Young North Texas shows poise in comeback win over Louisiana-Lafayette

[Harry]

DENTON -- Down 14 points to Louisiana-Lafayette early in the second half, North Texas drew inspiration from the Louisville Lip.

"All week, we watched Muhammad Ali [highlights]," said Zach Orr, North Texas' standout middle linebacker who collected one of two North Texas turnovers in a 30-23 upset victory Tuesday night against the Ragin' Cajuns,

one of three Sun Belt Conference front-runners.

"We talked all week how it would be a 15-round fight," he said.

The young Mean Green would take its blows, but "we knew if we kept fighting, we'd come out on top," Orr said.

North Texas (3-4, 2-1 Sun Belt) did walk out of its locker room in the second half apparently transformed from one of the 10 youngest teams in the FBS to what looked like a veteran outfit accustomed to playing in big games against its league's best.

The defense, which gave up three first downs on four attempts in the first quarter, held the Ragin' Cajuns (4-2, 2-1) to 5 of 14 over the next three quarters and well below their almost 40-point scoring average.

The defense also held Lafayette to 144 yards in the second half.

North Texas also was able to stick to its running game, blowing through the Ragin' Cajuns and their stingy run defense, gaining 242 yards on 52 carries.

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