Mean Green football prepares for high-powered offense
Brett Medeiros / Senior Staff Writer
For the second straight Saturday, the Mean Green will face one of the best teams in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. UNT will take on Ball State University at Apogee Stadium for a nationally televised game on Fox Sports 1, part of the Fox Sports Television Network.
It will be the first time these two teams meet each other and just the second time Ball State (2-0) travels to Texas.
“We expect a prepared football team to come in here on Saturday. They’re undefeated right now and beat both of their opponents pretty well,” senior quarterback Derek Thompson said. “We are going to expect a dogfight this week.”
Two games into the season, the Cardinals’ offense is the best in the nation scoring in the red zone, capitalizing on all 14 attempts within the opponent’s 20-yard line. They have beat Illinois State University, 51-28, and Army football, 40-14.
Ball State senior quarterback Keith Wenning is 10th in the nation 665 passing yards, along with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
“This is a really great football team,” head coach Dan McCarney said. “They’re better defensively this year than any of the tape that we watched on them last year. There’s more speed, athleticism, and you see that.”
In both games this season, UNT fell behind after its opposition’s first drive. McCarney said the team was aware of its slow starts and, if the team won the opening coin toss, might elect to receive the ball first. Usually, the Mean Green opts to receive the ball to start the second half.
“We have to keep the same mentality no matter where we are either it be away or at home,” senior tight end Drew Miller said. “It will be nice to be home and in front of our fans and get them a win.”
The Mean Green is looking for its third straight home victory dating back to last year. The game kicks off at 3 p.m.
Feature photo by Ryan Vance / Intern Photographer
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