North Texas (1-0) at Ohio preview from Charlotte Observer

Harry · September 4, 2013

When Derek Thompson took over the starting quarterback duties at NT as a sophomore in 2010, the offense revolved around star tailback Lance Dunbar. Now a senior, Thompson has become the Mean Green's leader. He threw for a career- high 349 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-27 passing with zero interceptions against Idaho to begin the year.

His favorite target was Breland Chancellor, who tallied 135 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. The team rushed for 187 yards, led by Brandin Byrd with 57 yards and two scores.

Chancellor also made a huge contribution on special teams as he broke the school record for single game punt return average (37.0) and came up just three yards shy of the program record of 114 punt return yards. NT also broke a team record as 12 different players had at least one reception for the first time in history.

Defensively, the Mean Green look to be an improved team from a season ago. They held Idaho to just six points and 369 yards. Zach Orr, who is the son of former Washington Redskin great Terry Orr, was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week after he registered 11 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Lairamie Lee made a couple of memorable plays with two fumble recoveries and also caused one himself.

Orr and company will try to keep Beau Blankenship contained for the second- straight week. After running for a single-season school record 1,604 yards last year, Blankenship gained only 22 yards on 12 attempts and fumbled once against Louisville. Ryan Boykin was a little more successful, gaining 39 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

Senior quarterback Tyler Tettleton went 11-of-23 for 140 yards in the lopsided loss. He has proven himself as one of the elite field generals in the MAC over the past few seasons. Tettleton has thrown a touchdown pass in every home game he has played since taking over the starting role in 2011. He owns nine program career records, including the school standard for passing yards (6,414), completions (515) and touchdowns (46).

Ohio's leading receiver from a year ago, Donte Foster, is back after setting career-highs with 59 catches, 658 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the squad with 56 yards on two receptions against the Cardinals.

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