DRC NT out to tame Wildcats

[OldTimer]

Football: UNT out to tame Wildcats

Mean Green looking to bounce back after Tulsa loss

08:51 AM CDT on Saturday, September 24, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Until last week, North Texas was just where it wanted to be early in the 2005 season.

UNT pulled off a season-opening win over conference rival Middle Tennessee and had momentum squarely on its side.

Of course that was before Tulsa rolled through town.

The Mean Green had a chance to move to 2-0, but let the opportunity slip past when the Golden Hurricane blew away UNT, 54-2.

That lopsided loss has left UNT scrambling to get back on track heading into what could be its biggest challenge thus far this season, a 1:10 p.m. game today at Kansas State.

“We definitely need to get back on track and get ourselves going again,” UNT junior wide receiver Zach Muzzy said. “Our last game was pretty rough for us. We played a good team and didn’t execute the way we should have.”

UNT’s game against K-State will be the Mean Green’s only opportunity to turn the tide before the hitting a key stretch of Sun Belt Conference games, beginning with a game against Troy on Oct. 4.

Capitalizing on that chance will be a monumental challenge.

K-State has long been a power in the Big 12 Conference, one of the nation’s elite leagues, and is in position to return to prominence this season. The Wildcats are 2-0, although their margin of victory in wins over Florida International (35-21) and Marshall (21-19) was not all that impressive.

“Kansas State is a very good football team that is rebounding from what was a sub-par year for them,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “They are unbeaten, have the nation’s leading rusher and are very big and physical up front.”

One of the key questions heading into the game is whether K-State will be at full strength.

Running back Thomas Clayton enters the weekend leading the nation in rushing with an average of 164.5 yards a game. Clayton has made an impression with his early performance, both on his coach and observers across the country.

“He’s running more aggressively than perhaps at earlier stages in his career,” Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder said. “He’s had some help. He’s behind an offensive line that is making some progress and providing him some space to run in. I think those things coupled together have helped him.”

His status for the game is in question, however, because of legal problems off the field.

Clayton was arrested last Friday by campus police on a complaint of aggravated battery against a university parking employee. He has not been charged.

UNT has already allowed a pair of running backs to rush for at least 100 yards. Tulsa’s Brandon Diles rushed for 128 yards last week, while MTSU’s Eugene Gross posted 129 yards.

What might be an even bigger concern for the Mean Green is the state of their offense. UNT has scored just one offensive touchdown on the year — a Patrick Cobbs’ 4-yard run against MTSU.

Cobbs has rushed for 100 yards twice, but UNT has struggled to complement his play on a consistent basis.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Meager had a solid showing in the first start of his career against MTSU, throwing for 122 yards. But he took a step back last week when he threw for just 63 yards and tossed a pair of interceptions against Tulsa.

While UNT would like to be more effective in the passing game, the basis of its offense is still running the ball.

“With great backs like Patrick and Jamario [Thomas], throwing has always been second for us,” Muzzy said. “With backs like them it should be. We want to put the ball in their hands as much as we can. Hopefully that will set up our passing game.”

That formula has helped UNT win four straight Sun Belt Conference titles.

A game against K-State might not directly help the Mean Green capture a fifth consecutive title, but playing well against the Wildcats could be critical for the Mean Green.

UNT will have just a few days after facing the Wildcats to get ready for a chance to move to 2-0 in the Sun Belt with a win over Troy. The challenge of beginning a turnaround against K-State is one UNT believes it is ready to face.

“Kansas State is always good,” Muzzy said. “They are a Big 12 team that will be a tough task for us, but we are up for it.”

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.