Friday, December 11
Denton, TX
5 p.m.
University of North Texas
4-5 , 3-4
45
at
43
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP
3-5 , 0-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
North Texas
7
10
14
14
45
UTEP
7
14
0
22
43
Photo by: Manny Flores
Darden's Record-Breaking Night Lifts Mean Green
12/11/2020 11:10:00 PM | Football
DENTON – If there was any doubt remaining entering Friday night's game against UTEP, North Texas senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden emphatically erased it.
The program record book now says it all – Darden is unquestionably the most decorated wide receiver to ever play for the Mean Green.
"It's a blessing," said Darden, with a bag of the four footballs he scored touchdowns with on Friday night. "Statistics don't really mean nothing to me, but I just want my coaches and teammates to look at me and say, 'he was a great player and gave everything he had.' That's how I want to leave my legacy here more than anything."
The Mean Green left the field at Apogee Stadium with a 45-43 win in what was technically a road game, as UTEP traveled to Denton to play a rescheduled game that was originally slated for El Paso but moved to Denton because of COVID-19 precaution, but Darden stole the show.
The senior receiver extended his lead and some categories and broke two more school records on Friday in what was possibly his final game in a North Texas uniform with a legendary eight-catch, 173-yard, four-touchdown performance.
A quick rundown: Darden is now the program's all-time leader in career receptions (230), career receiving touchdowns (38), career receiving yards (2,782) and single-season receiving touchdowns (19). He is also now second on the all-time single-season receiving yards list (1,190) and second in career touchdowns (rushing/receiving/returns) with 39. Darden entered the game Friday tied with one other player (Alabama's DeVonta Smith) for the FBS lead with 15 touchdown receptions and now has 19.
"He's a stud. I'm proud of him," UNT head coach Seth Littrell said. "He deserves it because of the amount of work he puts in. If you've been around him, you know he's a special player but what makes him special is what he does off the field when no one else is around just working out. He has all the tools. He's tough in space. He's good with coverages. He knows how to find space and get open. He's one of those players that doesn't come around too often. He's just special."
"JD is such a smart football player," redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Aune added. "Things you aren't able to teach – he feels areas, gets open and obviously makes play. Playing with him makes it super easy as a quarterback. It's been awesome (playing with him)."
Aune didn't start the game under center for the Mean Green (4-5, 3-4 Conference USA), but it didn't take long for him to get into the game and find a connection with his star receiver. Aune started the second series of the game for UNT and never relinquished his spot, completing 16 of 29 passes for 302 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes while adding a rushing score.
"I have to stay ready when my number is called each and every day in practice and prepare like I'm going to start," Aune said. "You never know when your number is called, and tonight was pretty fun."
The offense also had some help from its teammates on the defensive side of the ball, as UNT intercepted four UTEP passes, exceeding the Mean Green's season total entering the game of three interceptions. Two of those picks came from sophomore safety Deshawn Gaddie – both of which led to UNT touchdowns.
"When we get turnovers, we want to capitalize on that," Aune said. "Finishing drives is something we're working on each and every week at getting better. It was good to see 45 points on the board. We feel like every week we have an opportunity to do that."
Gaddie praised his teammates up front for the sudden turnover spree.
"The defensive line did great," he said. "They made him (UTEP quarterback Calvin Brownholtz) scramble and made him throw the ball. In the back end, we saw the ball and went and attacked and got the ball. It's a great feeling when you can help the offense out, get a turnover and let the offense go out and capitalize."
The Mean Green's first score of the game came on a one-play drive when Aune found sophomore wide receiver Deonte Simpson for a 46-yard touchdown near the end of the first quarter after Gaddie's first interception gave the Mean Green the ball in UTEP territory.
The next UNT drive is when Darden finally got involved after a slow start, when he was visibly lobbying to get more involved.
"I'm a competitor, and I like winning and if we're losing, I'm not pouting I'm more trying to lock myself in and get myself in that mode where I know my teammates are counting on me," Darden said.
Trailing 14-7 early in the second quarter, Darden finally made his first catch and it was a big one.
Aune found Darden on a slant, and the senior speedster shook off one defender and had a easy run to the end zone for a 75-yard score.
"I felt him (the defender) on my leg. I kind of felt him dive, and I'd already seen the safety come down so I knew it was one-on-one," Darden said. "I knew then there was no one else there. I just kind of took off."
