Bobcats move on in playoffs

Cox’s two scoring passes help advance Frostburg to DIII quarterfinals

Connor Cox (South River) threw two touchdown passes and Jamaal Morant rushed for two touchdowns to lead visiting Frostburg State to a 46-23 victory over Washington & Jefferson in an NCAA Division III second-round game Saturday.

The Bobcats (11-1) advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal versus Mount Union. The win marked the first 11-win season in 57 years for Frostburg State. The loss ended a 30-game home winning streak for the Presidents (11-1).

For Frostburg, Cox completed 14 of 24 passes for 140 yards and Morant had 21 carries for 82 yards. Gavin Lavat finished with 16 carries for 146 yards and one touchdown.

Vincent Persichetti had two thirdquarter interceptions as Frostburg built its 17-10 halftime lead into 34-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats lost all six previous games against the Presidents, including an NCAA second-round loss in 1993.

Ater rushing for 385 yards last week against Wittenberg in the opening round, the Bobcats totaled 248 yards and three scores in the first half.

Frostburg opened the third quarter when Cox connected with Sergio Andino (Northeast) for a 7-yard touchdown and a 24-10 edge.

Persichetti picked off passes on consecutive W&J drives later in the third and the Bobcats capitalized on both. Hassan Mostafa (Oakland Mills) kicked a 23-yard field goal and Cox threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Christian DiPaola (Harford CC) for a 34-17 lead.

Lavat ran in from 30 yards out to open the fourth for a 41-17 advantage. The Presidents snapped the football out of the back of the end zone for a safety and Mostafa capped the game with a 29-yard field goal.