NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Freshman tailback Gavin Lavat ran for two scores and the Frostburg State football team used a late stop on defense to secure a 19-14 win over Christopher Newport, Saturday night.
The Bobcats fifth-straight win pushes their overall record to 6-1 and 5-1 in the NJAC. Frostburg scored all 19 of its points in the first half and then relied on its defense to help seal the victory.
"After CNU's first drive of the game, our defense really played well tonight," said Bobcat head coach DeLane Fitzgerald. "They rose to the occasion time and time again. The 4th down stand at the end of the game was great! It's what winning defenses do."
Christopher Newport (1-6, 1-5) scored first as Tyler Quigley found the end zone from a yard out for a 7-0 lead with 5:08 to play.
FSU answered with three-consecutive touchdowns over the remainder of the first half.
Following CNU's touchdown, Lavat scored from four yards out that capped a seven-play, 58-yard drive as Frostburg knotted the contest at 7-7 with 1:59 left in the first.
Lavat found the end zone again early in the second, this time from nine yards out for a 13-7 advantage. The extra point was missed and the score remained 13-7. The drive covered eight plays and 68 yards, Frostburg's longest of the ballgame.
Freshman Connor Cox connected with senior wide receiver Myles Burgess for a 20-yard touchdown strike midway through the second quarter as FSU's lead swelled to 19-7, a cushion it held at halftime as well.
Christopher Newport scored the only points in the second half when Quigley ran for a seven-yard touchdown with 12:18 showing in the fourth quarter as CNU narrowed its deficit to 19-14.
On CNU's final drive of the game, the Captains maneuvered to Frostburg's 13. On first down, the hosts got to the 11, but sophomore linebacker Graham Broschart tackled Kyree Burton for a five yard loss on second down. After an incomplete pass on third, Bobcat senior defensive back Salaman Riddell broke up Quigley's pass on fourth down handing the ball back over to Frostburg with 3:36 to play.
Three straight carries for Lavat netted 30 yards and helped Frostburg run out the clock.
"This was as hard fought a football game as you will see in DIII," added Fitzgerald.
Cox finished with a season-high 192 yards through the air on 13-of-18 completions and a touchdown. Lavat led FSU in rushing for the third time this season after carrying the ball 21 times for 83 and two touchdowns. Burgess finished with 95 yards receiving behind a career-best seven receptions and one touchdown.
In total, Frostburg amassed 302 yards in offense behind Cox's season-best, but it was the Bobcat defense that posted the best numbers. Frostburg limited the Captains to just 231 yards of offense and just 69 on the ground. FSU also held CNU to 2-of-5 fourth down conversions.
Senior Rowan Pinkett led Frostburg with 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and a breakup, but it was Riddell's night that stole the show. He finished with 10 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups.
"Our coaching staff is very proud of our guys," noted Fitzgerald. "They are young men of great work ethic, discipline and character. They are fun to be around and coach."
Quigley finished with 162 yards passing (14-of-31 attempts) and one touchdown, while also running for two more scores.
Frostburg Wins Fifth-Straight
/seasons/2015/boxscores/20151024_7ob4.xml
2015
Frostburg State
19
Christopher Newport
14
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frostburg State (6-1) | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Christopher Newport (1-6) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Oct 24, 2015