KD Davis
Manny Flores
17
North Texas UNT 4-6 , 3-3
52
Louisiana Tech LATECH 8-1 , 5-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UNT North Texas 3 0 0 14 17
LATECH Louisiana Tech 7 10 14 21 52

Game Recap: Football |

North Texas Falls At Louisiana Tech

RUSTON, La. – A week after making national headlines by throwing a career-high seven touchdown passes in a blowout win over UTEP, North Texas' record-setting senior quarterback Mason Fine was knocked out of Saturday's game just before halftime and the Mean Green offense sputtered in a 52-17 loss to Louisiana Tech at Joe Aillet Stadium.
 
North Texas (4-6, 3-3 Conference USA) scored early on an Ethan Mooney field goal after a Louisiana Tech (8-1, 5-0) fumble deep in its own territory, but managed just 85 first-half total yards and 339 in the game – 10 yards off the season low of 329 yards in a loss to California in September. The 17 points tied the season low from that California loss, as North Texas converted just two of 11 third downs.
 
"We didn't move the chains," UNT head coach Seth Littrell said. "We were 2-for-11 on third downs, which is atrocious. We have to do much better."
 
Redshirt freshman Jason Bean relieved Fine and struggled, completing 12 of 16 pass attempts for 94 yards while committing four turnovers (two lost fumbles and two interceptions, including a pick-six). Redshirt freshman Austin Aune entered the game in the fourth quarter and led North Texas to two touchdowns, while throwing his first career touchdown pass on a 74-yard catch-and-run by senior Michael Lawrence.
 
"Bean did some good things," Littrell said. "We have to have better ball security and we have to snap the ball where we aren't putting it on the turf. We had too many catastrophics. We kept shooting ourselves in the foot, and ultimately that's what happens."
 
Early in the second half, Louisiana Tech had a punt return touchdown negated by a facemask penalty and instead had to start on its own 8-yard line with a 17-3 lead, but North Texas could not make the Bulldogs pay for the miscue. Louisiana Tech marched 92 yards on 12 plays in 5:27 to take a 24-3 lead with 5:08 left in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
 
On the ensuing North Texas possession, the Mean Green drove to the Bulldog 12-yard line before Bean's pass intended for Jaelon Darden in the end zone was intercepted by Michael Sam. On the first snap of the ensuing Bulldog drive, J'Mar Smith found Isaiah Graham for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 31-3 near the end of the third quarter.
 
Louisiana Tech ended the game with 542 total yards in a balanced effort – 278 through the air and 264 on the ground.
 
Now, North Texas enters a bye week looking to get several players, including Fine, healthy and win its final two games at Rice and at home against UAB to become bowl-eligible.
 
"At the end of the day, we have to clean some stuff up and we have two more opportunities, and we have to stick together as a team," Littrell said. "We're disappointed in the way we played, but all we can do is get guys back and healthy and come back for two more opportunities."
 
QUICK HITS
  • The UNT loss gives Louisiana Tech an 11-7 advantage in the all-time series and marks the second straight win for the Bulldogs, who beat UNT in Apogee Stadium by two points last season.
  • Senior QB Mason Fine (Peggs, Oklahoma) finished 8-for-15 passing for 48 yards before leaving with an injury just before halftime.
    • Fine extended his program records for career completions (1,000) and career passing yards (12,074).
    • Fine is tied with Georgia QB Jake Fromm for consecutive starts by an FBS quarterback with 37.
  • Junior WR Jaelon Darden (Houston) had six catches on the day for 16 yards.
    • Darden's six catches moved him to sixth on the all-time receptions list at North Texas with 145, passing Barry Moore (1968-69), Ron Shanklin (1967-69) and John Love (1965-66).
  • Redshirt freshman QB Austin Aune (Argyle, Texas) threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Michael Lawrence (Sweetwater, Texas) with 9:25 to play for the first touchdown pass of his career. Aune went 3-for-4 for 123 yards and a touchdown.
    • Aune's second pass of the game went to redshirt freshman TE Cole McCrary (Dallas) for 41 yards. It was McCrary's first career reception.
  • Senior WR Michael Lawrence (Sweetwater, Texas) had two catches for 79 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown reception with 9:25 to play – the longest reception of his career.
    • With his two catches, Lawrence moved into a tie for 10th on the program's all-time receptions list with 138, tying Troy Redwine (1992-96).
  • Redshirt sophomore RB Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) finished the day with 19 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown
  • Sophomore LB KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) had 10 tackles to increase his team lead to 79 on the season.
  • Grad transfer DB Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas) had 10 tackles.
  • Senior DB Khairi Muhammad nabbed his first interception of the year just minutes into the second half to stop Louisiana Tech in North Texas territory. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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