He added touchdown receptions of 32, 6 and 50 yards, the last of which tied Darden with Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08) for the all-time receptions lead at 229. With 3:33 left to play, Darden got catch No. 230 and exited the game to awaiting hugs from coaches and teammates.
"It's a real eye opener because of all the work I've put in and all the blood, sweat and tears, and now I'm here," Darden said. "I can't do nothing but thank coach Littrell for giving me this opportunity at North Texas."
QUICK HITS
QB AUSTIN AUNE, DB DESHAWN GADDIE AND WR JAELON DARDEN'S POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
The program record book now says it all – Darden is unquestionably the most decorated wide receiver to ever play for the Mean Green.
"It's a blessing," said Darden, with a bag of the four footballs he scored touchdowns with on Friday night. "Statistics don't really mean nothing to me, but I just want my coaches and teammates to look at me and say, 'he was a great player and gave everything he had.' That's how I want to leave my legacy here more than anything."
The Mean Green left the field at Apogee Stadium with a 45-43 win in what was technically a road game, as UTEP traveled to Denton to play a rescheduled game that was originally slated for El Paso but moved to Denton because of COVID-19 precaution, but Darden stole the show.
The senior receiver extended his lead and some categories and broke two more school records on Friday in what was possibly his final game in a North Texas uniform with a legendary eight-catch, 173-yard, four-touchdown performance.
A quick rundown: Darden is now the program's all-time leader in career receptions (230), career receiving touchdowns (38), career receiving yards (2,782) and single-season receiving touchdowns (19). He is also now second on the all-time single-season receiving yards list (1,190) and second in career touchdowns (rushing/receiving/returns) with 39. Darden entered the game Friday tied with one other player (Alabama's DeVonta Smith) for the FBS lead with 15 touchdown receptions and now has 19.
"He's a stud. I'm proud of him," UNT head coach Seth Littrell said. "He deserves it because of the amount of work he puts in. If you've been around him, you know he's a special player but what makes him special is what he does off the field when no one else is around just working out. He has all the tools. He's tough in space. He's good with coverages. He knows how to find space and get open. He's one of those players that doesn't come around too often. He's just special."
"JD is such a smart football player," redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Aune added. "Things you aren't able to teach – he feels areas, gets open and obviously makes play. Playing with him makes it super easy as a quarterback. It's been awesome (playing with him)."
Aune didn't start the game under center for the Mean Green (4-5, 3-4 Conference USA), but it didn't take long for him to get into the game and find a connection with his star receiver. Aune started the second series of the game for UNT and never relinquished his spot, completing 16 of 29 passes for 302 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes while adding a rushing score.
"I have to stay ready when my number is called each and every day in practice and prepare like I'm going to start," Aune said. "You never know when your number is called, and tonight was pretty fun."
The offense also had some help from its teammates on the defensive side of the ball, as UNT intercepted four UTEP passes, exceeding the Mean Green's season total entering the game of three interceptions. Two of those picks came from sophomore safety Deshawn Gaddie – both of which led to UNT touchdowns.
"When we get turnovers, we want to capitalize on that," Aune said. "Finishing drives is something we're working on each and every week at getting better. It was good to see 45 points on the board. We feel like every week we have an opportunity to do that."
Gaddie praised his teammates up front for the sudden turnover spree.
"The defensive line did great," he said. "They made him (UTEP quarterback Calvin Brownholtz) scramble and made him throw the ball. In the back end, we saw the ball and went and attacked and got the ball. It's a great feeling when you can help the offense out, get a turnover and let the offense go out and capitalize."
The Mean Green's first score of the game came on a one-play drive when Aune found sophomore wide receiver Deonte Simpson for a 46-yard touchdown near the end of the first quarter after Gaddie's first interception gave the Mean Green the ball in UTEP territory.
The next UNT drive is when Darden finally got involved after a slow start, when he was visibly lobbying to get more involved.
"I'm a competitor, and I like winning and if we're losing, I'm not pouting I'm more trying to lock myself in and get myself in that mode where I know my teammates are counting on me," Darden said.
Trailing 14-7 early in the second quarter, Darden finally made his first catch and it was a big one.
Aune found Darden on a slant, and the senior speedster shook off one defender and had a easy run to the end zone for a 75-yard score.
