Defense helps NT end slide?

[OldTimer]

Tough defense helps UNT end slide

12:21 AM CDT on Sunday, October 16, 2005

By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle

MIAMI – North Texas turned to its defense over and over to protect a narrow lead at Florida International on Saturday.

The Mean Green was up to the task every time.

UNT forced eight turnovers and came up with a key stop in the final two minutes to pull out a 13-10 win in front of 14,433 at FIU Stadium.

UNT shut out FIU in the final three quarters and dodged a bullet when Adam Moss pushed a 41-yard field goal wide left with 1:12 left. The drive was one of four times the Golden Panthers advanced into UNT territory without scoring.

Colleges

North Texas 13, Florida International 10

Summary

Saturday's scoreboard

More Colleges

"We were able to build on each stop," UNT linebacker Phillip Graves said. "We felt like we were on a roll. They made some big plays, but we were able to hold on."

The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Mean Green, which had its 26-game Sun Belt winning streak stopped by Troy in its last game.

UNT (2-3, 2-1) almost had to rely on its defense to make a final stand when FIU (1-4, 0-2) drove 62 yards to UNT's 24-yard line and faced fourth-and-1.

But FIU coach Don Strock elected to attempt a field goal on the Golden Panthers' last drive.

"I thought they were going to go for it," UNT linebacker Maurice Holman said.

FIU decided to go for the tie instead of challenging a UNT defense that limited the Golden Panthers to an 2.9 yards per rush.

"We have great confidence in our kicker," Strock said. "It's not like he can't kick a 40-yard field goal."

The missed kick was one of several squandered scoring chances by both teams.

UNT drove to the FIU 10-yard line in the first quarter before sophomore running back Jamario Thomas lost a fumble. UNT also had a first down at the Golden Panthers' 3-yard line in the second quarter but failed to score.

"We didn't take advantage of our opportunities like we should, but we protected the ball like I like for us to protect it," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. "We have just got to get to a point where when we get turnovers, we take advantage of them."

UNT fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter, but senior kicker Nick Bazaldua kicked a pair of field goals before halftime. UNT finished its comeback when Holman recovered Josh Padrick's fumble at the Golden Panthers' 23-yard line in the third quarter.

Three plays later, UNT capitalized when wide receiver Johnny Quinn caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Meager.

Meager finished with only 79 yards passing, and Patrick Cobbs posted 112 yards rushing. Padrick threw for 243 yards for FIU, but he couldn't push the Golden Panthers past a Mean Green team looking to bounce back from a tough loss.

"The win was big because we did what we needed to do to get it done," Cobbs said. "Our defense made some plays. Hopefully we can build off of it."

E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com

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