University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Host LA Tech Thursday Night
12/2/2020 6:21:00 PM | Football
DENTON -Â North Texas (3-4, 2-3 C-USA) returns home for the final home game of 2020 when they host Louisiana Tech (4-3, 3-2 C-USA) at 5 p.m. CT from Apogee Stadium in Denton. North Texas enters play after falling 49-17 at UTSA last week. The Bulldogs have not played since Oct. 31 when they defeated UAB in Ruston, 37-34 in double overtime. UNT and Louisiana Tech were originally scheduled to play on Nov. 7, but the game was postponed due to issues surrounding CoVID-19 and subsequent contact tracing.
Series History
North Texas and Louisiana Tech will meet Thursday for the 19th time, with the Bulldogs holding a 11-7 advantage, including a 52-17 win last season by the Bulldogs on Nov. 9, 2019, in Ruston.
* Louisiana Tech leads the series 6-1 in games played in Denton, and the Mean Green have dropped four consecutive meetings in Denton dating back to 2006. The only time that UNT has knocked off the Bulldogs was a 10-5 victory in 1987.
Success Against LA Tech
Several members of the Mean Green have had success in previous meetings with the Bulldogs.
* Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden (Houston) has combined for 14 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown in three career meetings with Louisiana Tech, including a five-catch, 91-yard and a touchdown performance in a 2018 loss in Denton.
* Junior linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) has combined for 11 tackles and a pass break-up in two career appearances against the Bulldogs, including a 10-stop performance in last season's loss in Ruston.
* Senior linebacker Tyreke Davis (Denton) has combined for 14 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and a sack in a trio of appearances against the Bulldogs, including eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack in last season's game in Ruston.
* Redshirt junior running back Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) has made one appearance against Louisiana Tech, and last season carried 19 times for 77 yards and a touchdown on the road in 2019.
* Redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Aune (Argyle, Texas) went 3/4 for 123 yards and a touchdown in last season's loss in Ruston. Aune connected on a 74-yard scoring strike with Michael Lawrence, after coming on in the fourth quarter.
That's Offensive
North Texas enters Week 14 with the fourth-ranked total offense in the nation, and top total offense in Conference USA at 536.9 yards per game.
Top Total Offenses in FBS
1. Kent State     606.5 ypg
2. UCFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 585.6 ypg
3. Ole Miss      563.0 ypg
4. North Texas   536.9 ypg
5. BYUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 535.8 ypg
* UNT is averaging 6.97 yards per play this season, which ranks 11th nationally and is the best in C-USA.
Thirty-Plus is the Norm
North Texas enters play this week averaging 34.3 points per game, which ranks 30th in the nation and is second in Conference USA. UNT was held below its average in last week's 49-17 loss at UT San Antonio.
* The 17 points scored is the team's lowest output since a 20-14 loss at Rice on 11/23/19.
Explosive Plays (15+ Yards)
The Mean Green posted eight offensive plays of 15-plus yards last week in the win against Rice, one of which resulted in a touchdown. Thus far this season, UNT has 69 plays of 15 or more yards (51 of which have gone for 20-plus), and 21 of those have resulted in touchdowns.
* The Mean Green had 95 offensive plays of 15-plus yards in 2019, 24 of which resulted in touchdowns.
Spreading the Love
North Texas quarterbacks have spread the ball to  14 different receivers through the first seven games of the season, five of which have over 100 yards receiving thus far.
JD=TD
Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden (Houston) has separated himself as one of the elite receivers in the country. He caught eight passes for 143 yards and a touchdown last week at UT San Antonio. His 75-yard touchdown in the second quarter was the longest catch of his career and the longest offensive play for the Mean Green this season.Â
* Darden is among the nation's leaders in all three primary receiving categories heading into Week 14, with 58 receptions (T-7th in FBS), 882 yards (9th) and 12 touchdowns (tied for the lead in FBS) through just seven games.
* According to Pro Football Focus, Darden has a grade of 84.5, which ranks 10th among all receivers in the FBS.
* Darden is scoring a touchdown on 20.7% of his catches, and 58.6% of his catches this season have resulted in either a first down or a touchdown. He has done that damage pretty equally depending on the down, recording 14 catches that resulted in first downs or touchdowns on second down, 10 on first downs, nine on third downs and one on fourth down.
* Darden also is 16th nationally at 10.3 points per game and is tied for 24th in total points scored (72).
