NTSite: Tigers tame mean green

[OldTimer]

Tigers Tame Mean Green In Baton Rouge

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 10/29/2005

Courtesy: Stephen Howard

North Texas wrapped up non-conference play in a 56-3 loss at Tiger Stadium.

Game Stats

BATON ROUGE (10/29/05) – The Louisiana State Tigers roared out to a 25 point halftime lead and never looked back, knocking off the Mean Green 56-3 in front of 88,887 at Tiger Stadium.

A pair of LSU (6-1, 4-1) runs put the Mean Green (2-5, 2-1) in a quick 14-0 hole in the first quarter. Tiger running back Joseph Addai punched in from three yards out and Shyrone Carey made it 14-0 on a 23-yard run.

Tiger quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn did their parts in dispatching the Mean Green. The sophomores combined to throw for 383 yards and four touchdowns, completing 24 of 28 passes.

Despite facing one of the top defenses in the nation, the Mean Green offense had one of its top overall performances of the season. Jamario Thomas was able to find running room in the LSU defense, scrambling for a season-high 82 yards. The sophomore even broke loose for a 24-yard run in the second frame.

The Mean Green was knocking on the LSU goal line in the second quarter thanks to a 21-yard Joel Nwigwe catch that took North Texas to the seven yard line. However, Tiger defensive tackle Kyle Williams blocked Nick Bazaldua’s 24-yard field goal attempt and gave LSU the ball on its own 36.

Safety Aaron Weathers gave the Mean Green new life just before halftime. The sophomore intercepted a JaMarcus Russell pass and returned it 28 yards to the LSU 34-yard line. The interception set up a season-long 50 yard field goal from Bazaldua to bring the score to 28-3.

The announced crowd of nearly 90 thousand is the largest to ever see a North Texas football game. The Tiger Stadium faithful eclipsed the previous mark of 82,956 set in the 2004 season opener at Texas.

North Texas returns to Sun Belt Conference action when the Mean Green takes on Louisiana-Lafayette at Fouts Field on November 5.