DRC NT can't hold on after taking late lead

OldTimer · November 6, 2005

UNT can't hold on after taking late lead

12:02 AM CST on Sunday, November 6, 2005

By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle

DENTON – North Texas running back Patrick Cobbs put the Mean Green in position to end a two-game losing streak Saturday night at Fouts Field.

Unfortunately for the Mean Green, its defense failed to convert in a 31-28 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette in a Sun Belt Conference game.

Cobbs rushed for 197 yards and scored three touchdowns in the second half to give the Mean Green a four-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

Colleges

La.-Lafayette 31, North Texas 28

Late TD dumps North Texas

Summary

Saturday's scoreboard

More North Texas

The Ragin' Cajuns took possession at their 12-yard line with 9:44 left. UNT needed a stop but failed while Louisiana-Lafayette methodically drove down the field in 15 plays.

Ragin' Cajuns running back Tyrell Fenroy capped the drive with a 1-yard run that sent UNT (2-6, 2-2) to its third straight loss in front of 14,153.

Louisiana-Lafayette (4-5, 3-2) posted 63 rushing yards on the drive against the Mean Green, which prides itself on running the ball and stopping opponents from doing the same.

"Our inability to stop the run was the difference in the game," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. "It's not fun to get beat at your own game. We scored and felt like we had some momentum, and they just took the ball and marched right down the field."

Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Jerry Babb rushed for 133 yards, while Fenroy added 102.

The duo's performance was just enough to offset a breakout night from Cobbs, who posted his top rushing total since a 216-yard outing against New Mexico State in the 2003 season finale.

Cobbs also became the Mean Green's all-time leading scorer with 234 points.

UNT was forced to depend on Cobbs when running back Jamario Thomas aggravated a hamstring injury that has hampered him throughout the season. Thomas finished with 34 yards on six carries.

Dickey said he was not sure of Thomas' status for the rest of the season.

"It has been a while since I ran that much," Cobbs said. "It was bittersweet. Our whole offense played well. It's tough to have that happen and not come out on top."

Cobbs was especially effective in the second half after Louisiana-Lafayette jumped out to a 21-7 lead behind Fenroy and Babb, who combined to score three touchdowns in the first half.

UNT rallied behind Cobbs, who scored on runs that covered 59, 8 and 9 yards.

"Patrick played real hard and got us back into the game," UNT quarterback Daniel Meager said. "He made the big plays for us."

Cobbs' final touchdown run put UNT up 28-24.

"They came up with the big plays to keep their drive going," UNT safety Aaron Weather said. "They ran a lot of option, which is something we have not seen before. If you don't take care of your assignments, it can hurt you. It hurt us tonight."

Briefly: UNT wide receiver Johnny Quinn extended his streak of games with at least one reception to 33. ... Cobbs' 59-yard touchdown run was UNT's longest offensive play of the season.

E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com

MeanGreenBuzz · November 6, 2005

What this artice didn't mention is what really cost us the game. Stupid penalties. There were 3 times I saw a penalty elongate a ULL drive. One of which was when ULL was punting. Take those points away and we win that game. DD needs to get his team under control. You dont see the amount of penalties from a DD coached team out of any major D1A program. They may have 1 game where they make alot of mistakes, but with DD is game after game, season after season and this season it has hurt us in 2 games in particular, Troy and ULL. Without the stupid penalties we win both of those.

DallasGreen · November 6, 2005

Actually having some discipline in your team AND your coaching staff? What a novel idea! Maybe you can bring it up on that " infamous open microphone" on the Monday coach DD show, you know the one that no one has ever seen !

NT80 · November 6, 2005

What this artice didn't mention is what really cost us the game. Stupid penalties. There were 3 times I saw a penalty elongate a ULL drive...DD needs to get his team under control.... Without the stupid penalties we win both of those.
←

Too late now, we just played game 8 and we're now out of the race. Those things have been problems for a long time but in the past we could outscore our mistakes, not this year.

untbowler · November 7, 2005

Are we for sure out of the race??

yes we will be in negative territory but if we win out that will leave 4-5 teasm with 2 losses we could be co-champs.

Look at scores from last night ULM and Arky state laid a couple of eggs.

Emabarssing that we could finish 4-7 and be co-champs.

NCMeanGreen · November 7, 2005

DD needs to get his team under control. You dont see the amount of penalties from a DD coached team out of any major D1A program. They may have 1 game where they make alot of mistakes, but with DD is game after game, season after season and this season it has hurt us in 2 games in particular, Troy and ULL. Without the stupid penalties we win both of those.
←

Not true...look at NC State. They are the worst penalized team in the ACC and lose plenty of games as well with the stupid penalties, just like NT. Both coaches seem to relish in the penalties and think it is ok to have a player fired-up so much so that they draw a flag. I do not understand how teams like those can be so undisciplined. Must be the coaching...