DRC Akron's Getsy picks NT apart

[OldTimer]

Football: Akron's Getsy picks apart UNT " they caught us flat footed in the first half"

Mean Green defense struggles

11:08 PM CDT on Saturday, September 23, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

AKRON, Ohio -- North Texas faced a quarterback who thrives on picking apart defenses from the pocket for the second straight week on Saturday night when the Mean Green took on Akron.

The second time around didn’t prove to be much more pleasant than the first.

Akron quarterback Luke Getsy didn’t rack up a huge yardage total like he had in previous games this season, but he was efficient while throwing for 173 yards and three touchdowns in the Zips’ 33-13 win at the Rubber Bowl.

“Last week in the first half we did a better job of slowing down the passing game,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “Tonight it appeared that they had guys open and their quarterback was on the money most of the night.”

Getsy completed 14 of 20 attempts and connected with seven receivers. All of the senior’s touchdown passes came in the first half when Akron took control of the game. Getsy finished with 375 passing yards last week against Central Michigan.

Tulsa’s Paul Smith threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns in a win over UNT two weeks ago in a game the Mean Green hoped would prepare them for facing Getsy. UNT fared much better in the second half against Getsy, although Akron already had the game in hand.

“In the second half we made our corrections and came out ready to play,” UNT defensive back Korey Washington said. “They caught us flat-footed in the first half, but we came out ready to play in the second half.”

UNT will look to build on that performance next week when the Mean Green take on Middle Tennessee in their Sun Belt Conference opener at Fouts Field.

Challenge negates Akron TD

UNT caught a break in the first quarter when a Zips touchdown was overturned by instant replay.

The Mean Green were backed up in their own end of the field when Woody Wilson scrambled to the outside and was hit by Zips defensive back Andre Jones. Wilson landed out his back just as the ball squirted loose.

Kevin Grant returned the ball for what appeared to be a touchdown. The play was overturned when the replay official ruled that Wilson was down before the ball came loose.

Quinn’s streak reaches an even 40

UNT senior wide receiver Johnny Quinn extended his streak of games with at least one reception to an even 40 against Akron.

Quinn caught a 6-yard pass in the first quarter and later scored on a 21-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Woody Wilson for the Mean Green’s first points of the day.

The former McKinney standout now has 18 receiving touchdowns in his career.

Briefly …

Redshirt freshman Evan Robertson blocked his second punt of the season against Akron. He blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown in a win over SMU in the second week of the season. … Akron played without its leading rusher Dennis Kennedy, who was out with a shoulder injury. Andre Walker filled in and had 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Edited September 24, 2006 by OldTimer