* Dating back to 2019, Darden has 21 touchdown catches in his last 14 games and has caught at least one in each of his last eight games dating back to 11/30/19 against UAB.
* Darden has 214 career receptions, which ranks second in program history, and is now just 15 receptions behind Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08), who finished his career with 229.Â
* Following his 75-yard touchdown last week at UT San Antonio, Darden now has 31 career receiving touchdowns, which is tied for the most in program history with Ron Shanklin (1967-69).Â
* Darden also now has 2,474 career receiving yards, which is fourth in program history. He just surpassed David Brown (1991-94), who had 2,402 in his career, Carlos Harris (2012-15), who had 2,406 and Shanklin, who finished his illustrious career with 2,465.
* Darden enters play Thursday against Louisiana Tech just 59 yards shy of Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08) for third place, 93 yards shy of Troy Redwine (1992-96) and is 244 yards away from tying Johnny Quinn (2003-06) for the program record.
* Darden is second among FBS active career leaders in receptions (214), is second in receiving touchdowns (31), and his 2,474 career receiving yards are ninth-most among active FBS players.
* Darden surpassed 3,000 career all-purpose yards in last week's game at UT San Antonio and now has 3,113 career all-purpose yards, and entering Thursday's game against Louisiana Tech, and is 142 yards shy of teammate DeAndre Torrey (2018-present), who has 3,255 for his career for 10th in program history.
* Darden averaged 9.7 yards per reception on his 76 catches in 2019, and has upped that average significantly through seven games in 2020, averaging 15.2 yards per catch.
* Darden is averaging 8.3 catches per game so far in 2020, which is seventh nationally. Darden ranked second in C-USA in receptions per game, with 6.3 in 2019. That ranked 21st nationally.Â
* Darden's 32 career touchdowns (31 receiving and one punt return) are tied for third-most in program history, alongside current San Francisco 49ers running back Jeffery Wilson (2014-17). Running backs coach Patrick Cobbs (2001-05) is second with 38, and Lance Dunbar (2008-11) holds the record with 49.
#TouchdownTorrey
Senior running back DeAndre Torrey (Gautier, Mississippi) entered 2020 with a clean bill of health following a season where he battled through injury.
* Torrey carried 12 times for 54 yards in last week's game at UT San Antonio. Torrey has 98 carries for 600 yards and five scores in 2020, which leads the team in all three categories. (Torrey's five rushing touchdowns are tied for the team lead with redshirt sophomore quarterback Jason Bean)
* Torrey ranks 23rd nationally in yards per carry (6.12).
* According to Pro Football Focus, Torrey has a grade of 85.8, which ranks ninth among FBS running backs and is considered elite by PFF's metrics.
* Torrey has 26 career total touchdowns (22 of which have come on the ground), and is alone in ninth in program history in that category.
* Torrey's 22 career rushing touchdowns rank seventh in program history.
Atta Way, Adaway!
Redshirt freshman running back Oscar Adaway III (North Little Rock, Arkansas) carried 15 times for 101 yards last week at UT San Antonio.
* He has carried 54 times for 395 yards and two scores across four appearances thus far in 2020. He has three games of 100-plus yards rushing in his four appearances.
Pirtle Plugging Away
Redshirt senior tight end Jason Pirtle (Locust Grove, Oklahoma) earned preseason all-conference honors from Conference USA's 14 head coaches following a breakout year in 2019.
* Pirtle caught one pass last week at UT San Antonio, and it was an eight-yard scoring grab in the fourth quarter, for his first touchdown of the season.
* Pirtle has opened the 2020 season with 10 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown so far through the first seven games. His 10 recptions are fourth-most on the team.
Novil is a Disruptor
Senior defensive lineman Dion Novil (Abilene, Texas) is a key disruptor in the middle for the Mean Green defense.
* Novil recorded four tackles last week in the game at UT San Antonio, giving him a total of 36 stops, 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry through the first seven games of the season.
* Novil is the 11th-ranked interior defensive lineman in the nation according to PFF, who has given him a grade of 80.6.
The Lawfirm of Davis and Davis
Senior linebacker Tyreke Davis (Denton) and junior linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) are in their second seasons paired at two of the three linebacker spots. The pair were the team's leading tacklers in 2019 and are both members of the team's leadership council.
* Tyreke Davis posted two tackles and a quarterback hurry in last week's game at UT San Antonio, his first game since 10/17 at Middle Tennessee.
