Sports Network Preview - UNT/LA Tech Game

[MeanGreen61]

North Texas (2-3) At Louisiana Tech (2-3)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600) -- Ruston, Louisiana. Television: None. Home Record: UNT 0-2, LaTech 2-0. Away Record: UNT 2-1, LaTech 0-3. Neutral Record: UNT 0-0, LaTech 0-0. Conference Record: UNT 2-1, LaTech 2-1. Series Record: North Texas leads, 5-4.

GAME NOTES: The North Texas Mean Green travel to Ruston to battle the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in a non-league affair at Joe Aillet Stadium this Saturday. The Mean Green opened the 2005 slate with a thrilling 14-7 victory over Middle Tennessee State, but proceeded to drop their next three contests, including a 13-10 decision to Sun Belt Conference foe Troy. The loss to the Trojans snapped a 26-game conference winning streak for UNT. Fortunately for North Texas the team was able to snap its three-game skid with a tight 13-10 victory over Florida International last week. After the Mean Green battle the Bulldogs they will clash with seventh-ranked LSU, which will be followed by a home contest against UL-Lafayette. As for the Bulldogs, they suffered their first conference loss of the season with a 37-27 setback to Nevada last weekend. Louisiana Tech opened its season with two straight losses to Florida (41-14) and Kansas (34-14), but rebounded nicely with victories over New Mexico State (34-14) and Hawaii (46-14). Next on the schedule for the Bulldogs is a home date with San Jose State. With regard to the all-time series between these two schools, the Mean Green hold a slim 5-4 advantage. The last meeting came back in 1987 with North Texas getting the best of the Bulldogs, 10-5.

North Texas' offense was once again ineffective last week, racking up just 226 total yards against Florida International, but fortunately for the Mean Green it was enough to get them a three-point victory. The unit collected just 11 first downs and converted only 1-of-14 third down attempts, but controlled the ball for just over 34 minutes. UNT finished the contest with just 147 rushing yards on 48 carries, while producing a meager 79 yards passing. Patrick Cobbs, who became the all-time leading rusher at UNT earlier in the year, rushed for 112 yards on 27 carries in the win. While the ground game enjoyed moderate success, the passing attack was ineffective as Daniel Meager completed just 10-of-15 passes with a touchdown. On the year, Meager has yet to provide consistency as the team's signal caller, completing just 48.4 percent of his throws for 442 yards. Meager has just one touchdown pass on the season, but has thrown four interceptions. North Texas is averaging just 9.2 ppg and for that number to improve the team will need to gain more than the 203.8 total ypg it is currently.

Defensively, the Mean Green have been simply atrocious this season, allowing 27.6 ppg behind 418.4 ypg. In the victory over FIU last week, UNT allowed 322 total yards, but came up with a whopping eight turnovers to secure the hard- fought victory. North Texas held the Panthers to just 79 yards on the ground, which is shocking considering the defense has struggled tremendously against he run this season, allowing an average of 213.6 ypg. UNT did have some trouble against FIU's aerial attack as the Panthers threw for 243 yards on the day. Maurice Holman finished the contest with 10 tackles and one fumble recovery, while Brandon Monroe also added 10 stops to go along with one interception in the victory for North Texas. Aaron Weathers, who collected nine tackles against FIU, leads the defensive unit with 49 stops on the year.

After dropping 46 points on Hawaii in their previous contest, the Bulldog offense was simply dreadful last week, gaining just 229 total yards, including a mere 68 on the ground. Patrick Jackson led the way for a LaTech rushing attack that averaged just 2.1 ypc, logging 34 yards and a score on eight totes. While the ground game was struggling to produce, the passing attack did little to help as the Bulldogs racked up just 161 yards through the air. Matt Kubik completed just 13-of-39 pass attempts and tossed one touchdown along with one interception. On the season, Kubik has had very little success, hitting just 48.4 percent of his passes for only 725 yards and seven scores. It should only get worse for Kubik who might be without his main target, Seneca Chambers, who is listed as questionable with kidney problems. Chambers has 17 receptions for 174 yards thus far, but has yet to find the end zone.

On defense, Louisiana Tech has been less than stellar thus far, allowing 28.0 ppg behind 386.6 ypg. Last week against Nevada, the Bulldogs permitted 458 total yards, including 269 through the air. The passing yards racked up by the Wolf Pack should not be surprising considering the Bulldogs are yielding an average of 251.8 ypg to the pass. LaTech rarely put up a fight against Nevada's offense, allowing the Pack to collect 26 first downs and convert all six of their red zone scoring chances. The defensive unit, which was on the field for close to 36 minutes, was able to force three turnovers and register three sacks in the setback. Byron Santiago paced the Bulldogs with 13 tackles, while Barry Robertson, who leads the squad with 39 tackles on the year, finished with nine.

After a poor offensive display last week against Nevada expect the Bulldogs to rebound nicely against a struggling North Texas team. Look for LaTech to run early and often against the Mean Green who are ranked 109th in the nation against the run.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Louisiana Tech 34, North Texas 14

[untgirl04]

Defensively, the Mean Green have been simply atrocious this season, allowing 27.6 ppg behind 418.4 ypg.

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I wouldn't call our defense atrocious this season, just exhausted. When you spend 3/4 of the game on the field, you do tend to get a bit tired.

[mad dog]

North Texas (2-3) At Louisiana Tech (2-3)

UNT finished the contest with just 147 rushing yards on 48 carries, while producing a meager 79 yards passing.

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::collective groan::

[Guest Aquila_Viridis]

This one is a real toss-up: is it worse to be 'atrocious', or 'dreadful'? Maybe the author secretly gives us the nod here, as he could be alluding to the atrocities that will be committed against the Bulldogs. It is better to inflict atrocities than have them inflicted on you. BE MEAN, GREEN!

[greensteve]

That may be the worst write-up on a game I've ever seen...I always thought the that the description of game should be to get the reader actually interested about what they are reading...this actually took some concentration to even finish...