"I felt him (the defender) on my leg. I kind of felt him dive, and I'd already seen the safety come down so I knew it was one-on-one," Darden said. "I knew then there was no one else there. I just kind of took off."
He added touchdown receptions of 32, 6 and 50 yards, the last of which tied Darden with Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08) for the all-time receptions lead at 229. With 3:33 left to play, Darden got catch No. 230 and exited the game to awaiting hugs from coaches and teammates.
"It's a real eye opener because of all the work I've put in and all the blood, sweat and tears, and now I'm here," Darden said. "I can't do nothing but thank coach Littrell for giving me this opportunity at North Texas."
QUICK HITS
- The Mean Green win puts their all-time series lead at 18-8-3. The win was the fourth straight against the Miners as UTEP's last win came in El Paso in 2016.
- The Mean Green win puts the program record at 21-10 in Apogee Stadium under head coach Seth Littrell, who is now 4-1 in his career against the Miners. The Mean Green are 3-4 at Apogee Stadium this season (2-4 at home because this game was a UTEP home game played in Denton).
- The win puts head coach Seth Littrell at 31-30 in his Mean Green tenure, and he is in sixth place on the program's all-time wins list.
- Entering this game, the Mean Green were 6-26 when trailing at the half under Littrell, and they trailed 21-17 at the halftime break.
- The Mean Green defense's four interceptions in the game exceeded their season total entering the night (three).
- Redshirt sophomore QB Austin Aune (Argyle, Texas) entered the game on the Mean Green's second possession and third offensive snap and finished the game with 302 passing yards and five touchdown passes on 16-of-29 passing. His five touchdown passes is a new career high, breaking his previous of high three (vs. Charlotte on Oct. 10, 2020). He also added a rushing score.
- Aune's 302 passing yards on the night marked his third 300-yard passing day of the year.
- Senior WR Jaelon Darden (Houston) had eight catches on the day for 173 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 19 touchdown receptions through nine games this season – the most in all of FBS after he entered the game with 15 and tied with one other player for the national lead.
- Darden entered the game with 222 career receptions, and his eight catches puts him at 230 for his career. He is now the program's all-time receptions leader, passing Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08), who finished his career with 229 catches.
- Darden's 173 yards put his career receiving yards total at 2,782, passing Johnny Quinn (2003-06) for the all-time lead after he finished his career with 2,718 yards.
- The 173-yard performance was Darden's sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season and the ninth of his career.
- His four touchdowns on the night marked a new single-game career high after previously tallying five career three-touchdown game (and three this season). It is his ninth career multi-touchdown game.
- Darden's four touchdowns in the game was one shy of the Conference USA single-game record of five, done twice (Louisiana Tech's Carlos Henderson in 2016 and Houston's Patrick Edwards in 2011). He is one of seven players in conference history to have four touchdown receptions in a game and the first since Florida Atlantic's Deangelo Antoine in 2019).
- Darden's 19 touchdown receptions tie him for third on the Conference USA all-time single-season list with Louisiana Tech's Carlos Henderson (2016). He is two back of tying Rice's Jarett Dillard, who had 21 touchdown catches in 2006.
- Darden's 170 all-purpose yards gives him 3,418 in his career, which is good for eighth place on the program's all-time list.
- Darden is now second on the program's all-time single-season receiving yards list with 1,190 after starting the night in sixth place on the list. He trails Casey Fitzgerald (2007) for the top spot by 132 yards.
- His 50-yard touchdown reception with 8:40 left in the game was his 19th of the season and the 38th of his career. It was his 39th career touchdown (rushing/receiving/returns). He is alone in second place, after passing current running backs coach Patrick Cobbs (2001-05), on the program's all-time list.
- His 50-yard touchdown reception with 8:40 remaining in the game also tied for all-time career receptions record with Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08), who finished his career with 229.
- His 6-yard touchdown reception with 11:49 left in the game was his 18th of the season and the 37th of his career. It was his 38th career touchdown (rushing/receiving/returns).
- His 32-yard touchdown reception with 8:06 left in the third quarter was his 17th of the season and the 36th of his career. It was his 37th career touchdown (rushing/receiving/returns). That play also gave Darden the program's all-time lead in career receiving yards, passing Johnny Quinn (2003-06).
- His 75-yard touchdown reception with 14:11 left in the second quarter was his 16th of the season and the 35th of his career. It was his 36th career touchdown (rushing/receiving/returns).
