University of North Texas
0-3
Army
2-1
Army Blanks North Texas Football 24-0
9/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. - North Texas battled Army and its triple option attack on Saturday afternoon, but fell to the Black Knights 24-0 at West Point.
Army (2-1) rolled up 292 rushing yards and a 22-11 edge in first downs. North Texas (0-3) was held to a season low 201 total yards, and was held scoreless for the first time since 2006.
Lance Dunbar had racked up five straight games with at least 100 yards, but couldn't find running room against Army. The Doak Walker candidate was held to 42 yards on 12 carries.
Army struck first on a nine yard run from Patrick Mealy just four minutes into the game. The six-play 42-yard drive was the only score of the first frame, which was statistically controlled by the Mean Green. NT rolled up 83 total yards on a 10:07-4:53 edge in time of possession.
Injury woes have taken their toll on the Mean Green this year, and hit home again at West Point. After losing center Nick Leppo in the game's second series, quarterback Derek Thompson left the game with a leg injury. Starting receiver Christopher Bynes also left the game with injury, making nine starters lost to injury this year.
Thompson was filling in for Nathan Tune, who left last week's game against Rice with a hip injury, and Riley Dodge was once again called into action.
Dodge, who had taken snaps in both of NT's games, filled in for Thompson admirably by completing 8-of-17 passes for 63 yards. But a botched a handoff with Lance Dunbar caused NT's second turnover of the game, and was recovered by Army at the Mean Green 14 yard line. The Black Knights made NT pay just four plays later with a touchdown off the left tackle.
A 20-yard scramble from quarterback Trent Steelman capped off Army's longest touchdown drive of the season - 11 plays and 79 yards. The methodical drive put the Mean Green down 21-0 with 5:52 left in the third quarter.
A 23-yard field goal from Army's Alex Carlton capped off the scoring at 24-0 with just over 12 minutes to play.
North Texas returns to action next Saturday at Florida Atlantic. Kickoff from Boca Raton, Fla., is slated for 6 p.m. Central.
Team Stats
NT 0, ARMY 7
ARMY - Mealy, Patrick 9 yd run (Carlton, Alex kick), 6 plays, 42 yards, TOP 2:30
NT 0, ARMY 14
ARMY - Brown, Malcolm 2 yd run (Carlton, Alex kick), 4 plays, 14 yards, TOP 2:03
NT 0, ARMY 21
ARMY - Steelman, Trent 20 yd run (Carlton, Alex kick), 11 plays, 79 yards, TOP 5:42
NT 0, ARMY 24
ARMY - Carlton, Alex 23 yd field goal 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:01
