Drc Nt/vs Wky Analysis

[OldTimer]

Football: UNT aims for win in home finale

12:23 AM CST on Saturday, November 24, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Brandon Jackson experienced some of the best times at Fouts Field as a freshman at North Texas four years ago, when the Mean Green was at the end of its four-year run as Sun Belt Conference champions.

Today, the senior wide receiver is just one of several UNT veterans who would like to rekindle some of those memories in the Mean Green's home finale against Western Kentucky.

"It's real important to go out on top at home," Jackson said. "This is our last time to play in front of our fans."

UNT head coach Todd Dodge has relied on his 17 seniors ever since he took over the program in December both on and off the field. Senior defensive end Jeremiah Chapman and linebacker Derek Mendoza have been among UNT's most consistent players on defense, while running back Jamario Thomas and offensive lineman Adam Venegas have provided a veteran presence for a young offense.

Mendoza leads UNT with 60 tackles while Chapman is third with 54. Thomas leads Mean Green with 471 rushing yards.

"I have a special place in my heart for these seniors," Dodge said. "Your first year anywhere, your relationship with your seniors is one you had better stow up. I wanted to make sure their senior year wasn't going to be filled with hearing what would happen, 'When we get our guys in here.' When we signed the contract, they became our guys. I hope they always remember that."

Several members of the senior class have posted impressive careers and will leave a legacy that goes beyond just helping smooth the transition from one coaching staff to the next. Thomas won the national rushing title as a freshman and is the second leading rusher in school history. Chapman has been named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team the last two seasons.

UNT bid farewell to another productive group of seniors last season in a game against Florida Atlantic and lost a tight contest 17-16. The Mean Green's veterans remember what that game was like and are anxious to avoid a repeat performance.

UNT's players wore black jerseys with no names, a move former head coach Darrell Dickey and his players said was nothing more than liking the look of all-black uniforms.

Jackson said that the Mean Green's underclassmen felt terrible after players like Johnny Quinn, UNT's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards, capped their careers with a loss in which the jerseys were as big a story as the game.

Avoiding a similar fate could be tough for the Mean Green when it faces a surprisingly competitive WKU team that is in its first season of making the transition from the NCAA's Championship Subdivision to the Bowl Subdivision.

The Hilltoppers will become full members of the Sun Belt Conference in 2009.

WKU has already beaten Sun Belt member Middle Tennessee and gave Troy all it could handle before falling to the league-leading Trojans.

While UNT is pointing to the game as a way to send its seniors out on a high note, the Hilltoppers are aiming to make a statement about their future in the Sun Belt.

"We are pointing to these games," WKU head coach David Elson said of facing three Sun Belt teams. "When we put this schedule together we wanted to have success against Sun Belt teams. We are a program that is making the transition and want to put ourselves on the map."

A win over UNT wouldn't carry the weight it would have a few years ago, but it would give the Hilltoppers a 2-1 record against Sun Belt teams this season.

UNT has struggled in Dodge's first year, but Elson and the Hilltoppers believe they are in for a tough test in their final game of the season.

"Any time you play someone on their senior day, it's dangerous," Elson said. "They will come out with a lot of pride. You realize that you can't take a Saturday off. You have to show up and perform,"

UNT will bid farewell to several seniors who did just that throughout their careers today.

The Mean Green would like nothing better than to send them out with a win.

What's at stake

UNT has suffered through a tough first season under head coach Todd Dodge, but has a chance to make a run in its final two games of the year and avoid one of the worst seasons in Mean Green history.

UNT can finish 3-9 by winning its last two games, a series that will begin with a game against Western Kentucky today. The Mean Green's lone win of the season came at Fouts Field when it knocked off Louisiana-Monroe.

Another win would give the Mean Green momentum heading into its season finale at Florida International next week.

WKU has been highly successful in the first of its two transition seasons that will lead to the Hilltoppers moving up from the NCAA's Championship Subdivision to the Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. WKU has already beaten SBC member Middle Tennessee and gave Troy a tight game before falling 21-17.

UNT's offense vs. WKU's defense

WKU will have one of the best pass defenses UNT has faced this season. The Hilltoppers are allowing just 183.0 passing yards a game, a total that would rank second in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Hilltoppers limited Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook to 125 passing yards in a loss to the Trojans earlier this season, well below his season average of 251.6 yards a game.

UNT has one of the most prolific passing offenses in the country and is averaging 302.1 yards a game, a total that ranks eighth nationally.

Freshman quarterback Giovanni Vizza is averaging 241.6 passing yards a game, while junior wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald is posting 118.4 receiving yards a game.

Edge: UNT

UNT's defense vs. WKU's offense

UNT showed signs of improvement last week in a 31-27 loss to Arkansas State, but is still ranked last nationally in scoring defense with an average of 47.7 points allowed per game.

