FROSTBURG, Md. – Frostburg head football coach DeLane Fitzgerald has been preaching special teams since his arrival on campus less than two years ago. And he relied on both specials teams and defense, Saturday.
Junior return specialist Austin Bonsall returned his second punt for a touchdown this season and senior linebacker Rowan Pinkett picked the perfect moment for his first interception since his freshman season as the pair helped Frostburg to a 29-15 win over Kean, Saturday at a rainy Bobcat Stadium.
The Bobcats (3-1, 2-1 NJAC) were outgained in total offense and first downs and Kean (3-1, 2-1 NJAC) ran a staggering 90 plays for the second-consecutive week.
Frostburg, however, was unfazed and made key plays in key situations against the Cougars, who were receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Poll this past week.
Bobcat sophomore running back Jordan Brown found the end zone from five yards out midway through the first quarter as Frostburg assumed an 8-3 lead. Late in the third, freshman quarterback Connor Cox scored from a yard out as Frostburg built its lead to 21-9.
But the impressive special teams and defensive efforts were behind everything Frostburg did on Saturday.
"Our coaching staff puts an emphasis on special teams fundamentals every day in practice, and it paid off today," said Fitzgerald.
Following Kean's 21-yard field goal on its first possession of the game, senior return specialist Percy Haskins took the kickoff 74 yards up the home sideline to the Kean 13, setting up Brown's score. Junior kicker Isaac Robinson ran the ball into the end zone for two points rather than kick it and FSU led 8-3.
Kean recaptured the lead with just over a minute remaining in the first on a 46-yard touchdown toss to Charles App for a slim 9-8 cushion.
Bonsall then handed the Bobcats the lead for good when he returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in front of the Frostburg sideline for a 15-9 edge.
Frostburg entered the weekend as one of just two schools with three punt return TDs this season at the Division III level and the Bobcats end the day on Saturday as the only school in NCAA football among all four levels (FBS, FCS, II and III) with four punt returns for touchdowns.
And the Bobcats weren't done.
Cox's third-quarter score was set up when sophomore Josh Washington blocked a punt at the Kean 27 and sophomore Josh Piper pounced on the loose ball at the four.
The Cougars' Brian Matthews scored moments later to narrow their deficit to 21-15 as the game headed for the fourth quarter.
Late in the fourth, it was Pinkett's turn to impact the scoreboard as he cradled a tipped pass from App and returned the interception 34 yards for the game-sealing touchdown.
Pinkett's stat line from the victory is quite impressive as he logged 13 total tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, a pass breakup and the interception return for a touchdown. Junior defensive end William Sewell finished with 12 tackles and 3.0 TFLs, while sophomore Lyle Fugate posted 12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a sack.
"We played very hard on special teams and defense today," added Fitzgerald. "In football you usually have to win two phases of the game to win and we did that today."
On offense, Cox rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown and added 34 yards through the air on seven completions. Freshman Gavin Lavat carried the ball 10 times for 51 yards.
Kean finished with 366 yards in offense behind 163 passing yards (12-of-37) from App. He also added 44 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Frostburg returns to the field next Saturday at William Paterson at 1:00 pm.