BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Frostburg State overcame a halftime deficit to beat California (Pa.), 23-21, Saturday at Adamson Stadium to advance in the NCAA Division II Football Super Region One bracket.
The Bobcats (11-2) avenged a regular season loss to the Vulcans (9-4) and flipped a 7-point deficit at intermission into another postseason win Saturday afternoon. Frostburg State advances to face No. 1 seed Kutztown on Saturday, Dec. 6 in the national quarterfinals. Kutztown is ranked No. 3 in the AFCA Top 25 poll, is 13-0, and has won its two postseason games by a combined score of 108-19.
Frostburg State extended its winning streak to four games by narrowly escaping on the road. California built first-half leads of 7-0 and 14-7, the latter of which was the halftime score. In between first-half touchdowns by the Vulcans, Bobcats quarterback Jordan Brooks found Cruiz Paul-Umstead drifting from left to right for a 7-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.
In the second half, momentum shifted quickly. Cal (Pa.) received the ball to open the third quarter, and on the third play of the drive Frostburg State recovered a fumble. On the next play, Brooks threw a deep ball down the left sideline to Ray Adames for a 48-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.
The Bobcats then took the lead for the first time on a 3-yard touchdown run by KJ Smothers with 2:02 left of the third quarter, but the extra point was missed. Cal regained the lead, 21-20, with 13:08 left of the fourth quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass.
Frostburg State’s go-ahead drive chewed nearly nine minutes off the clock and ended with a 20-yard field goal by Harrison Fritz. On the drive, Brooks connected with Paul-Umstead for a 22-yard gain on third and 10 to keep the drive moving. Later, the Bobcats passed on a 46-yard field goal attempt to go for it on fourth and 5, and Brooks found Paul-Umstead again for a 7-yard gain to the Cal 22.
After the field goal, the Frostburg State defense — ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense and total defense — needed to keep the Vulcans from a touchdown or field goal. Cal advanced to the Frostburg State 28 before lining up for a 45-yard field goal with 1:43 left. The kick from Harry Radcliffe, an All-PSAC performer, fell short, and the Bobcats were able to run out the clock to seal the win.
Brooks finished 20-for-25 passing with 240 yards and two touchdowns. Smothers carried 15 times for 78 yards and a touchdown, while Owen Doyle had 14 rushing attempts for 43 yards. Paul-Umstead was Brooks’ favorite target with a team-high seven receptions for 63 yards, while Adames led the way with 78 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Bobcats were led by Carter Mazalewski’s seven tackles. Rainer Haveland and Nick Presson combined on a sack, and Kamari Ramsey recovered the fumble that set up the offense’s game-tying touchdown.
Frostburg State is the first MEC team to reach the national quarterfinals since Notre Dame accomplished the feat in 2019.