Troy, AL (10/20/07) Despite forcing seven turnovers, the North Texas football team fell to Troy, 45-7, on Saturday afternoon at the Movie Gallery Veteran’s Stadium.
The Trojans (5-2, 4-0) remain undefeated in Sun Belt play, while the Mean Green falls to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The 45 points scored by Troy is the most North Texas has ever allowed against a Sun Belt Conference team.
"I thought our defense played well enough to win the game but our offense couldn't take advantage of the opportunities,” said North Texas head coach Todd Dodge.
North Texas gained seven turnovers which is the most since it gained eight against Florida International in 2005. The Mean Green defense intercepted the Troy offense four times and recovered three fumbles in the game. Four of the seven turnovers occurred in Troy territory but the Mean Green was unable to capitalize.
Quarterback Giovanni Vizza was harassed the entire game by the Troy blitz. The true freshman was sacked a season-high nine times in the game. The Mean Green offense rushed for only 26 yards in the game and was 3-for-18 on third-down conversions.
"We need to become more consistant offensively,” said Dodge. “It is the job of all 11 people on offense to be productive and when you get sacked nine times it is not just the offensive line that is not performing, it is all 11 guys."
Micah Mosley scored NT’s only points of the game; a nine-yard touchdown reception from Vizza in the third quarter. Mosley set up the score with a 44-yard kick-off return.
Troy's Omar Haugabook threw for 287 yards, completing 25-of-37 passes, including three touchdown passes. He also caught a 22-yard touchdown reception from wide receiver Gary Banks on a trick play for the first score of the game.
Troy took an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter off the trick play, a punt return for a touchdown and a 42-yard touchdown reception from Haugabook to Banks. Banks’ one-handed acrobatic catch was his first of the season. Haugabook threw a 46-yard strike to Jerrel Jernigan in the second quarter to put Troy ahead, 28-0.
"We knew that they had the type of offense that could put up big numbers and we knew that we would have to score when we had the chance and we didn't do that,” said Dodge.
North Texas was held scoreless in the first half for the second time this year. The OU Sooners also shutout the Mean Green in the first game of the season.
The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter and then the Trojans sealed the game with a final touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Starting his second game, redshirt freshman linebacker Craig Robertson intercepted his second pass in as many weeks becoming the first North Texas player to have more than one interception in a season since 2005. In the second quarter he picked off his second pass of the game and his third of the year.
Antoine Bush and Kartay Agbottah had the other two interceptions in the game for the Mean Green. Dominique Green recovered two fumbles, while Jeremiah Chapman recorded one.
North Texas returns home next weekend to face Middle Tennesse on Saturday, Oct. 27 at p.m.