UNT's defense had its best outing since a win over Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 13, but gave up a game-winning touchdown pass with just two seconds left.

WKU is averaging 33.8 points a game and scored 52 points in its last outing against Morehead State.

The Hilltoppers have five players with at least 280 rushing yards on the season and is also averaging 165.2 passing yards a game.

Edge: WKU

Coaching

UNT head coach Todd Dodge and his WKU counterpart David Elson are both adjusting to working on the highest level of college football. Dodge is in his first season coach at the Bowl Subdivision level after moving up from Southlake Carroll, while Elson is in the process of moving WKU up from the Championship Subdivision.

UNT is the third member of the Sun Belt WKU will face this season.

Elson is in his fifth season at WKU and is 37-21 during his time with the Hilltoppers. Dodge has sparked UNT's offense, but has struggled overall and is just 1-9 in his first season with the Mean Green.

Edge: WKU

Matching up

UNT WR Casey Fitzgerald vs. WKU CB Marcus Minor

Casey Fitzgerald has quietly had a remarkable season with UNT in the Mean Green's first campaign in head coach Todd Dodge's spread offense.

The junior wide receiver ranks fourth nationally with an average of 118.4 receiving yards a game and has 12 touchdowns on the season. Fitzgerald's average of 9.6 receptions per game ranks third nationally.

UNT will need Fitzgerald to have another big game today against WKU cornerback Marcus Minor, one of the key players in the Hilltoppers' pass defense that is allowing just 183.0 passing yards a game.

The Hilltoppers have allowed an average of 147 passing yards in games against Sun Belt opponents Troy and Middle Tennessee earlier this year. WKU knocked off MTSU in its fourth game of the season 20-17.

Minor ranks second among WKU players with 53 tackles and has broken up two passes.

The Joliet Junior College transfer quickly worked his way into the Hilltoppers' starting lineup and will be a key part of its plans to slow down Fitzgerald and the Mean Green's passing attack that has been consistent throughout the season.

UNT has thrown for at least 150 yards in each game this season, but is coming off a season-low 160 yards in its loss to ASU last week. The Mean Green will look to get back on track behind Fitzgerald today.

UNT DB Antoine Bush vs. WKU WR Curtis Hamilton

WKU's offense has plenty of weapons, including Curtis Hamilton, the Hilltoppers' top receiving threat.

Hamilton has caught 59 passes and has four touchdowns to go along with 800 receiving yards, more than double any other player on WKU's roster. One reason the Hilltoppers are averaging 33.8 points a game is the balance they strike on offense.

Hamilton gives WKU the receiving threat it needs to keep its offense effective and has been on a tear the in the Hilltoppers' last two games. The senior caught nine passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Troy two weeks ago before coming back to catch seven passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Morehead State.

The Mean Green will have to keep Hamilton from having a big day to have a chance to end its four-game losing streak. The task will fall in part to cornerback Antoine Bush.

Bush has broken up six passes this season, a total that is tied for the team lead, and also ranks ninth on the team with 39 tackles.

Bush's performance will be all the more important because the Mean Green will be shorthanded in its defensive secondary. Safety Kartey Agbottah could be limited by an ankle injury, while cornerback Dominique Green has been suspended.

Key player: Tyrell Hayden, running back

Tyrell Hayden is just the type of running back Western Kentucky head coach David Elson hates to face.

Hayden isn't the biggest running back around at 5-10, 190. He might not be the fastest, either, but he has been remarkably productive for the Hilltoppers this season while sparking their offense.

The sophomore is averaging 94.3 rushing yards a game to lead WKU.

"He's just productive," Elson said. "He's a smaller guy who can make you miss and is hard to tackle. I don't like going against guys like him. He makes a lot of yards after contact."

Slowing down Hayden could be the key to UNT ending a four-game losing streak in its final home game of the season. WKU has a balanced offensive attack that starts with its running game that is producing 249.1 yards a game.

Hayden is one of five WKU players who have at least 280 rushing yards on the season.

"What makes Hayden so tough is that he's not the only one they rely on," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. "He is a 1,000-yard rusher, which is impressive, but he has a partner that has 400 yards and another one that has 300 and two quarterbacks that have 200 something yards. … If he had 1,500 yards and no one else had anything, I would feel better."

Hayden rushed for 144 yards to help lead WKU to a win over Middle Tennessee earlier this season. On the year, Hayden is averaging 5.6 yards a carry and has scored a team-high nine touchdowns.

UNT will have to improve on its performance thus far this season if it is to slow down Hayden. The Mean Green is allowing 241.4 rushing yards a game, a total that ranks 118th out of 119 Bowl Subdivision teams nationally.

UNT showed signs of improvement against the run last week in its loss to Arkansas State, when it allowed 157 yards on 31 carries.

The Mean Green will have to come up with a similar performance against WKU and Hayden to have a chance to end its four-game losing streak.

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