University of North Texas
2-6 , 2-3
Western Kentucky
1-7 , 1-3
Mean Green Football Rolls 33-6
10/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (10/30/10) - Lance Dunbar rushed for a season-high 215 yards and three scores as Mean Green football snapped a three game losing streak in a 33-6 win over Western Kentucky Saturday afternoon at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
The win is Interim Head Coach Mike Canales' first as a head coach which makes him the seventh North Texas coach to win his first game.
North Texas (2-6, 2-3) contained the Western Kentucky (1-7, 1-3) on the ground, allowing 100 yards, but no touchdowns to the conference's leading rusher, Bobby Rainey.
Western Kentucky opened the scoring early in the second quarter when Monte Merrick booted a 37 yard field goal to cap off a 13 play, 60 yard drive.
Dunbar responded with an eight-yard touchdown run to put the Mean Green on top for the first time since the 21-17 win against Florida Atlantic.
True freshman kicker Zach Olen would expand the lead to seven before halftime with a 48-yard field goal that made the score 10-3 heading into the break. The 48-yarder was the longest boot since Oct. 29, 2005 when Nick Balzaldua knocked a 50-yard try through against LSU.
North Texas continued to put the pressure on in the second half, taking its first possession into the end zone on a three-yard touchdown run by Dunbar.
The Hilltoppers would cut the lead down to 10 with a 46-yard field goal from Merrick but Dunbar and the rushing offense of the Mean Green would not be denied.
Freshman Brandin Byrd would tally his first touchdown of his career when he rumbled in from 53-yards out before Dunbar would put Western Kentucky away, scoring his third touchdown of the afternoon with 48 seconds left on the clock.
The Mean Green extended the all-time series lead against Western Kentucky to 4-0 having defeated the Hilltoppers in Denton and Bowling Green twice each.
North Texas will return home Nov.6 to take on Sun Belt conference rival Troy at Fouts Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
NT 0, WKU 3
WKU - Merrick, Monte 37 yd field goal 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 6:23
NT 7, WKU 3
NT - Dunbar, Lance 8 yd run (Olen, Zach kick), 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 4:29
NT 10, WKU 3
NT - Olen, Zach 48 yd field goal 7 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:16
NT 16, WKU 3
NT - Dunbar, Lance 3 yd run (Olen, Zach kickfailed), 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:15
NT 16, WKU 6
WKU - Merrick, Monte 46 yd field goal 7 plays, 24 yards, TOP 2:19
NT 19, WKU 6
NT - Olen, Zach 24 yd field goal 12 plays, 71 yards, TOP 5:50
NT 26, WKU 6
NT - Byrd, Brandin 53 yd run (Olen, Zach kick), 4 plays, 81 yards, TOP 2:02
NT 33, WKU 6
NT - Dunbar, Lance 10 yd run (Olen, Zach kick), 6 plays, 28 yards, TOP 3:22
