NT-14, MTSU -7, AP writeup about game

[NT80]

North Texas 14, Middle Tenn. St. 7

Preview - Box Score - Recap Middle Tenn. St.

September 10, 2005

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- Maurice Holman returned a third-quarter interception for 99 yards and a touchdown as North Texas defeated Middle Tennessee 14-7 on Saturday.

Patrick Cobbs scored North Texas' only touchdown on offense later in the same quarter on a 4-yard run. Cobbs rushed for 103 total yards, caught four passes for another 36 yards and returned two kicks for 56 yards.

North Texas (1-0) was playing its first game of the season because its season opener last week at Louisiana State was postponed by Hurricane Katrina. The win extends the Mean Green's 26-game streak over Sun Belt Conference opponents -- the longest conference winning streak in the country with its last league loss coming in 2001 against Louisiana-Monroe.

Middle Tennessee (0-2) gained more total yards than North Texas -- 383 to 274 -- but had trouble with turnovers. Their only score came on a 6-yard run by Eugene Gross in the second quarter. Gross finished with 129 rushing yards.

MTSU's quarterback Clint Marks completed 21 of 27 passes for 195 yards, but he was hurt by three interceptions, including one with 3:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Blue Raiders also lost two fumbles.

North Texas quarterback completed 10 of 15 passes for 122 yards, but the Mean Green had no interceptions or fumbles.