FROSTBURG, MD.– The Assumption University football team dropped their second-straight contest to begin the year to a nationally-ranked opponent, as the Greyhounds fell to No. 23 Frostburg State University 24-19 on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
Score: No. 23 Frostburg State University 24, Assumption University 19
Records: Greyhounds (0-2, 0-0 NE10) | Bobcats (1-1, 0-0 MEC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Frostburg State opened the scoring with a 27-yard field goal midway through the first quarter, but the Assumption defense kept the Bobcats out of the end zone for the remainder of the first half. The Greyhounds took their first lead at 10:09 of the second quarter, as
Dom Santiago connected with
Will McNamara for an 18-yard touchdown to cap a two-play, 27-yard drive and put Assumption ahead, 7-3.
Assumption's defense came up with a pair of key takeaways late in the half.
Marquis Atkins intercepted Jordan Brooks with 1:02 remaining to stop a Frostburg State drive inside the Greyhounds' red zone. After Assumption was forced to punt,
Thomas Sousa recovered a muffed return at the Frostburg State 27-yard line with 21 seconds remaining. Six seconds later, Santiago found McNamara for a 27-yard touchdown, giving the Greyhounds a 13-3 advantage heading into halftime.
Frostburg State responded in the second half, as KJ Smothers scored on a four-yard run with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter to cut the Assumption lead to 13-10. The Bobcats moved in front later in the period on a 77-yard touchdown pass from Brooks to Ray Adames before Smothers added a one-yard touchdown early in the fourth, extending the Frostburg State advantage to 24-13.
The Greyhounds mounted a late comeback, driving 64 yards in eight plays before
Kaiden Brochu scored from one yard out with 4:11 remaining to pull Assumption within 24-19. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, and Frostburg State held off the Greyhounds over the closing minutes to secure the 24-19 victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Dom Santiago was 12-for-31 for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 50 yards on the ground.
- Will McNamara was the top target through the air, as he pulled down five targets for 96 yards and two scores.
- Defensively, Owen Fitzgerald had a game-high 15 tackles, which included 2.5 tackles for a loss. Darius Gibbons and Wesley Ciceron had solo sacks, while Manny Cox and Donovan Munroe combined for another.
- Frostburg outgained Assumption 347-275.
- This was the first all-time meeting between the two teams.
UP NEXT
- Assumption vs. Pace University, Saturday, September 19, 12:00 pm.
- Kutztown vs. Clarion University, Saturday, September 12, 12;00 pm.
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