North Texas Rallies To Beat Ball State

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DENTON, Texas – It took a half for the North Texas defense to solve an explosive Ball State attack, but the Mean Green pitched a shutout in the second half while Derek Thompson led the offense to the biggest NT comeback in over a decade for a 34-27 victory Saturday at Apogee Stadium.

North Texas trailed 20-3 in the first quarter before starting the long climb back. Thompson, who turned in another efficient, effective performance, capped the rally by scrambling 26 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 9:47 to play, and the defense then clamped down on Ball State’s final possessions.

“You could just feel that we were going to win the game,” North Texas coach Dan McCarney said. “Believe, believe, believe.”

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Despite forcing a season-high four turnovers in the first half and getting a strong performance from Thompson, North Texas trailed at halftime, 27-16. North Texas scored just three points off those four turnovers. Dropped passes and penalties forced the Mean Green to punt or settle for field goals, while the North Texas defense surrendered 366 yards to a Ball State team that came into the contest undefeated and averaging 45.5 points per game.

Ball State’s lead was fueled by big plays, and the Cardinals were not forced to punt until the fourth quarter. But North Texas finally slowed Ball State in the third period, holding the Cardinals to a missed field goal then stopping them on a crucial fourth-down play deep in Mean Green territory. In the fourth quarter, North Texas completely shut down Ball State, allowing just one first down. Will Wright’s interception with 1:12 to play ended the Cardinals’ final possession and clinched the win.

“We don’t have a chance if the defense didn’t bow its neck like it did in the second half,” Thompson said.

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