Quick Start Lifts Frostburg Past Geneva 34-21
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. - Senior running back Patrick Pinchinat scored three touchdowns and the Frostburg State University football team racked up nearly 500 yards in total offense in a 34-21 victory over Geneva in the season opener for both schools, Saturday evening.
Frostburg improves to 1-0 with its first season opening victory since 2004 when it defeated Apprentice 14-0. The win also snapped a three-game losing skid to the Golden Tornadoes (0-1).
The Bobcats never trailed and totaled 486 yards in offense, including 222 on the ground. FSU collected 19 first downs and held a 32:06-27:54 advantage in time of possession.
Pinchinat made his presence felt early on as he scored touchdowns the first two times he touched the football. He galloped 48 yards for a score on the game's opening drive and hauled in a 73-yard touchdown from senior quarterback Josh Volpe on the first play of FSU's second drive as the visitors quickly led 14-0.
Pinchinat finished the game with 183 rushing yards on 23 carries and two scores. He also caught one pass for 73 yards and a score.
His final carry of the ballgame sealed the win for the Bobcats as he scored a nine-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 when FSU was trying to run out the clock with 1:26 remaining.
Geneva threatened on two occasions. After FSU assumed a 14-0 lead, Geneva found the endzone late in the first quarter and early in the second to knot the contest at 14-14. In the fourth, with the Bobcats leading 27-14, the Golden Tornadoes cut the deficit to six points, 27-21, with just 7:17 left in the fourth.
Volpe completed 17-of-27 pass attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He completed a pass to six different receivers, but his favorite target was junior wideout Anthony Young, who hauled eight balls for 108 yards and a 19-yard score late in the third quarter. Sophomore running back Chuky Iweh handed the Bobcats a 21-14 halftime lead when he scored a four-yard touchdown with 4:29 left in the second quarter.
Junior defensive back Brendon Blanchette led the FSU defense with seven tackles while freshman linebacker Anthony Chase made five stops, including 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack.
Geneva's Zack Hayward threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, but the running game totaled just 49 yards against the FSU defense. The Golden Tornadoes also missed two field goals and punted eight times.