- Sophomore WR Deonte Simpson (Beaumont, Texas) had four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.
- The 103 yards marked the second 100-yard game of Simpson's career at North Texas.
- Redshirt junior RB Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) had 15 carries for 94 yards.
- Redshirt freshman RB Oscar Adaway III (North Little Rock, Arkansas) had 15 carries for 65 yards.
- Senior RB DeAndre Torrey (Gautier, Mississippi) had 20 yards on six carries and one catch for six yards.
- Torrey's 26 all-purpose yards on the night puts him at 3,330 for his career and moves him into ninth place on the program's all-time list – passing Abner Haynes (1957-59) before he was later passed by Darden.
- Junior LB KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) finished the day with 11 tackles, including four solo stops. He now has 70 tackles on the season and leads the team.
- Senior safety Makyle Sanders (Tyler, Texas) finished the day with 10 tackles, including five solo stops and a tackle for-loss. He now has 60 tackles on the season, good for second on the team.
- Redshirt sophomore LB Larry Nixon III (North Richland Hills, Texas) had nine tackles, including six solo stops and a tackle for-loss to give him 52 tackles on the year, good for third on the team.
- Sophomore LB Kevin Wood (Converse, Texas) had eight tackles, including six solo stops, and his first career interception with 2:35 left in the first half.
- Sophomore safety DeShawn Gaddie (Arlington, Texas) collected his first collegiate interception with 2:46 to play in the first quarter. He picked up a second interception with 6:02 left in the third quarter. Both interceptions resulted in North Texas touchdowns.
- Redshirt sophomore DL Dayton Leblanc (Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) had a career-high eight tackles, including three solo stops.
- Redshirt sophomore DB Keelan Crosby (Anna, Texas) had his first career interception with 9:23 left in the third quarter.
QB AUSTIN AUNE, DB DESHAWN GADDIE AND WR JAELON DARDEN'S POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Team Stats
UNT
UTEP
Total Yards
491
497
Pass Yards
302
196
Rushing Yards
189
301
Penalty Yards
40
93
1st Downs
24
27
3rd Downs
2
7
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
24:15
35:45
1st Quarter
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UNT 0, UTEP 7
UTEP - BROWNHOLTZ, C. 29 yd run (BAECHLE, Gavin kick), 6 plays, 33 yards, TOP 4:01
UNT 7, UTEP 7
UNT - SIMPSON, Deonte 46 yd pass from AUNE, Austin (MOONEY, Ethan kick) 1 plays, 46 yards, TOP 0:08
2nd Quarter
UNT 7, UTEP 14
UTEP - HANKINS, Deion 2 yd run (BAECHLE, Gavin kick), 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:15
UNT 14, UTEP 14
UNT - DARDEN, Jaelon 75 yd pass from AUNE, Austin (MOONEY, Ethan kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:12
UNT 17, UTEP 14
UNT - MOONEY, Ethan 24 yd field goal 8 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:52
UNT 17, UTEP 21
UTEP - HANKINS, Deion 7 yd run (BAECHLE, Gavin kick), 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:19
3rd Quarter
UNT 24, UTEP 21
UNT - DARDEN, Jaelon 32 yd pass from AUNE, Austin (MOONEY, Ethan kick) 5 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:17
UNT 31, UTEP 21
UNT - AUNE, Austin 4 yd run (MOONEY, Ethan kick), 12 plays, 81 yards, TOP 3:58
4th Quarter
UNT 31, UTEP 28
UTEP - COWING, Jacob 28 yd pass from BROWNHOLTZ, C. (BAECHLE, Gavin kick) 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 2:43
UNT 38, UTEP 28
UNT - DARDEN, Jaelon 2 yd pass from AUNE, Austin (MOONEY, Ethan kick) 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:32
UNT 45, UTEP 28
UNT - DARDEN, Jaelon 50 yd pass from AUNE, Austin (MOONEY, Ethan kick) 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:18
UNT 45, UTEP 36
UTEP - COWING, Jacob 17 yd pass from BROWNHOLTZ, C. (THOMPSON, Trent pass) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:08
UNT 45, UTEP 43
UTEP - BROWNHOLTZ, C. 5 yd run (BAECHLE, Gavin kick), 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 1:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
16
TD
5
YDS
302
INT
0
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
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WR
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