Mean Green escape with victory in season opener

MeanGreen61 · September 13, 2005

http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART...3/43266c27c8b70

Mean Green force five turnovers in 14-7 win over Middle Tennessee

Rian Johnson

Staff Writer

September 13, 2005

A blue moon must have shown high above Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Saturday night. It’s the only way one could explain NT’s win over Middle Tennessee.

A freshman quarterback outperforms a Davey O’Brien candidate. Two kickers on the Lou Groza watch list fail to convert four field goal attempts. A Middle Tennessee offense that averaged over 26 points per game last season only managed seven against an inexperienced defense. And eeriest of all, NT sophomore linebacker Maurice Holman accounted for the same number of points as Patrick Cobbs, Jamario Thomas and Johnny Quinn combined.

With under nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, Holman scored the first points of the season for the Mean Green, intercepting a pass off Blue Raiders’ quarterback Clint Marks and returning it 99 yards for a touchdown. The interception pulled NT even with Middle Tennessee at 7-7, but more importantly, it prevented the Blue Raiders from gaining a 14-0 third-quarter lead. Holman’s interception was one of five turnovers forced by a Mean Green defense that allowed nearly 400 yards of total offense.

“Between the twenties, we gave up a lot of yards,” NT coach Darrell Dickey said. “But we kept them out of the end zone and forced turnovers when we needed to, and that is the most important thing.”

Prior to Holman’s interception, NT safety Aaron Weathers also halted a Blue Raiders drive inside the 10-yard line. On second and long from the NT 27 yard-line, Clint Marks was looking for the end zone.

“I broke on the pass and saw that he had overthrown him a little so I just tried to go up and make the catch,” Weathers said.

Weathers snagged the ball at the six then returned it 16 yards. With under four minutes to play in the game, Mean Green inside linebacker Derek Mendoza sealed the win for NT, grabbing the team’s third interception of the night.

While the Blue Raiders’ all-conference quarterback struggled, Dickey said he was pleased with the play of redshirt freshman Daniel Meager.

“He stayed composed and handled himself in a tough environment,” Dickey said.

In his first career start, Meager completed 10 of 15 passes for 122 yards. While Meager was not able to find the end zone, he did complete a tough task in not throwing an interception against a defense returning 10 of 11 starters from last season.

“Overall, I was very pleased with him for his first time out, but he still has a lot of improving to do,” Dickey said. “He has to get to where we can depend on him to do more things during the game.”

Although Dickey is happy to escape with a win over the Mean Green’s biggest conference rival, he said he expects more from his team as the season moves forward.

“I was very pleased with what we did and the fact that we came out of there with a win,” Dickey said. “As young as we are there is some learning to do and we have a lot of work to do to get to where we need to be.”

The Mean Green host the University of Tulsa Saturday, game time is 6 p.m. at Fouts Field.

Game Briefs

The Cobbs/Thomas Backfield

The Mean Green ground game combined for 161 yards on 38 carries. Cobbs had 28 carries for 103 yards and the only offensive touchdown.

Thomas rushed for 58 yards on 10 carries, including a 34-yard scamper in the third quarter.

Firsts

Meager’s first career completion came on his first play from scrimmage; the pass was deflected before wide receiver Joel Nwigwe hauled it in.

Blue Raiders defensive lineman Jeff Littlejohn sacked Meager, marking the first time in history that Middle Tennessee has reached an NT quarterback.

Lou Groza?

The two teams entered Saturday’s game with the top two kickers in the Sun Belt. However, neither place kicker was able to convert on a combined four attempts. Colby Smith missed two for Middle Tennessee and Nick Bazaldua missed a 52-yard attempt at the end of the half and his second attempt was blocked by Littlejohn in the third quarter.