DENTON, Texas - Quarterback Derek Thompson's 181-yard afternoon powered the Green squad to a 27-17 win in the annual Green vs. White Spring Game in front of 2,637 at C.H. Collins Stadium on Saturday.
The sophomore was 15-of-20 with a pair of touchdown passes, including an impressive 34-yard fade-route score to Brelan Chancellor. The Green defense, which started the game in a 17-point hole, held the White team scoreless all afternoon and limited their six rushers to -16 yards.
The Green team featured the No. 1 offense and defense, as well as the No. 4's. The No. 2 and No. 3 offenses and defenses made up the White team.
Thompson led his Green squad on the game's first scoring drive in the opening series. The sophomore was 4-of-4 for 43 yards before Zach Olen nailed a 45 yard field goal in the blustery wind.
Thompson then hooked up with Chancellor for the 34 yard touchdown strike on the next series to narrow the White lead to 17-10. Thompson completed his first six passes in the game.
The Green defense followed suit, holding the White team to a total of three yards on its first two possessions. Tevinn Cantly was the star of the Green defense with 2.5 sacks on the afternoon.
Darius Carey and Thompson hooked up with 10:36 remaining in the second quarter to tie the game at 17. Carey snuck behind the defense in the back of the endzone on a quick slant route for the 9-yard score.
Olen nailed the go-ahead field goal for the Green squad, a 35-yarder with 7:38 remaining in the third quarter.
Green's Zach Orr snagged the game's first interception late in the third quarter, and returned it four yards to the White 30-yard line. A fumble on the center exchange ended the Green squad's opportunity to pad its 20-17 lead just two plays later.
Green linebacker Will Wright picked off Reagan Wood in the fourth quarter and returned it to the nine-yard line. Shelton Gandy couldn't punch it in from the 1-yard line, but he got another opportunity moments later thanks to a White fumble at the 5-yard line.
Gandy made the most of that opportunity, stretching over the goal line for a two-yard score to give the Green a final 27-17 edge.
The 2011 season will be a year of first for the North Texas football team. Not only will the Dan McCarney era will begin, but NT will open the new Mean Green Stadium on Sept. 10 against Houston. For tickets, go to meangreensports.com or call the North Texas ticket office at (940) 565-2527.
