UNT Returning Home Looking For Third Straight W

DENTON – The UNT football team will look to win a third straight game on Saturday as it returns home after consecutive road wins to host UTEP. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN+ with the radio broadcast on KHYI 95.3/KNTU 88.1/Varsity Network App.

Head coach Seth Littrell spoke to the media on Tuesday and discussed, among other things, the positive feeling of a winning streak, young running backs stepping up and what the Mean Green are expecting to see from the Miners.

Pair of freshmen RBs coming off career games
When senior bell cow running back DeAndre Torrey left Saturday's win at Southern Miss with an injury, it didn't take long for a freshman to step in and have a career game on the ground. In fact, there were two of them.

Isaiah Johnson, a second-year freshman, and true freshman Ikaika Ragsdale both stepped in and not only had career games, but the pair became the first UNT duo to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in a game since last year's game at Middle Tennessee, when multiple offensive records were set with a monstrous game on the ground.

Ragsdale had 121 yards and two touchdowns, while Johnson tallied 119 yards and a score as the Mean Green rushed for 321 yards and scored 38 unanswered points to beat the Golden Eagles 38-14.

"The backs are doing a great job, and up front they're doing good and taking pride in paying physical," UNT head coach Seth Littrell said. "Our runners ran really physical the other day, which is key. One man goes down with DeAndre getting banged up, and others step up and make some big plays and we had two 100-yard rushers. Physicality is where it starts. That's the most important thing."

Littrell pointed to both being healthy at the same time for the first time, as both have been banged up at times this year, as being a big reason they were both able to showcase their talents on Saturday after Torrey went down.

"He finally got back to being healthy and practicing," Littrell said of Ragsdale. "Especially with the young guys, they've been out with some different injuries and once that happens and you miss a week of practice, it takes a while to get back in the rhythm of doing it. Those young guys being able to practice and get the looks. I think they just look a lot more comfortable and back to where they were in fall camp. It's good to see those guys out there. (Freshman) Ayo (Adeyi) continues to get in and make plays for us and then those other two came up big, too."

"It all starts up front"
The Mean Green rushing attack ranks 11th nationally at 228.2 yards per game and topped the 300-yard mark for the second time this season on Saturday, and while the quality depth in the running back room is undeniable, none of that success would be happening without the play of the offensive line, which was expected to be a strength of the team entering the season.

"The O-line Is playing great and obviously we're playing some good, physical football with the run game and working with the play-action pass in critical situations," sophomore quarterback Austin Aune said. "We're trying to score every drive, obviously, but it all starts up front. Those guys are doing a great job and our backs are running great and the receivers are running great routes. I'm just trying to distribute it to those guys."

Aune said establishing the running game over the last few weeks, including in the loss to Liberty before the win streak began, has helped the offensive rhythm, as a whole.

"When you do that it doesn't put you in third-and-longs and situations where the other teams knows you have to pass and gives the defense confidence," he said. "When you establish the run game it helps with the passing game and the RPO game, and the backs and receivers and tight ends are doing a great job."

Junior center Manase Mose, who's made 44 consecutive starts at guard and now center, said he and his fellow linemen all have the same mentality, even against a challenging defensive front expected from UTEP on Saturday.

"Our mentality of the O-line group, we're just always pushing each other every week and every day to have that mentality to whip the person right across from us," Mose said.

UNT expects physicality from resurgent UTEP team
After a few years of cellar dwelling in Conference USA, the Miners are already bowl eligible at 6-3 and a 3-2 C-USA mark, and they've seen the success with a physical, downhill running game and a physical, aggressive defensive front.

"Dana does a great job," Littrell said of UTEP head coach Dana Dimel. "He's an excellent coach. Offensively, they're physical and they're always starting up front and trying to establish the run game to get downhill. Their quarterback and receiver positions have a lot of skill and that's where they're different now. Those receivers get out there and make a lot of plays and the QB slings it around well."

"On defense, it all starts up front for them. They do a great job in the run game and the pass game. They bring pressure and play good, solid team defense. They're aggressive and they'll pressure you and know when to come after you. Again, they're just playing well together and you can see their confidence is growing every single week and guys are playing together and getting that continuity."

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Players Mentioned

Austin Aune

Isaiah Johnson

Manase Mose

Ikaika Ragsdale

DeAndre Torrey

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