* He has 21 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a pass break-up and four quarterback hurries in four appearances in 2020 (all starts at will linebacker).
* Junior linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas), a member of the team's leadership council, and starting mike linebacker, has been a steady force for the UNT, and leads the team in tackles with 48 in six appearances, all starts.
* He recorded eight stops, and a tackle for loss in last week's game at UT San Antonio.
* In addition to being the team's leading tackler, KD Davis has 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries in six appearances.
Cam Johnson Finds A New Home Inside
Senior defensive back Cam Johnson (Houston) has found a new position in the secondary in 2020 in new defensive coordinator Clint Bowen's defense - as a field safety (similar to a nickel corner). Johnson spent the first three seasons of his North Texas career on the outside at corner.
* Johnson recorded a career-high 10 tackles (nine solo) in last week's game at UT San Antonio.
#Twinning
Redshirt freshmen Gabriel and Grayson Murphy (Dallas) have transitioned from linebacker to edge rushers, and have both excelled, providing a ton of pressure on the outside, and have made an impact since the switch.
* Gabriel recorded four tackles, and a sack last week at UT San Antonio. On the season, Gabriel has 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a team-high 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries in four appearances in 2020.
* Grayson finished with three stops and a quarterback hurry in San Antonio. Grayson has 15 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and four quarterback hurries in five appearances.
Good Moon(ey) Rising
Junior kicker Ethan Mooney (Fort Worth) was perfect during the Mean Green's game  last week at UT San Antonio, making a 23-yard field goal, and made both of his extra points. Mooney has now made four straight field goals dating back to the win at Middle Tennessee on 10/17 - and is now 5-9 on field goals and a perfect 24-24 on PATs.
* Mooney is now 21-29 in his career on field goal attempts and ranks fourth in program history in career field goal percentage.
Three Minutes Or Less
UNT had one scoring drive of three minutes or less in the loss last week at UT San Antonio, which resulted in a touchdown. North Texas now has 31 such drives, 28 of which have gone for touchdowns through seven games in 2020.
* The Mean Green had 38 scoring drives in 2019 that took three minutes or less. 30 of those resulted in touchdowns.
Mean Green at Home
Following the win over Rice on 11/21, North Texas is now 20-9 at home during the Seth Littrell era and 2-3 so far in 2020.Â
* The Mean Green have won 18 of their last 24 home games dating back to 2016, when North Texas beat Southern Miss (11/19/16). Four of those six losses have come in the last six home contests.
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Series History
North Texas and Louisiana Tech will meet Thursday for the 19th time, with the Bulldogs holding a 11-7 advantage, including a 52-17 win last season by the Bulldogs on Nov. 9, 2019, in Ruston.
* Louisiana Tech leads the series 6-1 in games played in Denton, and the Mean Green have dropped four consecutive meetings in Denton dating back to 2006. The only time that UNT has knocked off the Bulldogs was a 10-5 victory in 1987.
Success Against LA Tech
Several members of the Mean Green have had success in previous meetings with the Bulldogs.
* Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden (Houston) has combined for 14 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown in three career meetings with Louisiana Tech, including a five-catch, 91-yard and a touchdown performance in a 2018 loss in Denton.
* Junior linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) has combined for 11 tackles and a pass break-up in two career appearances against the Bulldogs, including a 10-stop performance in last season's loss in Ruston.
* Senior linebacker Tyreke Davis (Denton) has combined for 14 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and a sack in a trio of appearances against the Bulldogs, including eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack in last season's game in Ruston.
* Redshirt junior running back Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) has made one appearance against Louisiana Tech, and last season carried 19 times for 77 yards and a touchdown on the road in 2019.
* Redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Aune (Argyle, Texas) went 3/4 for 123 yards and a touchdown in last season's loss in Ruston. Aune connected on a 74-yard scoring strike with Michael Lawrence, after coming on in the fourth quarter.
That's Offensive
North Texas enters Week 14 with the fourth-ranked total offense in the nation, and top total offense in Conference USA at 536.9 yards per game.
Top Total Offenses in FBS
1. Kent State     606.5 ypg
2. UCFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 585.6 ypg
3. Ole Miss      563.0 ypg
4. North Texas   536.9 ypg
5. BYUÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 535.8 ypg
* UNT is averaging 6.97 yards per play this season, which ranks 11th nationally and is the best in C-USA.
