North Texas beat Fla. International in 7 OTs

UNTflyer · October 8, 2006

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/...0061007_FIU@NTX

DENTON, Texas – Denis Hopovac's fifth field goal of the game in an NCAA record-tying seventh overtime gave North Texas a 25-22 victory over Florida International on Saturday night.

Hopovac connected from 34 yards after he and Florida International counterpart Dustin Rivest each missed four field goals in overtime. Hopovac also tied an NCAA record with nine attempts.

North Texas (2-4, 1-1 Sun Belt) entered the game as the only Division I-A team that hadn't played an overtime game since the NCAA instituted the rule in 1996. The other two seven-overtime games involved Arkansas – against Mississippi in 2001 and Kentucky in 2003.

Daniel Meager, who had replaced starting quarterback Woody Wilson in the fourth quarter, led North Texas' rally for a 16-13 lead. Hopovac kicked a 23-yard field goal, and Meager threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Quinn, then ran 2 yards for a 2-point conversion with 2 minutes to play.

Florida International's Lionel Singleton returned the kickoff 40 yards to midfield. From there, the Golden Panthers (0-6, 0-3) moved in to set up Rivest's tying 28-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining.

North Texas led 5-0 at halftime, getting a safety when Caleb Miller snapped the ball over punter Chris Cook's head and through the end zone and Hopovac's first field goal, a 35-yarder.

The Golden Panthers went ahead in the third quarter on Josh Padrick's 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andy Anderson, but Rivest's miss on the extra point kept the score at 6-5.

Later in the quarter, FIU defensive end Antwan Barnes returned a leaping interception 23 yards for a touchdown, the second of his career, to give the Panthers a 13-5 lead.

North Texas' Jamario Thomas had a 124 yards rushing on 38 carries. Reams, filling in for injured tailback A'mond Ned, gained 96 yards in 27 attempts.

gangrene · October 8, 2006

Here's the second: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/...nt.31f63c7.html

Seventh heaven: UNT wins in record-tying 7 OTs

11:11 PM CDT on Saturday, October 7, 2006

By BRETT VITO Denton Record Chronicle

DENTON – Denis Hopovac hit a 34-yard field goal attempt in the last half of the seventh overtime, giving North Texas a 25-22 win over Florida International on Saturday night at Fouts Field in a game that tied for the longest in NCAA history.

Only two other games in history of college football have gone to a seventh overtime, the last coming in Arkansas' 71-63 win over Kentucky in 2003.

Hopovac had nine field goal attempts, tying an NCAA record.

The last of those opportunities proved to be the game-winner for UNT, which ended a three-game losing streak.

FIU's Dustin Rivest missed a 35-yard attempt in the first half of the seventh overtime, giving Hopovac a chance to win the game. The senior, who is in his first year as UNT's starter, connected to set off a wild celebration on the field.

Hopovac went 5-for-9 on field goals, and Rivest went 3-for-7.

Jamario Thomas set up Hopovac's game-winning kick with eight rushing yards on the Mean Green's final possession.

Thomas finished with 38 carries for 124 yards to lead UNT (2-4, 1-1) in front of a crowd of 15,123.

The Mean Green appeared as if it would win the game in regulation when sophomore Daniel Meager threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Quinn in the corner of the end zone with 2:00 left in the game.

Meager extended UNT's lead to 16-13 with a 3-yard run on the 2-point conversion.

Lionell Singleton gave some life to FIU (0-6, 0-3) when he returned the ensuing kickoff to the 50-yard line.

The Golden Panthers tied it with six seconds left on a 28-yard field goal from Rivest.

UNT's defense came up with a key play in the first overtime when cornerback Desmon Chatman stripped FIU tight end Samuel Smith on the first possession. Aaron Weathers recovered the ball, setting up a chance to win.

The Mean Green squandered the opportunity when FIU threw Thomas for nine yards in losses and Hopovac came up short on a 52-yard attempt.

The teams traded field goals in the second overtime, with Hopovac hitting from 27 yards before Rivest connected from 37 yards. The two then traded misses, with Rivest blowing opportunities from 26 and 36 yards in the second and third overtimes, respectively. Hopovac then bounced his attempt off the right upright from 29 yards on a potential game-winner before missing from 38 yards.

Rivest hit from 19 yards in the fifth overtime before Hopovac hit from 29.

Rivest had a chance to end the game in the sixth overtime after Hopovac missed from 47 yards but missed from 42 yards.

Josh Padrick led FIU with 248 passing yards, and Julian Reams added 96 rushing yards.

UNT's Maurice Holman made the key play of the first half on the last snap before the break.

UNT had a 5-0 lead with 14 seconds left, when FIU's Julian Reams tried to dive into the end zone from a yard out. Holman met Reams in the air and stopped him just before he crossed the goal line.

Holman's stop gave the Mean Green its second shutout in the first half this season. UNT also shut out SMU in the first half of a win over the Mustangs in Week 2.

The Mean Green had a chance to take a larger lead, but squandered several chances. UNT drove into FIU territory four times, but came away with only a field goal.

Those missed opportunities finally came back to haunt UNT.

GMoney · October 8, 2006

We won and that's great. However, I just can't get over the fact that 2 teams were given the ball on their opponents 25 yard line 7 different times and neither team could score 1 stinkin touchdown! That was truly as bad as it gets. 7 OTs were needed to determine rank 119 or 118. UGLY!

ntsumck · October 8, 2006

I had to miss the game. I heard the Quinn TD and overtime. It sounded as though we never tried to score a TD?

MeanGreenBuzz · October 8, 2006

I had to miss the game. I heard the Quinn TD and overtime. It sounded as though we never tried to score a TD?
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No, we never once went for the endzone in OT. DD strictly played for the FG and hoped our D wouldn't give up a TD.

This was a very hard fought game and will hopefully give our O and our D something to build on.

Arkstfan · October 8, 2006

We won and that's great. However, I just can't get over the fact that 2 teams were given the ball on their opponents 25 yard line 7 different times and neither team could score 1 stinkin touchdown!
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Sorry but I loved it because it made me look brilliant. We heard it was going into OT while getting ready for the ASU-ULM post-game press conference and I said that it would probably go multiple OT's without ever triggering the 2 point conversion rule.

Rudy · October 8, 2006

Well, we did go for the endzone once. I think it was the 5th or 7th OT. Meager overthrew an NT reciever, Joel I think.

meangreendork · October 8, 2006

I really have to take my hat off for the defensive performance tonight. Even with their backs against the wall, they still fought tooth and nail for the win. I wish the offense would've been more explosive, but they got the points when it mattered the most, and even when the fans were tired, they still kept charging on.