INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University football team (1-0) will travel to Frostburg State (1-0) on Saturday, Sept. 10 for the first in-conference game of the season for both squads. Both the Yellow Jackets and the Bobcats are coming off wins in which their defenses dominated the contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

PREVIOUS CONTESTS

• West Virginia State defeated Shippensburg (9-2 in 2021), 29-6.
• Frostburg State defeated American International (4-6 in 2021), 21-7.

LAST MEETING

WVSU hosted the Bobcats in the second week of the 2021 season. Frostburg's QB Graham Walker threw three touchdown passes early on to put the Yellow Jackets on their heels, 21-0. Donovan Riddick scampered into the endzone just before halftime to close the gap, 21-7.

The Bobcats tacked on another touchdown with a short run at the end of the third quarter to make it a three-score game again, 28-7. Riddick then connected with Keedrick Cunningham on a 60-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to shrink the deficit, 28-14. 

Midway through the fourth, Frostburg punched the pigskin over the goal line once again to put the game out of reach, 34-14. WVSU scored once more with another Riddick-Cunningham connection in the waning seconds of the contest to give the game its final score, 34-21.

Both teams turned the ball over once. The Bobcats established a sizable lead early on with their passing game and controlled the rest of the narrative with over 200 rushing yards on the day.

THE BUZZ AT STATE

The WVSU defense showed up in a big way against Shippensburg in week one. The Yellow Jackets held the Raiders scoreless outside of a kickoff return for a touchdown. Shippensburg ended up netting 28 rushing yards in the game because West Virginia State's defenders spent so much time in the backfield. They tallied 12 tackles-for-loss, including eight sacks. The WVSU defense also forced two fumbles, one of which was recovered, and came up with three interceptions in one of the most dominant defensive performances in recent school history.

The West Virginia State offense got off to a slow start in week one, but was able to put up 19 points in the fourth quarter. The run game sputtered throughout against a tough defensive front that continually filled the gaps. Veteran QB Donovan Riddick wasn't rattled without the run support, however, and found both Barry Hill and Keedrick Cunningham for two scores. Riddick also ran one in and didn't throw a pick to lead his team to victory.

SOCUTING THE BOBCATS

Frostburg returns starting QB Graham Walker in 2022. Walker struggled in week one, throwing three picks on only 17 passing attempts in the game. Frostburg's run game compensated by producing three backs that averaged at least 6.0 yards per carry. Senior Josh Maxwell ended up as the leading rusher with 20 carries for 125 yards and a score.

The Frostburg defense held American International to only 82 rushing yards, but allowed 208 yards through the air. Nevertheless, Frostburg's secondary still came up with three interceptions. The Bobcats kept AIC off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter.