UNT football team looks for three-game win streak against Southern Miss
Brett Medeiros / Senior Staff Writer
After winning back-to-back games for the first time since 2004, the UNT football team looks to extend its win streak against the University of Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
The Mean Green (4-3, 2-1) and Southern Miss (0-6, 0-2) will meet for the first time since the two programs squared off in the 2004 New Orleans Bowl, where the Golden Eagles defeated UNT 31-10. It was the last time the Mean Green has been to a bowl game.
“Southern Miss is a team that has had some ups and downs,” head coach Dan McCarney said. “They’ve played some good snaps and good close games but it is really obvious to me that a desperate football team can be a very dangerous football team.
Freshman quarterback Nick Mullens will make his first career start for the Southern Miss after coming off the bench in the fourth quarter of the team’s previous game against East Carolina University.
The quarterback change is part of Southern Mississippi’s attempt to get its first win in two seasons. Right now, Southern Miss has lost 18 straight games.
“This game is real important to us,” senior linebacker Zach Orr said. “We can’t let ourselves play down to our opponent. They’re a desperate team and they’re fighting for their first win in two years. They are a real dangerous team.”
The Mean Green has scored 21 points or more in the first seven games of the season for only the second time in the school’s 98-year history. UNT last achieved this feat in 1988.
UNT looks to lead with its running game against Southern Miss. Headed by senior running back Brandin Byrd, the UNT rushing attack has a combined 468 yards in the last two games.
Southern Miss is 91st in the nation in rushing defense. Its defense gives up an average of 188 rushing yards per game.
“Anybody can lose on any given Saturday,” senior quarterback Derek Thompson said. “We are not good enough of a football team to let up at all against anyone. We have to have a good week of practice and execute our game plan come game day.”
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. in Hattiesburg, Miss. FOX College Sports will broadcast the game.
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