North Texas lets Sun Belt opener slip away against Troy

[Harry]

DENTON -- North Texas football players left Apogee Stadium on Saturday night kicking themselves about the Sun Belt Conference opener that got away.

In a game in which big plays on the offensive side were few, Troy had the biggest and most timely.

Chip Reeves' 76-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Corey Robinson early in the third quarter was the difference in Troy's 14-7 victory over the Mean Green.

But there's much, much more below the surface to explain why the Mean Green fell to 1-3 overall.

North Texas missed field goals of 47, 40 and 27 yards, converted only 2 of 14 third downs and failed to score on six possessions inside Troy's 30-yard line.

"That's a frustrating loss," North Texas coach Dan McCarney said. "We have to execute better. How we handle a setback like this and the adversity will be a real measure of where we go."

North Texas goes on the road against Florida Atlantic and a nonconference match with Houston on Oct. 6 before returning home against Louisiana-Lafayette on Oct. 16.

Whether the Mean Green returns home with more wins than losses will likely be determined on improvement in special teams and execution in the red zone.

Zach Olen missed wide left on field-goal attempts of 47 and 40 yards in the first half. Freshman Zach Paul missed wide right from 27 yards in the third quarter. McCarney, who said Olen kicked a 57-yarder in practice last week, twice opted to go for it on fourth down in field-goal range after the third miss. Olen is 2 for 5 with one attempt blocked this season.

"Those things are deflating," McCarney said. "We had some real good drives to get in those positions, and then when you come out empty-handed, those things are tough. We've got to get it fixed."

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