FROSTBURG, Md. - It was an all too familiar scene for the Millersville Marauders. For the second week in a row, a tied game at halftime turned into a double-digit loss as Frostburg State won Thursday night's meeting 23-6, wearing down Millersville with a steady dose of the run game, explosive passing plays, and a suffocating defense.

In the season opener seven days ago, Millersville (0-2) stood tied with Clarion 7-7 before Clarion controlled the second half and pulled away with a bevy of explosive plays. And just like in week one, Rob Footman Jr., threw a second-quarter touchdown pass, this time to Titus Kruah. But that was all the offense Millersville could muster against a Bobcats' unit that led the Mountain East in total defense and scoring defense in 2023. Millersville was out-gained 108-28 in the first quarter, 137-35 in the third, and with Frostburg State chewing up yardage and clock, Millersville ran just three offensive snaps in between Frostburg State's two back-breaking scoring drives that totaled 20 plays. The Marauders' four drives before their last-ditch efforts in the final two minutes totaled 12 plays, 24 yards and consumed fewer than five minutes of clock. 
 
"In this case, we felt good at halftime because we had grabbed momentum and the game was going in our favor," said Millersville head coach J.C. Morgan. "But it's the same thing. We aren't doing a good enough job of staying on the field, and two, we aren't doing a good enough job getting off the field. Clearly, we have to figure out how to win the second half. In both games, it's gotten away from us. As I told the guys after the game, the breakdowns are happening in all areas and we have to clean that up if we want to win games down the stretch. No doubt, we feel like we can compete, but we have to eliminate the breakdowns."

First and second downs were particularly troublesome for the Marauders. Millersville averaged 3.1 yards per play on 21 first-down snaps and faced third-and-seven or longer eight times. Jaheim Morris averaged just 1.7 yards per carry on 15 attempts. Untimely penalties were also an issue. The Marauders were whistled for six false starts, which put Footman in obvious passing downs. He went 8-for-18 for 115 yards and an interception. His only completion of the third quarter went for one yard, and his only completion in the fourth quarter came with 1:57 to play. Millersville has scored 17 points or fewer in seven of its last eight games. 

"Without looking at the film, it looks like a bunch of little things," said Morgan. "Whether it's hitting a hole properly, hanging on to a block properly, making a different decision with the ball. If we get in better third-down situations we stay on the field longer and keep your defense off the field. It's a lot right now and it's my job to fix it."

Frostburg State QB Myles Fulton was efficient, completing 17-of-25 passes. A pair of completions--a 47-yarder to Jordan Marucci and a 43-yarder to Trashaun Timmons--accounted for nearly half of his 188 yards. For the second week in a row Millersville allowed two completions of at least 43 yards. Frostburg converted three third downs with gains of 25 yards or more. 

"We have to be more disciplined to avoid that," said Morgan. "It's a lot of mistakes happening that aren't even noticeable that are killing momentum."

Frostburg State played its hand early, taking the opening drive 85 yards in 13 plays, and 65 of the yards came on the ground. 43 came on a third-and-seven scramble by Myles. Owen Doyle scored the first of his two touchdowns to cap the drive. 

Millersville found the equalizer early in the second quarter, covering 59 yards in 14 plays. The drive was sparked by Footman's legs as he rushed four times for 21 yards and also passed for two key third-down completions. On third-and-10 from the FSU 13, he found Kruah on a catch-and-run. It was Kruah's first career touchdown. 

A swing pass to Jose Lopez went for 46 yards on Millersville's next drive, but a false start on third-and-nine stalled the drive in FSU territory, and Footman was then picked off at the FSU 8 and a third-and-long desperation heave. 

Millersville's defense bent in the third quarter, but Hez Faison forced a fumble at the Millersville 25. Frostburg State had clearly found its offensive rhythm. On the next possession, Marucci took a swing pass 47 yards down the Millersville sideline for the tie-breaking touchdown with 2:32 remaining in the third. 
 
A Millersville three-and-out put Frostburg State's offense immediately back on the field. A third-and-13 conversion was followed by a flag for a late hit, moving the Bobcats to the 11. Three players later, FSU took a two-score lead with Doyle's second TD run. The Bobcats added a late field goal as well. 

Frostburg State extended its night-game winning streak to 12 overall and nine in a row at home. The Bobcats have now won five consecutive season openers. 

"The kids played their hearts out and the good thing is that we have two weeks to get better," said Morgan. "We get a bye week to figure it out. We tapped into our depth with some guys out injured tonight, and we had some true freshmen playing and showing flashes. It was a three-score game, and that's nothing to be proud about, but we are getting closer."

UP NEXT
Millersville is off until the annual Homecoming game on Sept. 21 against IUP.