Fw*telegram Mg Goes Deep For 1st Win

[OldTimer]

Mean Green goes deep for first victory

By TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram staff writer

DENTON -- North Texas has waited all season for that perfect play, one it could ride to an inevitable victory.

It came early Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe. In the biggest picture, the scoreboard, it wasn't that decisive.

For UNT, it was 99 yards perfect, and a perfect disaster for ULM.

It took coach Todd Dodge's spread offense six games to notch his first UNT victory and to register the longest play in team history. UNT (1-5, 1-2 Sun Belt) rode that play and its defense to a 31-21 victory over ULM before 18,973 at Fouts Field.

ULM (1-5, 1-2) fell behind 14-0 when UNT quarterback Giovanni Vizza and receiver Casey Fitzgerald connected for a 99-yard touchdown that one official nearly called back.

From there, UNT added its second defensive touchdown for a 21-0 lead and later added a field goal for a 24-7 lead that also resulted from a ULM turnover. Micah Mosley powered the UNT ground game in the fourth quarter, adding another score.

Playing catch-up, ULM gained 142 of its 421 yards in the fourth quarter, pulling within 31-15 and then recovering an onside kick to set up another touchdown for the final margin. A second onside kick went out of bounds.

Most impressive was a UNT defensive line that has been a step slow applying pressure this season. Montey Stevenson, Joseph Miller, Jeremiah Chapman, Eddrick Gilmore and Isaac Thomas combined for seven tackles for loss and four sacks.

"On defense, we just came together," Miller said. "It was electric."

Stevenson (20 yards) and Dominque Green (75) returned interceptions for touchdowns. UNT nearly doubled its season total (10) for points off turnovers.

"There are some really good players on our defense," Dodge said. "Tonight, they proved who they really are."

Fitzgerald, who continues pushing himself to be the Sun Belt's outstanding receiver, had six catches for 118 yards. His 99-yarder won't soon be forgotten.

That drive might have started at the UNT 20, but a close call on a ULM punt saw the ball bounce just over and to the outside of the pylon.

From the 1, Vizza (16-for-30, 202 yards) threw to Fitzgerald at the 4. Darrius Battles bit too hard on the route as Fitzgerald shook him and ran about 40 yards up the sideline.

Just before getting leveled out of bounds, receiver Brock Stickler blasted Greg James out of the play to spring Fitzgerald. A flag came out, with Dodge protesting. Stickler's block had landed him and his man five yards off the sideline.

"They thought Brock was an extra guy on the field," Dodge said. "They thought we had an extra guy come on to the field from the sideline. I knew they'd figure it out."

Said Fitzgerald: "Brock kept running upfield and never gave up on it."

NORTH TEXAS 31, LOUISIANA-MONROE 21

Breakdown

Why North Texas won: The Mean Green scored 17 points off turnovers and established the running game with its spread offense.

Why Louisiana-Monroe lost: Unlike previous UNT opponents, the Warhawks had too few big plays and too many costly turnovers.

Notables

Defensive end Eddrick Gilmore and linebacker Craig Robertson made their first starts for UNT.

UNT's 99-yard pass play was the 16th in NCAA Division I-A/Bowl Subdivision history.

UNT's defense ended 10 consecutive 100-yard rushing games by UL-Monroe's Calvin Dawson.

Up next: UNT at Troy, 2:30 p.m. Saturday; Florida International at UL-Monroe, 6 p.m. Saturday

Big plays

Giovanni Vizza's 99-yard touchown pass to Casey Fitzgerald on Saturday is the longest throw and catch in UNT history. UNT's other longest plays by category:

Year Opponent Player/Play Yds.

1936 Sam Houston Johnny Stovall/kickoff return 104

1955 Midwestern St. Don Baker/interception return 100

1976 La. Tech J.T. Smith/interception return 100

2004 Utah St. T.J. Covington/fumble return 100

1950 SW Okla. Tommy Gray/rush 95

1951 Midwestern St. Ray Renfro/rush 95

1995 Idaho St. Cedric Cromer/rush 95

1996 Vanderbilt Toby Gowin/punt 92

1948 Houston Richard Nutt/punt return 91

1966 S. Illinois Bill Woods/punt return 91

1977 Richmond Iseed Khoury/field goal 62

tphillips@star-telegram.com