North Texas Loses To Marshall

George Walker | October 25, 2015 | College | No Comments

HUNTINGTON, WV – A re-invigorated Mean Green football team went toe-to-toe with league-leading Marshall from the second quarter on, but couldn’t overcome a 17-point first-quarter haymaker against the Herd’s league-best defense in a 30-13 loss.

On a soggy, grey Saturday afternoon, North Texas surrendered 17 points before its offense had crossed midfield. The Mean Green (0-7 on the year, 0-4 in C-USA) got its bearings in the second quarter and was able to get some stops on defense and sustain some drives on offense, but could never get the big play or turnover needed to ignite a comeback against Marshall (7-1, 4-0).

“Our kids are playing hard,” North Texas head coach Mike Canales said,. “Our defense played their living butts off. I’m so proud of them. We just have to build off this.”

North Texas running back Jeffrey Wilson rushed for 138 yards on 17 carries, the second-most yards allowed by Marshall and just the third 100-yard rusher against the Herd this season.

But the Mean Green passing game was shut down. The open field that

North Texas quarterback DaMarcus Smith exploited last week against Western Kentucky to the tune of 228 yards through the air, 122 on the ground and four passing touchdowns was no where to be found this week. The Thundering Herd’s defense, allowing a Conference-USA low 17 points per game, allowed North Texas just two first downs and 31 yards total offense in the opening quarter.

The Mean Green leveled the play in the second quarter, getting pressure on Marshall QB Chase Litton to disrupt the Herd offense, which in turn gave NT’s offense better field position. Behind Smith and Wilson, North Texas out-gained the Herd in the second and third periods but couldn’t capitalize, settling for a pair of Trevor Moore field goals. The Mean Green’s lone touchdown, on a 22-yard pass from Smith to Darvin Kidsy, who made a sensational diving catch, came with 1:09 to play.

The loss is North Texas’ eighth in a row dating back to last season, one short of the longest losing streak in program history.