University of North Texas Athletics
Top 2018 Moments - Torrey's 92-Yard Touchdown
6/18/2019 10:46:00 AM | Football
DENTON - As fall camp approaches, with players reporting on August 1, MeanGreenSports.com takes a look back at some of the biggest moments from the 2018 season. Stay tuned each Tuesday as MeanGreenSports.com relives each of these key moments from the nine-win season last year. We continue our series with running back DeAndre Torrey's 92-yard fourth quarter touchdown to help knock off Florida Atlantic on Nov. 15.
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On a cool Thursday night in November, the Mean Green looked to get their first win over Lane Kiffin's Florida Atlantic Owls after falling twice the previous season in Boca Raton. North Texas, as it did on several occasions in 2018, jumped all over their opponent early. The Mean Green raced to a 17-0 lead late in the first quarter over the visiting Owls. FAU withstood the early barrage, and eventually surged ahead 24-20 early in the third quarter. Then, quarterback Mason Fine went down with a wrist injury following a monster hit.
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Things appeared rather bleak for North Texas with 10:48 remaining in the third quarter, but in stepped backup Quinn Shanbour. The redshirt senior calmly and promptly led back-to-back touchdown drives, each of which concluded with Shanbour touchdown runs. North Texas took a 10-point lead following those scores, but FAU would not go away, trimming the Mean Green advantage to a field goal with 4:01 to play in the third.
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Fine returned after receiving stitches to his left wrist, but it was Torrey that helped push the lead beyond reach. His 92-yard run capped off his career day (17 carries for 184 yards and two total touchdowns), and stretched the UNT lead to 41-31 with 4:06 to play in the fourth.
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How it Happened:
Starting at their own eight, clinging to a three-point lead, North Texas dialed up a run behind the right side of the line for Torrey. Right tackle Riley Mayfield sealed the edge, while right guard Manase Mose got a piece of his first defender before moving to the second level to close off the linebacker. Center Sosaia Mose also held his block long enough to allow Torrey safe passage to the 10 yardline. It was there where he shook a tackle, thanks largely in part to left guard Elex Woodworth's block on another linebacker, and it was off to the races for Torrey.
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FAU safety Quran Hafiz had the best chance to keep Torrey from paydirt near midfield, but Torrey was able to outrun him until about the FAU 13-yardline. Hafiz dove and made slight contact with Torrey's ankles, but the Mississippi native was able to maintain his balance and reach the end zone to push the lead to 41-31.
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Major credit is due to the offensive line for springing Torrey, and his vision as well as his explosive speed did the rest.
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Though FAU struck quickly to pull within a field goal again, a Khairi Muhammad interception near midfield sealed the game, and helped UNT improve to 8-3 on the season.
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What They Said:
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RB DeAndre Torrey – "It was our basic outside zone scheme and I saw the defensive end fly up the field, so I knew I'd have to cut it up. I knew there was no safety deep, so all I had to do was get through the line. Riley [Mayfield] had a great block off the edge and the offensive line as a whole did a great job of tracking the backers and eliminating them from the play. At the time I felt overwhelmed that the play had worked out so perfectly, but looking back it was a great moment and one of my favorites from the entire season."
Head Coach Seth Littrell – "That was a huge play. When [Torrey] got to the second level he made a great move on the secondary and he took it to the house. But, I'll tell you this, the offensive line did a great job and Woody [Elex Woodworth] made that play go I think. DeAndre knew we were going to lean on him, and he made a huge play. Our o-line did a great job tonight too."
OL Elex Woodworth – "I remember running outside zone and having to block the shade that was on me. They shifted at the last second to the left, which put him at a three-technique. That changed my attack point to go through the three-tech to the linebacker."
Torrey's huge touchdown run, the fourth-longest in program history, helped exorcise some demons against the Owls from the 2017 season and kept the Mean Green in play for only its second back-to-back set of nine-win seasons in program history.
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On a cool Thursday night in November, the Mean Green looked to get their first win over Lane Kiffin's Florida Atlantic Owls after falling twice the previous season in Boca Raton. North Texas, as it did on several occasions in 2018, jumped all over their opponent early. The Mean Green raced to a 17-0 lead late in the first quarter over the visiting Owls. FAU withstood the early barrage, and eventually surged ahead 24-20 early in the third quarter. Then, quarterback Mason Fine went down with a wrist injury following a monster hit.
Â
Things appeared rather bleak for North Texas with 10:48 remaining in the third quarter, but in stepped backup Quinn Shanbour. The redshirt senior calmly and promptly led back-to-back touchdown drives, each of which concluded with Shanbour touchdown runs. North Texas took a 10-point lead following those scores, but FAU would not go away, trimming the Mean Green advantage to a field goal with 4:01 to play in the third.
Â
Fine returned after receiving stitches to his left wrist, but it was Torrey that helped push the lead beyond reach. His 92-yard run capped off his career day (17 carries for 184 yards and two total touchdowns), and stretched the UNT lead to 41-31 with 4:06 to play in the fourth.
Â
How it Happened:
Starting at their own eight, clinging to a three-point lead, North Texas dialed up a run behind the right side of the line for Torrey. Right tackle Riley Mayfield sealed the edge, while right guard Manase Mose got a piece of his first defender before moving to the second level to close off the linebacker. Center Sosaia Mose also held his block long enough to allow Torrey safe passage to the 10 yardline. It was there where he shook a tackle, thanks largely in part to left guard Elex Woodworth's block on another linebacker, and it was off to the races for Torrey.
Â
FAU safety Quran Hafiz had the best chance to keep Torrey from paydirt near midfield, but Torrey was able to outrun him until about the FAU 13-yardline. Hafiz dove and made slight contact with Torrey's ankles, but the Mississippi native was able to maintain his balance and reach the end zone to push the lead to 41-31.
Â
Major credit is due to the offensive line for springing Torrey, and his vision as well as his explosive speed did the rest.
Â
Though FAU struck quickly to pull within a field goal again, a Khairi Muhammad interception near midfield sealed the game, and helped UNT improve to 8-3 on the season.
Â
What They Said:
Â
RB DeAndre Torrey – "It was our basic outside zone scheme and I saw the defensive end fly up the field, so I knew I'd have to cut it up. I knew there was no safety deep, so all I had to do was get through the line. Riley [Mayfield] had a great block off the edge and the offensive line as a whole did a great job of tracking the backers and eliminating them from the play. At the time I felt overwhelmed that the play had worked out so perfectly, but looking back it was a great moment and one of my favorites from the entire season."
Head Coach Seth Littrell – "That was a huge play. When [Torrey] got to the second level he made a great move on the secondary and he took it to the house. But, I'll tell you this, the offensive line did a great job and Woody [Elex Woodworth] made that play go I think. DeAndre knew we were going to lean on him, and he made a huge play. Our o-line did a great job tonight too."
OL Elex Woodworth – "I remember running outside zone and having to block the shade that was on me. They shifted at the last second to the left, which put him at a three-technique. That changed my attack point to go through the three-tech to the linebacker."
Torrey's huge touchdown run, the fourth-longest in program history, helped exorcise some demons against the Owls from the 2017 season and kept the Mean Green in play for only its second back-to-back set of nine-win seasons in program history.
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Players Mentioned
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