Followed the game tonight online via ESPN's play-by-play. At one point, somebody inputed that FAU's Torvoris Hill returned an interception of UNT's Riley Dodge 100 yards for a touchdown to put the Owls up 16-7. The screen then accurately reloaded the score as 10-7 in UNT's favor, so you can imagine the confusion on this end.
Nonetheless, a good 21-17 win for UNT on the road against an opponent that had the Mean Green's number for six years. It's strange to say UNT (1-3, 1-0) is undefeated in Sun Belt Conference play. Strange, but true. How or if UNT builds on this is anyone's guess, but it's a good trip home and presumably a good week of practice for a change.
Strange night in UNT's running game, but an effective one anyway. Lance Dunbar had 72 yards but averaged less than three yards a carry. Change-up back James Hamilton had some serious wheels tonight, and we'll see if he's earned more than 11 totes next week. He won't need many more if he keeps knocking off 9, 10, 11 yards each time, but then we knew FAU had some serious issues with its run defense.
Next week's opponent, Louisiana-Lafayette, is supposed to be a little stronger in that department but gave up over 200 on the ground (and over 400 total) in a loss to Middle Tennessee on Saturday.
Nice job by UNT's defense to hold FAU to a field goal early in the second quarter. That ended a 13-play drive and gave the Owls their last lead of the game at 10-7. Holding Alfred Morris to 54 rushing yards, also a bit unexpected, but it's a clear sign this defense is capable of controlling a key aspect of an opponents' offense, thereby having a profound effect on the game's outcome as it did.
UNT had its mistakes -- Dodge's misfire from the FAU 10, and fumbles by Tyler Stradford and Jamaal Jackson after catches come to mind -- but then made plays to minimize or eradicate the damage. As for the short time to get ready, Dodge otherwise seemed to take care of the ball, get rid of it when necessary and not make too many negative plays in the running game. Quick, raise your hand if you expected him to throw any TD passes over 20 yards, much less 40. Didn't think so.
Deserved congratulations go out to UNT defensive tackle Brandon "Sarge" McCoy, the Mean Green's resident former Gulf War Army veteran. McCoy is learning the game all over in his mid-20s, and he gets a huge sack tonight of FAU quarterback Jeff VanCamp on second and 10 from the UNT 28. The Owls, down by four, had driven from their own 28 in the final 3 minutes and threatened to send UNT home in another losing heap.
But McCoy gets the huge play, and two other defensive linemen, Kelvin Jackson and Frank Gaines, stuff Morris for a 2-yard completion on third and 18. Two plays later, Dodge is taking a knee, and UNT is celebrating on the sideline. To see game-saving plays by the DL has to unexpected, too.
I have no idea what there is to read into what happened tonight, only that victories large and small deserved to be enjoyed by these players, coaches and their fans. It might not save jobs, it might not spur a winning streak, it might not eliminate mistakes. But it will make a team that's been through a lot of hell closer this week, and you really can't nitpick or complain much about that.
No comments:
Post a Comment