FROSTBURG, Md. – For the second time in as many years, the Case Western Reserve University football team suffered a last-second loss to Frostburg State University. Playing in the driving wind and rain of Bobcat Stadium, a field goal with three seconds remaining by Isaac Robinson was the difference in a 36-33 victory for FSU.

Last season, the Bobcats won the inaugural meeting between the two schools, 17-16, on a touchdown pass with 43 seconds left to play at Case Field.

Saturday's result puts both teams at 1-2 headed into the fourth week of the season.

Wasted in the effort was a pair of career-best rushing performances as the Spartans totaled a season-best 294 yards on the ground. Junior quarterback Billy Beecher (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) totaled 92 yards with a career high-tying three touchdowns, and junior running back Ricky Hanzlik (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) scampered for 105 yards on 18 carries.

Frostburg State racked up 567 yards of offense led by running back Mike Fourth with 185 rushing and a TD. Quarterback Ken Emmons, who threw the game winner last season, completed 14-of-23 passes for 285 and three scores – two of which went to wide out Myles Burgess, who finished with four receptions for 123 yards.

The Spartans grinded out a 15-play, 72-yard drive to open the game and found the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run by Beecher. Freshman kicker Nick Bavaro (Medina, Ohio/Medina) hit the extra point to make the score 7-0 at the 9:25 mark. The key play on the drive was a 22-yard completion on 1st and 20 from Beecher to junior running back Manny Sicre (Miami, Fla./Belen Jesuit Preparatory) down to the FSU 11.

After the Spartan kickoff, the Bobcats returned the favor with a 10-play, 66-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard TD run by Janai Billips. A missed PAT left the score at 7-6 with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Undaunted, the Spartans took the ensuing drive 75 yards on nine plays and Beecher rushed two yards to "pay dirt" with 2:22 on the clock. Bavaro's second PAT made the score 14-6.

Frostburg State's next possession looked to be headed for another score, but Spartan senior safety Jordan Banky (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) intercepted an Emmons pass at the visitor 17 and returned it 37 yards to set up the offense.  

Case then took the ball 32 yards on eight plays with Bavaro hitting a season-best 31-yard field goal at 13:13 of the second quarter.

The ensuing drive resulted in more points when Emmons hit Burgess for a 43-yard TD pass. Isaac Robinson converted the PAT to cap a four-play, 69-yard drive and bring the score to 17-13 with 11:53 left before half. 

After a three-and-out on the next Spartan possession, Emmons and Burgess hooked up again, this time for a 54-yard TD pass, to cap a seven-play, 66-yard drive at 8:03.

The Spartans looked to answer on their next drive, but a fumble in the red zone gave FSU the ball back at its own three. Fortunately for Case, the defense forced a punt which resulted in a bad snap and a safety that brought the score to 20-19 with 2:46 left in the half.

A free kick followed and set up the Spartans with excellent field position at the 50. Eight plays later, senior quarterback Erik Olson (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) found freshman WR John Mangelluzzi for a 21-yard TD pass. The TD was the first in the career of Mangelluzzi, and Bavaro hit the PAT to make the score 26-20 with just seconds left before the break.

On the opening drive of the second half, Emmons hit back-to-back long completions to Burgess and Antonio Wood to set up a one-yard TD run by Fourth at the 13:50 mark. A second missed PAT left the score tied at 26-26.

Case's next drive ended abruptly on an interception, and two plays later, Emmons hit Wood for a 22-yard TD. Robinson converted the PAT to put his team on top 33-26 at 12:33. 

Both defenses buckled down from that point until the end of the quarter when the Spartans went 87 yards on 14 plays and tied the score as Beecher scored his third TD of the game from one yard out. Bavaro's PAT made the score 33-33 with 14:55 left in the game.

Frostburg State drove deep into Spartan territory on its next drive, but an Emmons fumble was recovered by senior outside linebacker Scott Campbell (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) at the Case 16 with 10:53 left to play.

Several unsuccessful drives followed before the hosts started their final possession at their own five with 2:45 remaining. Fourteen plays and 93 yards later, Robinson hit the game-winning field goal from 19 yards with just three seconds left on the clock.

Defensively, the Spartans were led by sophomore safety Scott Suren (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) with a career-high 14 tackles. Sophomore linebacker Gavin Sandidge (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) also finished with a career-high 13 tackles, including a pair for loss, and Banky totaled a season-high 11.

FSU's Rowan Pinkett led all players with 15 tackles.

The Spartans return to action next Saturday, September 28 for Homecoming versus No. 3 nationally ranked Linfield College (Ore.) at 12:00 p.m. at Case Field.