Thirty-Plus is the Norm
North Texas enters play this week averaging 34.3 points per game, which ranks 30th in the nation and is second in Conference USA. UNT was held below its average in last week's 49-17 loss at UT San Antonio.
* The 17 points scored is the team's lowest output since a 20-14 loss at Rice on 11/23/19.
Explosive Plays (15+ Yards)
The Mean Green posted eight offensive plays of 15-plus yards last week in the win against Rice, one of which resulted in a touchdown. Thus far this season, UNT has 69 plays of 15 or more yards (51 of which have gone for 20-plus), and 21 of those have resulted in touchdowns.
* The Mean Green had 95 offensive plays of 15-plus yards in 2019, 24 of which resulted in touchdowns.
Spreading the Love
North Texas quarterbacks have spread the ball to  14 different receivers through the first seven games of the season, five of which have over 100 yards receiving thus far.
JD=TD
Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden (Houston) has separated himself as one of the elite receivers in the country. He caught eight passes for 143 yards and a touchdown last week at UT San Antonio. His 75-yard touchdown in the second quarter was the longest catch of his career and the longest offensive play for the Mean Green this season.Â
* Darden is among the nation's leaders in all three primary receiving categories heading into Week 14, with 58 receptions (T-7th in FBS), 882 yards (9th) and 12 touchdowns (tied for the lead in FBS) through just seven games.
* According to Pro Football Focus, Darden has a grade of 84.5, which ranks 10th among all receivers in the FBS.
* Darden is scoring a touchdown on 20.7% of his catches, and 58.6% of his catches this season have resulted in either a first down or a touchdown. He has done that damage pretty equally depending on the down, recording 14 catches that resulted in first downs or touchdowns on second down, 10 on first downs, nine on third downs and one on fourth down.
* Darden also is 16th nationally at 10.3 points per game and is tied for 24th in total points scored (72).
* Dating back to 2019, Darden has 21 touchdown catches in his last 14 games and has caught at least one in each of his last eight games dating back to 11/30/19 against UAB.
* Darden has 214 career receptions, which ranks second in program history, and is now just 15 receptions behind Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08), who finished his career with 229.Â
* Following his 75-yard touchdown last week at UT San Antonio, Darden now has 31 career receiving touchdowns, which is tied for the most in program history with Ron Shanklin (1967-69).Â
* Darden also now has 2,474 career receiving yards, which is fourth in program history. He just surpassed David Brown (1991-94), who had 2,402 in his career, Carlos Harris (2012-15), who had 2,406 and Shanklin, who finished his illustrious career with 2,465.
* Darden enters play Thursday against Louisiana Tech just 59 yards shy of Casey Fitzgerald (2005-08) for third place, 93 yards shy of Troy Redwine (1992-96) and is 244 yards away from tying Johnny Quinn (2003-06) for the program record.
* Darden is second among FBS active career leaders in receptions (214), is second in receiving touchdowns (31), and his 2,474 career receiving yards are ninth-most among active FBS players.
* Darden surpassed 3,000 career all-purpose yards in last week's game at UT San Antonio and now has 3,113 career all-purpose yards, and entering Thursday's game against Louisiana Tech, and is 142 yards shy of teammate DeAndre Torrey (2018-present), who has 3,255 for his career for 10th in program history.
* Darden averaged 9.7 yards per reception on his 76 catches in 2019, and has upped that average significantly through seven games in 2020, averaging 15.2 yards per catch.
* Darden is averaging 8.3 catches per game so far in 2020, which is seventh nationally. Darden ranked second in C-USA in receptions per game, with 6.3 in 2019. That ranked 21st nationally.Â
* Darden's 32 career touchdowns (31 receiving and one punt return) are tied for third-most in program history, alongside current San Francisco 49ers running back Jeffery Wilson (2014-17). Running backs coach Patrick Cobbs (2001-05) is second with 38, and Lance Dunbar (2008-11) holds the record with 49.
#TouchdownTorrey
Senior running back DeAndre Torrey (Gautier, Mississippi) entered 2020 with a clean bill of health following a season where he battled through injury.
* Torrey carried 12 times for 54 yards in last week's game at UT San Antonio. Torrey has 98 carries for 600 yards and five scores in 2020, which leads the team in all three categories. (Torrey's five rushing touchdowns are tied for the team lead with redshirt sophomore quarterback Jason Bean)
* Torrey ranks 23rd nationally in yards per carry (6.12).
