North Texas Dominates SMU
DENTON – North Texas coach Dan McCarney has stated that there is no rivalry with cross-metroplex foe SMU until the Mean Green start winning games against the Mustangs, who came into Saturday’s meeting with a considerable advantage in the all-time series.
Well, rivalry on.
A dominating Mean Green defense forced five turnovers and tossed a shut out until the last play of the game, special teams repeatedly pinned the Mustangs deep, an efficient offense churned out 245 yards rushing and protected the football, and true freshman Trevor Moore tied a school-record with five field goals as North Texas throttled SMU, 43-6, in the 2014 home opener. It was the Mean Green’s most lopsided victory over the Mustangs in series history.
“We played Mean Green football,” McCarney said. “Plus five in turnover margin, rushing the football for almost 250 yards, great on third down on defense, and special teams came through with big plays. All in all, a really good day. A great win.”
The North Texas defense, facing a pass-happy SMU attack, kept the Mustangs contained, prevented them from converting any third-downs until the last play of the game, stuffed the SMU running game, and took control of the game by detonating Pony ball carriers and jarring loose turnovers that turned into North Texas points.
With North Texas up 3-0, linebacker Derek Akunne exploded into a Mustang receiver just as
the pass arrived, sending man and ball flying. Defensive lineman Dutton Watson caught the deflected pass for his first career interception, rumbling 24 yards to the SMU 14 to set up a Reggie Pegram four-yard scoring run and a 10-0 lead.
After a field goal put the Mean Green up 13-0, defensive lineman Chad Polk blasted SMU quarterback Neal Burcham and forced a fumble that Jarrian Roberts scooped up and returned 31 yards for the first touchdown of his career. The defense then closed out the half with an interception by senior defensive back Lairamie Lee, which led to a 23-yard field goal and a 23-0 halftime lead.
“That’s what we’re looking for,” McCarney said. “We forced turnovers today. That’s our style, and anytime you do that you really have a chance to win.”
The North Texas offense, meanwhile, looked much improved from a week ago. Quarterback Josh Greer, who completed just two of 11 passes last week, was good on nine of 12 passes. But it was the running game that fueled the North Texas attack, grinding out a 15-minute time of possession advantage and all three Mean Green offensive touchdowns.
