Tulsa Surges Past Mean Green, 54-2

MootPoint · September 18, 2005

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 09/17/2005

Courtesy: Rick Yeatts

DENTON (9/17/05) – Tulsa used a strong second half to push past the North Texas football team, 54-2, on Saturday night at Fouts Field in front of a crowd of 23,112.

After leading 19-2 at halftime, Tulsa (1-2) combined for 252 total yards and 35 points in the second half. Golden Hurricane running backs Brandon Diles rushed for 128 yards, and Cauvey Jackson ran for two touchdowns.

The Mean Green (1-1) is now 54-19 all-time in home openers and 0-2 the last two years. Tulsa extends its lead in the series against North Texas to 14-6 and 5-4 at Fouts Field.

The Tulsa offense combined for 406 yards of total offense, while the Golden Hurricane defense held the Mean Green to 129 yards.

Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas combined for 113 yards with Cobbs leading the way with 100 yards. He needs 22 more yards to break the career rushing record at North Texas. Ja’Quay Wilburn holds the current record of 3,120 yards.

The last time North Texas was held without a touchdown in a game was last year’s 65-0 loss to Texas in the Mean Green’s season opener.

The Mean Green scored the first points of the game with a team safety at the end of the first quarter but was then outscored, 54-0. With the safety, North Texas recorded its first points in the first quarter this season and has yet to give up points in the first 15 minutes this year.

After pinning down North Texas on its one-yard line, Tulsa tied the game with a safety of its own in the second quarter when Cobbs was unable to get out of the endzone. The Golden Hurricane added a 42-yard field goal and then recorded two touchdowns in a span of 1:37 to enter half ahead, 19-2.

North Texas returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Kansas State.