* According to Pro Football Focus, Torrey has a grade of 85.8, which ranks ninth among FBS running backs and is considered elite by PFF's metrics.
* Torrey has 26 career total touchdowns (22 of which have come on the ground), and is alone in ninth in program history in that category.
* Torrey's 22 career rushing touchdowns rank seventh in program history.
Atta Way, Adaway!
Redshirt freshman running back Oscar Adaway III (North Little Rock, Arkansas) carried 15 times for 101 yards last week at UT San Antonio.
* He has carried 54 times for 395 yards and two scores across four appearances thus far in 2020. He has three games of 100-plus yards rushing in his four appearances.
Pirtle Plugging Away
Redshirt senior tight end Jason Pirtle (Locust Grove, Oklahoma) earned preseason all-conference honors from Conference USA's 14 head coaches following a breakout year in 2019.
* Pirtle caught one pass last week at UT San Antonio, and it was an eight-yard scoring grab in the fourth quarter, for his first touchdown of the season.
* Pirtle has opened the 2020 season with 10 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown so far through the first seven games. His 10 recptions are fourth-most on the team.
Novil is a Disruptor
Senior defensive lineman Dion Novil (Abilene, Texas) is a key disruptor in the middle for the Mean Green defense.
* Novil recorded four tackles last week in the game at UT San Antonio, giving him a total of 36 stops, 8.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry through the first seven games of the season.
* Novil is the 11th-ranked interior defensive lineman in the nation according to PFF, who has given him a grade of 80.6.
The Lawfirm of Davis and Davis
Senior linebacker Tyreke Davis (Denton) and junior linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) are in their second seasons paired at two of the three linebacker spots. The pair were the team's leading tacklers in 2019 and are both members of the team's leadership council.
* Tyreke Davis posted two tackles and a quarterback hurry in last week's game at UT San Antonio, his first game since 10/17 at Middle Tennessee.
* He has 21 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a pass break-up and four quarterback hurries in four appearances in 2020 (all starts at will linebacker).
* Junior linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas), a member of the team's leadership council, and starting mike linebacker, has been a steady force for the UNT, and leads the team in tackles with 48 in six appearances, all starts.
* He recorded eight stops, and a tackle for loss in last week's game at UT San Antonio.
* In addition to being the team's leading tackler, KD Davis has 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries in six appearances.
Cam Johnson Finds A New Home Inside
Senior defensive back Cam Johnson (Houston) has found a new position in the secondary in 2020 in new defensive coordinator Clint Bowen's defense - as a field safety (similar to a nickel corner). Johnson spent the first three seasons of his North Texas career on the outside at corner.
* Johnson recorded a career-high 10 tackles (nine solo) in last week's game at UT San Antonio.
#Twinning
Redshirt freshmen Gabriel and Grayson Murphy (Dallas) have transitioned from linebacker to edge rushers, and have both excelled, providing a ton of pressure on the outside, and have made an impact since the switch.
* Gabriel recorded four tackles, and a sack last week at UT San Antonio. On the season, Gabriel has 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a team-high 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries in four appearances in 2020.
* Grayson finished with three stops and a quarterback hurry in San Antonio. Grayson has 15 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and four quarterback hurries in five appearances.
Good Moon(ey) Rising
Junior kicker Ethan Mooney (Fort Worth) was perfect during the Mean Green's game  last week at UT San Antonio, making a 23-yard field goal, and made both of his extra points. Mooney has now made four straight field goals dating back to the win at Middle Tennessee on 10/17 - and is now 5-9 on field goals and a perfect 24-24 on PATs.
* Mooney is now 21-29 in his career on field goal attempts and ranks fourth in program history in career field goal percentage.
Three Minutes Or Less
UNT had one scoring drive of three minutes or less in the loss last week at UT San Antonio, which resulted in a touchdown. North Texas now has 31 such drives, 28 of which have gone for touchdowns through seven games in 2020.
* The Mean Green had 38 scoring drives in 2019 that took three minutes or less. 30 of those resulted in touchdowns.
Mean Green at Home
Following the win over Rice on 11/21, North Texas is now 20-9 at home during the Seth Littrell era and 2-3 so far in 2020.Â
* The Mean Green have won 18 of their last 24 home games dating back to 2016, when North Texas beat Southern Miss (11/19/16). Four of those six losses have come in the last six home contests.
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