University of North Texas
1-2
Alabama
3-0
No. 4 Alabama Too Much For Mean Green Football
9/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (9/19/09) - The North Texas football team couldn't keep up with the Crimson Tide, falling to No. 4 Alabama 53-7 on Saturday.
Alabama (3-0) struck early and often, rolling up 523 yards of total offense and scores on nine of their 11 drives. The Crimson Tide defense was as good as advertised, holding the Mean Green (1-2) to 187 total yards and just 61 rushing yards.
Quarterback Nathan Tune led the Mean Green on a smooth scoring drive late in the third. The junior hooked up with Michael Outlaw for 32 yards on an improvised roll out, and found Lance Dunbar just two plays later in the left flat. Dunbar rocketed 34 yards untouched into the endzone.
The touchdown pass was the first in Tune's career, and capped off a 5-play, 78-yard drive. Tune was efficient against the Crimson Tide, completing 16-of-23 attempts for 126 yards and a score.
The North Texas defense made things interesting out of the gate. On the game's opening play, Sam Owusu-Hemeng's speed rush fired him around the Crimson Tide left tackle and into quarterback Greg McElroy, who coughed up the football. Brandon Akpunku scooped it up for the Mean Green, leaving the crowd of 92,012 stunned.
Saturday's crowd at Bryant-Denny stadium was the largest a North Texas team had ever played in front of.
Alabama struck first when McElroy, a former Southlake Carroll quarterback under NT head coach Todd Dodge, led the Crimson Tide on a 13-play, 95-yard drive. The junior capped the drive with a two-yard plunge over the right endzone pylon to put Alabama on top 7-0.
McElroy would lead the Crimson Tide on three more touchdown drives, and 352 yards of offense in the opening half alone.
North Texas receiver Darius Carey was the Mean Green's most effective offensive weapon. The freshman caught five passes for 34 yards. James Hamilton found success running the ball late, grinding out 31 yards on seven touches.
North Texas returns to action at Fouts Field next weekend with the opening of Sun Belt Conference play. Middle Tennessee and the Mean Green kick off at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
NT 0, UA 7
UA - Greg McElroy 2 yd run (Leigh Tiffin kick), 13 plays, 95 yards, TOP 5:52
NT 0, UA 14
UA - Marquis Maze 34 yd pass from Greg McElroy (Leigh Tiffin kick) 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:35
NT 0, UA 21
UA - T. Richardson 1 yd run (Leigh Tiffin kick), 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:10
NT 0, UA 27
UA - Mark Ingram 29 yd pass from Greg McElroy (Leigh Tiffin kickfailed) 7 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:25
NT 0, UA 30
UA - Leigh Tiffin 35 yd field goal 11 plays, 36 yards, TOP 2:08
NT 0, UA 37
UA - Mark Ingram 5 yd run (Leigh Tiffin kick), 3 plays, 39 yards, TOP 0:54
NT 0, UA 44
UA - Terry Grant 1 yd run (Leigh Tiffin kick), 6 plays, 33 yards, TOP 2:57
NT 7, UA 44
NT - Dunbar, Lance 34 yd pass from Tune, Nathan (Knott, Jeremy kick) 5 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:18
NT 7, UA 47
UA - Leigh Tiffin 20 yd field goal 11 plays, 37 yards, TOP 5:29
NT 7, UA 53
UA - Terry Grant 9 yd run (Leigh Tiffin kickfailed), 8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:43
