DMN game article

[OldTimer]

Seventh OT is heaven for UNT

12:48 AM CDT on Sunday, October 8, 2006

By BRETT VITO Denton Record Chronicle

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

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

Hopovac attempted nine field goals – tying an NCAA record.

UNT 25, Fla. Int. 22 (7 OT)

Seventh heaven

More: UNT

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

FIU's Dustin Rivest missed a 35-yard attempt in the first half of the seventh overtime to give Hopovac a chance to go for the win. The senior, who is in his first year as UNT's starter, connected – setting off a wild celebration.

Hopovac went 5-for-9, whereas Rivest went 3-for-7.

"I am tremendously proud of the way that this team played hard all the way to the end," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. "It was obvious that both teams were very hungry for a win."

Junior Jamario Thomas set up Hopovac's game-winning kick with eight rushing yards on the Mean Green's final possession. He finished with 38 carries for 124 yards to lead UNT (2-4, 1-1) in front of a crowd of 15,123. Daniel Meager, who came on in relief of starter Woody Wilson, threw for 86 yards.

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

Meager gave UNT a 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 the score 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. Safety Aaron Weathers recovered the ball, setting UNT up with 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 51-yard field goal.

The teams traded field goals in the second overtime, with Hopovac hitting from 26 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 bounced his attempt off the right upright from 29 yards on a potential game-winner in the third overtime before missing from 38 yards in the fourth.

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 he missed from 42.

"This was a very disappointing loss for us," FIU coach Don Strock said. "We had opportunity after opportunity to win this game and didn't take advantage."

Briefly: UNT and FIU combined for 16 field goal attempts. ... UNT had been the only NCAA team to not play an overtime game. ... Johnny Quinn extended his streak of games with at least one reception to 42. He finished with 10 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com

[FirefightnRick]

Nothing about the FIU touchdown that was reviewed and placed at the 1, followed by the best of two goal line stands to force another field goal attempt?

Rick