University of North Texas
1-3 , 1-0
Florida Atlantic
1-2 , 0-1
Football Defeats FAU, 21-17
9/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (9/25/10) - The North Texas football team picked up its first win of the season, defeating Florida Atlantic 21-17, behind two Darius Carey touchdown catches and a strong running game on Saturday night at Lockhart Stadium.
The Mean Green goes to 1-3 this season and 1-0 in the Sun Belt. North Texas defeated FAU for the first time in the series history. The Owls fall to 1-2 and 0-1 in the conference. This is the first time starting 1-0 in Sun Belt play under Todd Dodge and the first time since 2005.
The Mean Green took a 14-10 lead at the half and held onto a 21-17 victory despite FAU threatening twice in the last few minutes of the game.
"This is so special for us," said North Texas head coach Todd Dodge. "We found a way to get it done against a good football team. Coach Canales did a great job of getting Riley prepared for this game."
Lance Dunbar and James Hamilton combined for 194 rushing yards. Hamilton rushed for a career-high 122 yards on 11 carries, including a 32-touchdown run. Dunbar followed with 72 yards on 29 carries. The Mean Green rushed for 257 yards, compared to FAU's 84.
Quarterback Riley Dodge completed 10 of 15 passes for 146 yards and two touchdown passes. He also rushed for 67 yards.
The Mean Green defense came up with big plays in the last minutes of the game. With under four minutes remaining in the game and FAU threatening, Royce Hill recorded his first interception of the season. The Mean Green, however, was unable to get a first down and had to halt FAU once again. Brandon McCoy recorded the Mean Green's first and only sack of the game that helped stop FAU for good.
North Texas took a 21-10 lead with 7:45 left in the game following a 32-yard touchdown run from Hamilton. The junior running back took the snap out of the Wildcat formation, found open space on the left side and rushed for a career-high 32 yards into the endzone. It was the first fourth-quarter touchdown by the Mean Green this season and gave North Texas its largest fourth-quarter lead (11) since the Western Kentucky game last season.
FAU responded with a three-play, 77-yard drive that took only 57 seconds but resulted in a 36-yard touchdown. The fourth-quarter scoring drive cut the Mean Green lead to four points, 21-17 with 6:52 on the clock. North Texas had two opportunities to move the ball but was unable to get first downs. The defense came up with big plays to seal the win.
North Texas kicker Trent Deans missed his first field goal attempt of the season when he was short on a 42-yard try in the third quarter. Deans was 2-for-2 coming into the game. FAU missed a key field goal at the start of the fourth quarter.
For the fourth straight game, an opponent has marched down the field and scored a touchdown on its first offensive drive of the game. FAU took a 7-0 lead after Alfred Morris scored a rushing touchdown from one-yard out on the opening possession. It took the Owls 11 plays and over six minutes to move 70 yards.
North Texas countered with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Dodge to Carey. Deans made the extra point to tie the game, at 7-7. The Mean Green used a nine-play, 80-yard drive, resulting in Dodge's first touchdown pass since the Army game last year. The drive was aided by two FAU penalties and was the first time this season that the Mean Green scored on its first possession and only the second touchdown in the first quarter for the Mean Green this season.
FAU retook the lead, 10-7, with a 30-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter. The Owls used another six-minute drive to put more points on the board. Russ Gornall was successful on his first field goal attempt with 12:17 left in the second quarter.
The Mean Green's second turnover, after a Dodge interception, came with 5:19 left in the first half. Tyler Stradford fumbled on the FAU 37-yard line after catching a seven-yard pass. Mean Green linebacker Jeremy Phillips retrieved the ball right back, forcing a fumble on FAU's first play after NT's turnover.
North Texas took its first first-half lead of the year when Dodge hooked up with Carey for the duo's second touchdown of the half from 46 yards out. It was the longest reception in Carey's career and the longest touchdown pass by Dodge since he threw a 69-yarder against Florida Atlantic last season.
Deans made his second extra-point attempt to give North Texas a 14-10 lead with 54 seconds on the clock. It was the first first-half lead for the Mean Green this season and its first since the Army game last year.
Dodge started at quarterback for the first time this season. Dodge was a full-time starter his last season before injuries forced him to move to wide receiver. Dodge was forced back into action at quarterback when North Texas lost its top two quarterbacks in the first three games this season.
The 17 points allowed is the fewest since the Mean Green allowed 17 against FAU in a 17-16 loss in 2006.
Team Stats
NT 0, FAU 7
FAU - Morris, Alfred 1 yd run (Gornall, Ross kick), 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:54
NT 7, FAU 7
NT - Carey, Darius 23 yd pass from Dodge, Riley (Deans, Trent kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:17
NT 7, FAU 10
FAU - Gornall, Ross 30 yd field goal 13 plays, 54 yards, TOP 6:32
NT 14, FAU 10
NT - Carey, Darius 46 yd pass from Dodge, Riley (Deans, Trent kick) 2 plays, 52 yards, TOP 0:32
NT 21, FAU 10
NT - Hamilton, James 32 yd run (Deans, Trent kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:47
NT 21, FAU 17
FAU - Housler, Rob 36 yd pass from VanCamp, Jeff (Gornall, Ross kick) 3 plays, 77 yards, TOP 0:47
