NT web site: UT 56-7 over NT....article on

OldTimer · September 2, 2006

Texas Defeats Mean Green In Season Opener

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 09/02/

Austin, Texas (9/2/06) - Limas Sweed caught two touchdown passes to lead No. 2/3 Texas to a 56-7 victory against North Texas on Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 85,123 at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

The Longhorns (1-0) extended their series record against the Mean Green to 9-0, and 3-0 in the Darrell Dickey era. North Texas (0-1) is now 36-52-3 in season openers.

The announced crowd of 85,123 is the second largest to ever see a North Texas team play. LSU set the record last season with a crowd of 88,887.

Sweed caught two touchdown passes from Texas quarterback Colt McCoy in the game, including a 60-yard toss to start off the game. Sweed had five catches in the game for 111 yards, while McCoy went 12-for-19 for 178 yards. Texas held the edge in total offense (410 to 95) and first downs (27 to 6).

North Texas quarterback Woody Wilson had a 12-yard touchdown throw to Brandon Jackson in the third quarter. Wilson came into the game at the end of the first quarter and went 5-for-6 for 65 yards. Maurice Holman and Germaine Dawson led the Mean Green defense with nine and eight tackles, respectively.

Each team forced two turnovers in the game with Texas getting its last two scores off fumble recoveries. The Longhorns scored two touchdowns in each of the four quarters of the game.

Texas needed only three plays and just over a minute to get on the scoreboard. A 60-yard reception to Sweed gave the Longhorns a 7-0 lead at the start of the first quarter. Texas ended the first quarter with a one-yard run by McCoy to put the Longhorns ahead, 14-0.

The Mean Green came within five yards of the Texas endzone in its second possession of the game but was forced to settle for a field goal attempt, which was then blocked. Deavin Cox recovered a muffed Longhorn punt return to place North Texas on Texas’ 24-yard line.

Selvin Young started and ended the second quarter with touchdowns. The Longhorns running back opened the quarter with a one-yard rush and then closed it with a five-yard touchdown reception.

North Texas opened the second half with an nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Jackson. Running back Jamario Thomas had a 16-yard run during the drive. He finished the game with 38 rushing yards on 14 carries. Wilson’s pass into the endzone marked the first time a North Texas team has scored a touchdown against Texas since Terrance Brown broke a 14-yard run in the third quarter of the Sept. 27, 1992 meeting.

Texas responded with a 70-yard drive that resulted in a 29-reception pass from McCoy to Sweed, his second touchdown reception of the game. The Longhorns needed only five plays and 2:14 to score their second touchdown of the third quarter after starting the drive on the 50-yard line. Texas’ average starting field position was its own 45-yard line. The Mean Green’s average starting position was its own 24-yard line.

The Mean Green forced two turnovers in the game. In addition to the Cox fumble recovery, freshman cornerback Antoine Bush recorded his first career interception with five minutes left in the first half. NT was unable to convert on either of those possessions.

Texas scored its final two touchdowns off two fumbles by NT’s two quarterbacks, Matt Phillips and Wilson.

Johnny Quinn notched his 36th consecutive start today, which is tied for the 12th longest streak in the nation. The senior wide receiver has recorded a catch in every game of his career (36), a streak that ranks second in the country.