FW*Telegram ...used word abominable, fed up fans

OldTimer · October 8, 2006

Seven is enough in UNT's victoryBy TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DENTON - With seven minutes to play, North Texas' offense had reached levels something short of abominable.

Against winless Florida International, one of the worst teams in Division I-A, UNT trailed 13-5. Fed-up fans booed.

The inept offense continued and so did a field goal for a 13-8 deficit.

At this point, UNT couldn't squeeze yards out of a turnip, so go figure how the night finally ended.

Eventually, UNT (2-4, 1-1 Sun Belt) forced an NCAA record-tying seventh overtime and put kicker Denis Hopovac through a serious workout. Hopovac's ninth attempt of the game, a 34-yarder, gave UNT a 25-22 victory at Fouts Field.

UNT's final drive of regulation ended up costing FIU (0-6, 0-3) dearly. Still, the Golden Panthers lasted seven overtimes despite kicker Dustin Rivest's four missed field goals (2-for-6).

Hopovac's four overtime misses (3-for-7) for UNT saw to that.

"It was relieving," Hopovac said of his winning kick. "I finally did it after all those chances I had. I should have done it a little bit earlier."

UNT had a season's worth of those hindsight moments, especially on offense. Hopovac pulled the Mean Green within 13-8 with 5:12 to play on a 23-yard field goal.

Field goals wouldn't do it from there, and UNT's offense finally bore down. Zach Muzzy took a short pass from backup quarterback Daniel Meager and broke free for a 34-yard gain to the FIU 6-yard line.

Two plays later, FIU's Chris Smith smacked Meager on a keeper for no gain to the 5, and an FIU pass breakup made it fourth-and-goal.

A still-wobbly Meager made the most of UNT's last gasp and found receiver Johnny Quinn (10 catches, 88 yards) in the back of the end zone.

Quinn snared a high pass off the back of his defender for a touchdown and 14-13 lead.

Meager ran in the conversion, making it 16-13.

UNT's defense, solid to that point, let FIU's offense go 39 yards as regulation expired. Out of time and timeouts, Rivest's 28-yard field goal made it 16-16 and forced overtime.

"You seemingly have it won and then it slips away," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said.

"Then you seemingly have it lost. Then someone steps up and makes a play."

Running back Jamario Thomas (38 carries, 124 yards for the game) carried most of the load in overtime, but UNT couldn't punch in a touchdown. FIU was no better, and things boiled down to the fifth overtime.

An apparent 25-yard catch-and-scramble by FIU receiver Jeremy Dickens on the first play was ruled a touchdown.

Replay reversed the call, saying Dickens was out at the 1.

FIU tailback Julian Reams still couldn't get a yard on three plays; UNT's Maurice Holman stuffed him on one goal-line dive.

FIU took a 22-19 lead on a Rivest field goal. Hopovac made two of his last three kicks, and Rivest was 0-for-2.

"It was a team effort to get us to this point," Hopovac said, "and get me into position again to score."

NORTH TEXAS 25, FIU 22 (7 OT)

IN THE KNOW

BREAKDOWN

Why UNT won: Kicker Denis Hopovac outlasted Florida International kicker Dustin Rivest in an overtime field goal kicking contest.

Why Florida International lost: The Golden Panthers couldn't finish off UNT in regulation after holding the Mean Green to five points until the last quarter.

Notable

UNT became the last team in Division I-A to finally participate in an overtime game.

Denis Hopovac's nine field-goal attempts tied an NCAA mark for one game. Western Michigan's Mike Prindle had nine tries against Marshall in 1984.

UNT's 5-0 halftime lead marked the lowest scoring half in a Mean Green game since the Nov. 9, 2002 match-up against Idaho.

Up next: UNT at Arkansas State, 8 p.m., Oct. 21; FIU at Miami (Fla.), 6 p.m. Saturday.

Most OTs

Three college games are now tied for having the most overtime periods:

Score No. OTs Date

UNT 25, Fla. Int'l 22 7 10-7-06

Arkansas 58, Ole Miss 56 7 11-3-01

Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63 7 11-1-03

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