University of North Texas
0-1
Clemson
1-0
NT Outgains Clemson In 35-10 Loss
9/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Box Score
CLEMSON, S.C. - Nathan Tune looked impressive in his Mean Green quarterbacking debut and Lance Dunbar ran wild, but the Clemson Tigers were too much for the North Texas football team in a 35-10 loss at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Mean Green (0-1) rolled up a 462-423 edge in total yards on Clemson (1-0), and kept the Tigers off the field with a balanced attack that ate up the game clock. North Texas controlled the clock for 41:52 of the game's 60 minutes.
In his first start as the Mean Green's No. 1 quarterback, Tune kept the chains moving with 19-of-29 passing for 240 yards and a touchdown. The senior out-dueled Clemson's star signal caller, Kyle Parker, who completed 9-of-17 passes for 170 yards and two scores.
The Tigers struck first, notching the only score of the first quarter on a 60-yard breakaway run from Andre Ellington on the game's opening possession. Otherwise, the Mean Green kept the Clemson offense off the field in the first quarter, with the Tigers tallying 4:43 of clock time and just three first downs.
The disparity in time of possession had a lot to do with the running ability of Dunbar, who eluded the Tiger defense much of the afternoon. The junior Doak Walker Candidate rumbled 96 yards on 15 carries in the first half alone, including an impressive 21-yarder that dazzled the Clemson crowd of 75,000.
Dunbar totaled 116 yards on 23 carries, good for an average of 5.0 per tote. The performance gave the junior his ninth 100 yard game in nine career starts.
With three minutes remaining in the first half both offenses suddenly kicked into high gear. Clemson's Parker hit Brandon Clear for a 70-yard touchdown pass to put the Tigers up 14-0.
Tune and the Mean Green responded seconds later by hooking up with Jamaal Jackson across the middle for 45 yards, setting up a 13-yard touchdown pass to Darius Carey. The six-play, 66 yard drive brought NT back to within a score at 14-7.
Clemson didn't take long to answer back. Parker hooked up with Jamie Harper for an eight yard touchdown pass that took the Tigers into the break up 21-7.
One of NT's offseason goals was to flip its turnover ratio from '09, and Craig Robertson started that off in style in the third. The senior linebacker picked off Parker in the endzone to spoil Clemson's first drive of the second half.
Trent Deans nailed his only field goal attempt of the game, a 25-yarder with 12:27 remaining to make the score 28-10 early in the fourth.
Ellington proved a slippery back for the Mean Green defense, rumbling for 122 yards on just 12 carries. Jamie Harper was just as elusive with 102 yards on nine carries.
North Texas returns home next Saturday to take on Rice in the final home opener in Fouts Field history. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at historic Fouts Field.
Team Stats
NT 0, CU 7
CU - ELLINGTON 60 yd run (CATANZARO kick), 2 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:16
NT 0, CU 14
CU - CLEAR 70 yd pass from K. PARKER (CATANZARO kick) 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:09
NT 7, CU 14
NT - Carey, Darius 13 yd pass from Tune, Nathan (Deans, Trent kick) 6 plays, 66 yards, TOP 1:30
NT 7, CU 21
CU - HARPER 8 yd pass from K. PARKER (CATANZARO kick) 3 plays, 49 yards, TOP 0:29
NT 7, CU 28
CU - ELLINGTON 14 yd run (CATANZARO kick), 4 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:11
NT 10, CU 28
NT - Deans, Trent 25 yd field goal 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:59
NT 10, CU 35
CU - HARPER 3 yd run (CATANZARO kick), 7 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:13
