Charleston, W. Va – The Golden Eagles have never defeated the Bobcats. In the only three meetings in school history, Charleston has lost all three of them by a combined score of 59-106, with the closest of them being a double-overtime loss in 2021. This year's matchup, however, featured the two first-place teams in the Mountain East Conference, making this one out to be an exciting four quarters. 
 
The Basics
Location: University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field
Score: UC 28, FSU 25
Records: UC 7-1 (6-1 MEC), FSU 6-2 (5-2 MEC)
 
How it Happened
It was quite clear that Frostburg State was looking to keep the Charleston offense off the field as much as possible. Throughout the season, they have limited their opponents to just under 16 points per game, meaning the Golden Eagles were facing one of the top defenses in the country at home.
 
After each defense forced a three-and-out on the opening drives, the Bobcats would strike first on a six-minute-long drive that was capped off with a Dayne Koontz 18-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead. Charleston's offense would face difficulties early on and the punting unit would struggle to flip the field, giving Frostburg State great field position on two consecutive drives. The Bobcats would extend their lead to 10-0 on their next drive with a rushing score from Sean Aaron. Despite another stalled drive from the Golden Eagles, Bryce Keith would assist the defense with a season-long 56-yard punt to put the Bobcats deep in their own territory. 
 
In the second quarter, Charleston would find their rhythm and find their first points of the game with a pitch-and-catch from Javonte Howard to Tae Marrero from 15 yards out to cut the lead to 10-7. After the two sides would go three-and-out on their next drives, the Charleston defense would swing the momentum in a big way; after a sack from Andrew Chamblee, he would knock the ball loose and Cashawn Beasley attempted his best Chavon Wright impression, sprinting with the ball the other way for 63 yards to give Charleston their first lead of the game at 14-10 with 3:31 left to play in the half. 
 
Frostburg State would take the final points of the half on a 55-yard run for six from Evan Branch to give the Bobcats the 17-14 lead. 
 
Charleston had one more chance to score after a blocked punt by Tri-mayal Cash that put the Golden Eagles at Frostburg State's 25-yard line, but Darrell Scott would intercept Howard's attempt into the endzone to take the Bobcat lead into the halftime break. 
 
A punting dual and tremendous defense would define the third quarter, until the Golden Eagles found themselves with a 3^rd and Goal from the two-yard line and Chavon Wright in the backfield. Wright would bully his way into the endzone with the assist of his offensive line pushing him into the endzone to take the 21-17 lead. 
 
Charleston's defense would stall the next Frostburg State drive, but the Golden Eagles would make a tremendous play on special teams. After what appeared to be an attempted fake punt by the Bobcats, a bad snap would haunt the visitors and Charleston would extinguish the threat, giving their offense the ball at the Frostburg State 35-yard line. It would only take Charleston three plays to find the endzone on a pass from Howard to Yves Bosmans from 14 yards to extend the lead to 28-17. 
 
The Golden Eagles had every bit of momentum, and extended their boost with a 3^rd down stop featuring a sack from Cashawn Beasley. On the next drive, Chavon Wright would put the Golden Eagles in great field position with a 31-yard run, but the Bobcats wouldn't go down without a fight, intercepting Howard's pass on a 3^rd and 9 and bring it all the way down to the Charleston 24-yard line. 
 
Sean Aaron would rush into the endzone from a yard out to cut the lead to 28-25, and the Golden Eagles would defend their first onside kick of the year with two minutes to go. 
 
On a left-footed approach, Koontz's kick would be recovered by Charleston and they would have the ball at the 37-yard line. The Golden Eagles needed just one more first down to have their first win over Frostburg State. On a 4^th and 6, Chavon Wright would refuse to go down with the help of his offensive line and they would earn the game-ending first down. 
 
With the win, Charleston remains the lone first place program in the Mountain East Conference. 
 
Up Next
Charleston will have their last home game of the regular season on Thursday night for Senior Night. They'll take on the West Liberty Hilltoppers on November 2^nd at 7:00 PM.