North Texas Daily

Reece Waddell | Senior Staff Writer
@ReeceTapout15

It had been 343 days since the North Texas football team found the win column, but the Mean Green (1-7, 1-4 ) finally got off the schneid Saturday night against the University of Texas at San Antonio, defeating the Roadrunners (1-7, 1-3 ) by a final score of 30-23.

UTSA jumped out to a quick lead in the first quarter when junior running back Jarveon Williams scampered into the end zone from three yards out to put the Roadrunners ahead 7-0.

North Texas sophomore running back Jeffery Wilson (26) runs the ball out of bounds late in the game. Wilson had 135 yards on 22 carries against UTSA. Colin
Mitchell | Intern Photographer

The Mean Green responded and marched down the field, setting themselves up with first and goal. But senior quarterback DaMarcus Smith fumbled the ball as he tried somersaulting over the goal line, with the ball going through the back of the end zone for a touchback and leaving North Texas empty-handed.

But the Mean Green kept fighting, as sophomore running back Jeffrey Wilson scored from six yards out to tie the game up at seven early in the second quarter. Wilson finished with 127 yards on 22 carries.

The Roadrunners would tack on a 24 yard field goal before half to regain the lead at 10-7 and North Texas looked poised to answer, but sophomore kicker Trevor Moore pushed a 27 yard field goal wide right as time expired in the first half, giving UTSA a 10-7 lead going into the intermission.

Sophomore running back Jeffrey Wilson (26) scrambles toward the sideline in Saturday’s win against UTSA. Matthew Brown | Senior Staff Photographer.

Then for the first time in 376 minutes of play dating back to the second quarter against Rice University on Sept. 19, the Mean Green took a lead. Sophomore defensive back Kishawn McClain ran a UTSA fumble 44 yards to the house, giving North Texas a 14-10 advantage.

After a UTSA touchdown to regain the lead, Smith led the Mean Green on a seven play, 76 yard drive of its own, culminating in a six yard rushing touchdown for sophomore running back Willie Ivery to put North Texas up 21-17. The scoring play was a trick play that was a variation of the fumble-rooski that interim head coach Mike Canales called “rooster.”

Roadrunner sophomore quarterback Dalton Sturm led his team down the field yet again, throwing his lone touchdown of the night to put UTSA back on top at 23-21. But the Mean Green blocked the ensuing extra point and junior defensive back Chad Davis ran it back for the two points to tie the game.

Smith and the offense would then ice the game when the quarterback broke loose for a 54 yard run to set the Mean Green up first and goal from the one. On the next play, Smith powered himself over the goal line to put North Texas up for good at 30-23, securing their first win of the season.

North Texas travels to Ruston, Louisiana next to play Louisiana Tech University on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Click here for the photo gallery of the game.

Featured Image: Mean Green Man gets ready to lead the North Texas football team onto the field. Ryan Vance | Senior Staff Photographer