*Telegram: Mean green not all bad

[OldTimer]

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Posted on Sun, Oct. 30, 2005

Mean Green: not all bad

By JEFF WILSON

STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The outcome was as expected, an LSU victory and another North Texas nonconference loss. But don't dismiss the final margin as another lost cause.

LSU 56, North Texas 3 doesn't fully represent the performance of the Mean Green's offense Saturday night at Tiger Stadium. For three quarters, that beleaguered unit looked as good as it has in seven games as UNT heads into its most critical stretch of the season.

The nation's worst offense sustained drives, turning in its second-longest possession of the season (5:11). Quarterback Daniel Meager completed a season-high 13 passes. The running game averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the first half.

Although UNT gained only 206 total yards, 11 below its average, it had 205 through three quarters for only the third time this season.

"We came out and established the run," wide receiver Johnny Quinn said. "When we did that, we were able to be successful in the passing game. The score doesn't reflect it, but offensively we improved."

Meager completed 13-of-28 for 101. His interception came after a well-thrown pass bounced of the chest of receiver Joel Nwigwe.

UNT coach Darrell Dickey said Meager's effort was another sign the redshirt freshman is improving.

"Daniel's really making progress," Dickey said. "He's doing the things we need to do to advance the ball, but we're just not showing the results of it."

UNT (2-5) had two possession inside LSU's 10 but came away without points. The Tigers (6-1) blocked a 24-yard field-goal try by Nick Bazaldua in the second quarter, and sophomore running back Jamario Thomas was stopped at the LSU 1 on a fourth-down run late in the third quarter.

Thomas had season highs in attempts (26) and yards (83). The nation's leading rusher in 2004, Thomas spelled senior Patrick Cobbs, who left after aggravating an ankle injury in the first half. Cobbs had only three carries for 21 yards.

"He's starting to get healthy," Dickey said of Thomas, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury this season. "We've got to get those two guys fresh for our stretch run."

The Mean Green has four games remaining. It resumes Sun Belt Conference play at 6 p.m. Saturday against Louisiana-Lafayette at Fouts Field. At 2-1, North Texas is a contender for the Sun Belt title, which would be its fifth consecutive crown.

"The fact that we did move the ball against the No. 7 team in the nation is a plus," said Quinn, who finished with five catches for 58 yards. "The score just got out of control, and we can't do that going back into conference play."

7. LSU 56, NORTH TEXAS 3

IN THE KNOW

BREAKDOWN

Why LSU won: The Tigers were sluggish at times but clearly the better team. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell was rarely pressured and the receivers had no trouble finding open space.

Why North Texas lost: The Mean Green was "in over our heads," coach Darrell Dickey said. Plays that would have been big gainers against Sun Belt teams were minimized against the Tigers.

Notable: The announced crowd of 88,887 was the largest UNT has faced, surpassing the 82,956 in the 2004 opener at Texas.

Up next: UNT vs. La.-Lafayette, 6 p.m. Saturday; LSU vs. Appalachian State, 7 p.m. Saturday

NORTH TEXAS KEYS TO THE GAME

Keep progressing: The offense appears to be regaining its form in time for conference play. North Texas averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the first half.

Stay cool: The defense looked overwhelmed by the atmosphere and the opponent on LSU's first drive. But UNT didn't seem shell-shocked thereafter.

Avoid injury: Coaches didn't push running back Patrick Cobbs, who aggravated an ankle injury early and didn't play in the second half. Free safety Roderick Cotton (ankle) might miss UNT's next game.

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Jeff Wilson, (817) 390-7953 jwilson@star-telegram.com