DCTF Week #5 Review

MeanGreen61 · October 3, 2012

6) North Texas (2-3, 1-1 in Sun Belt)

The mob said: North Texas by 7

So said I: North Texas 30, Florida Atlantic 20

What actually happened: North Texas slowly forged a 17-0 lead, then held on for a 20-14 win at Florida Atlantic to end a two-game losing streak and pick up its first Sun Belt victory. North Texas's passing game bailed out what is usually a very dependable running game. Running backs Antoinne Jimmerson and Brandin Byrd both entered the game at or above the 300-yard mark on the season, but the duo combined for just 46 yards on 33 carries. That was the norm for the game, however. While UNT averaged 5.1 yards per play, FAU only gained 4.2. And while FAU turned it over three times, North Texas's only giveaway proved costly; FAU scored the very next play after intercepting Derek Thompson, cutting the North Texas lead to 17-14. The UNT defense, though, kept things in check, limiting FAU to just 12 yards on its final two possessions.

Star of the game: Though Derek Thompson had a nice day passing, Brelan Chancellor deserves the game ball. His 135 yards on six receptions accounted for more than half of Thompson's 251 yards, and it marked Chancellor's third game with at least 100 yard games; he has also scored at least one TD in four of five games.

Key number: 2, the number of wins for UNT in its first five games for the first time since 2005. The Miners had started 1-4 or worse in every season from 2006 through 2011.

What's next: North Texas goes back on the road, concluding its non-conference schedule with a game at Houston. Before the season the Mean Green would've been labeled big underdogs; but with UH just now earning its first win of the season this past weekend, Houston is only a 12-point favorite.

http://www.texasfootball.com/college-news/view/180099