UNT Falls Short at Ohio

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ATHENS, Ohio – North Texas rallied from 14 points down in the second half but couldn’t put the finishing touch on a game that slipped away to Ohio in the final minutes, 27-21.

The Bobcats delivered two haymakers in the first half – a game-opening 75-yard touchdown pass and a 40-yard interception return – that gave Ohio a 21-7 halftime lead. But the Mean Green calmly, methodically battled back in the second half.

North Texas quarterback Derek Thompson, shrugging off his first interception of the year, threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Harris in the third quarter. After Mean Green defensive back Kenny Buyers came up with his first interception of the season, Thompson connected with Darnell Smith four times for 56 yards, including a six-yard, game-tying touchdown. Smith finished the game as the Mean Green’s leading receiver with nine catches for 89 yards.

But Ohio, a bowl winner the last two years, answered with a pair of long drives, both ending in field goals and eating much of the final eight minutes of the game.

North Texas had multiple chances earlier in the game to score, but several first-half drives fizzled in Ohio territory. In the second half, the Mean Green came up with what appeared to be a huge interception by Marcus Trice, who returned the gall to the Bobcat 20 only to have it jarred loose at the 18, where Ohio recovered. The Mean Green had four turnovers on the night.

The Mean Green could not move on its final two possessions after the Ohio field goals, the last hope ending on a tipped-ball interception to seal the game.