an eight-play, 85-yard drive that ended with a 38-yard completion for a touchdown. The touchdown and successful point-after attempt put Frostburg State within one point of tying the game. The first quarter came to a close with the Yellow Jackets in the lead, 8-7.
The Bobcats gained the lead for the first time when they were able to convert a field goal attempt from 23-yards out. The field goal conversion put Frostburg State up 10-7 with 7:01 left in the first half.
The Yellow Jackets were then able to get into field goal range with two minutes remaining in the second quarter. The 16-play, 62-yard drive did not result in points on the board for WVSU since the 43-yard field goal attempt was pushed wide left.
The West Virginia State defense kept FSU from scoring on the final drive of the first half when defensive back Kyle Alexander came down with an interception on a long pass attempt. The Yellow Jackets went into halftime down 10-8.
Frostburg State received the kick to start the second half and marched 70-yards down the field for a touchdown. The Bobcats caught a 14-yard pass in the corner of the end zone for the score. After the successful point-after attempt, FSU grabbed a 17-8 lead over WVSU with 10 minutes showing on the scoreboard in the third quarter.
The next possession saw West Virginia State put together an 11-play, 61-yard drive that lasted for nearly four-and-a-half minutes. A 10-yard shuffle pass to running back Carl Garmon on third down and 19 yards-to-go made for a manageable field goal attempt. Kicker Martin Ahlstroem stroked a 31-yard field goal right down the middle of the uprights to bring the Yellow Jackets back within six points, 17-11.
A 76-yard drive by the Yellow Jackets that carried into the fourth quarter was nullified by a fumble on the one-yard line. However, West Virginia State was able to pick up two points when a bad snap rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety. The safety meant that WVSU decreased their opponent's advantage to four points, 17-13, with 13:29 remaining in the final quarter.
Following a fourth down stop by linebacker Dustin Crouser, the Yellow Jackets' offense put together a five-minute long, 65-yard drive that reached Frostburg State's one-yard line. The Bobcats stood strong and made a goal-line stand to keep WVSU out of the end zone.
The Yellow Jackets' defense forced a quick three-and-out on the next possession to get the ball back without wasting much time. A 30-yard punt gave West Virginia State the ball at Frostburg State's 39-yard line. A 26-yard rush by tailback Carl Garmon brought the ball down to the seven-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Austin Hensley connected with wideout Isiah Scott on a fade route for the touchdown that reclaimed the lead for WVSU, 20-17.
With 3:44 left on the clock, the Bobcats' offense took over on their own 20-yard line. They were able to move the ball 46 yards, but the Yellow Jackets forced a fourth-and-10Â situation that brought Frostburg State's field goal unit out for a final attempt to tie the game. The 51-yard attempt fell short of the crossbar to give the West Virginia State University football team its first win of the season.
West Virginia State recorded 517 yards of total offense compared to 373 yards of total offense from Frostburg State. WVSU picked up 281 yards through the air and 236 yards on the ground to go along with 26 first downs.
The Yellow Jackets square up with conference foes Glenville State for the home opener at Lakin Field at Dickerson Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 14 at 1 p.m.
