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Sunday, December 25, 2016
COVER STORY
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Littrell set tone early in breakout season UNT coaches, players set goal to win bowl before season By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
Seth Littrell knew exactly what people would think when he boldly proclaimed just days into his tenure as North Texas’ head coach that he expected the Mean Green to play in a bowl game at the end of his first season. Littrell posted it on Twitter for all to see: “Love bowl season, but this will be the LAST year @MeanGreenFB does it at home. #MGFamily” A bowl? North Texas? That notion seemed downright wacky at the time. Littrell took over a team coming off a 1-11 season. The Mean Green had been to a bowl game just one time in the last 11 years. UNT’s dream of playing in the postseason became a reality on Dec. 4, when the Mean Green accepted a bid to face Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. That game on Tuesday at the Cotton Bowl will mark the culmination of one of the more remarkable turnarounds in college football this season. UNT finished the regular season at 5-7 and landed a bowl berth thanks to having one of the highest scores among teams competing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level on the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate report. Teams with the highest APR scores among 5-7 teams were the first to receive bowl bids. Littrell was one of the few people who thought such a dramatic turnaround was possible. “I felt really good about the possibilities if we built those relationships quickly enough and everyone bought in and pulled the rope in the same direction,” Littrell said. “There was no doubt in my mind we could accomplish the mission. I don’t know if a lot of other people felt that way. Some people thought I was crazy and that’s OK. I understand that.” To say that UNT wasn’t expected to be a bowlcaliber team in Littrell’s first season would be an understatement. The Mean Green were expected to be one of the worst teams in the country. USA Today and the Orlando Sentinel both publish preseason rankings of all 128 teams that compete on the Football Bowl Subdivision level each summer. USA Today ranked UNT No. 125 in its countdown, while the Sentinel pegged the Mean Green at No. 127. Only UMass ranked lower. UNT also checked in dead last in Conference See COVER STORY on 3H
ON THE COVER
North Texas coach Seth Littrell, center, quarterback Mason Fine, left, and safety Kishawn McClain helped guide the Mean Green to a breakout campaign. UNT finished 5-7 in the regular season and will face Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Tuesday to cap Littrell’s first year leading the Mean Green. UNT finished 1-11 a year ago. The cover was designed by Denton RecordChronicle senior artist Jason Lee.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED IN A BOWL SEASON North Texas will face Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Tuesday to cap a breakout season. The Mean Green finished 5-7 in the regular season on the heels of a 1-11 campaign a year ago. The following is a look back at some key moments in UNT’s season:
UNT stops Rice on 4th-and-1 North Texas was locked in a double overtime battle with Rice, which needed to pick up a first down at the UNT 16 to keep the game going. The Owls handed the ball to Darik Dillard, who was stuffed by DE Jareid Combs (above) and LB Brandon Garner.
Why it mattered: The Mean Green won their opening game in Conference USA play 42-35 and picked up a load of confidence early.
Wilson scores on 1st-and-10 in win over Marshall Why it mattered: The Mean Green never trailed again and won 38-21 to improve to 3-3 on the season.
Marshall had just scored to tie its game with North Texas at 21-21 late in the third quarter when the Mean Green handed the ball to Jeffery Wilson on their second play of the ensuing drive. Wilson broke free for a 72-yard touchdown that put UNT back up.
Willy Ivery scores late in win over Southern Miss North Texas coughed up a 20-point lead in its home finale against Southern Miss. UNT trailed 23-20 in the fourth quarter when it got the ball at its 35-yard line. The Mean Green marched 65 yards in six plays. Willy Ivery capped the drive with an 11-yard run.
Why it mattered: UNT’s 29-23 win over Southern Miss ended up being the victory that clinched a bowl berth.
UNT converts on 3rd-and-11 against Rice North Texas was down 17-0 to Rice when it faced a third-and-11 situation from its 24-yard line in the second quarter. Mason Fine dropped back and threw a deep ball to O’Keeron Rutherford, who hauled it in for a 32-yard gain and a first down.
Why it mattered: The Mean Green went on to score on the drive on a 16-yard pass from Fine to Willy Ivery to spark UNT in its 42-35 win.
Jenkins returns interception for TD against Army North Texas and Army were locked in a 7-7 tie when cornerback Eric Jenkins intercepted an Ahmad Bradshaw pass and returned it 34 yards for a go-ahead touchdown on a cold and rainy day at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York.
Why it mattered: The Mean Green went on to beat Army 35-18 in one of UNT’s biggest upset wins in recent memory on the road.
Nate Brooks interception in win over Southern Miss Southern Miss had a chance to rally late in its loss to North Texas. The Golden Eagles failed to scored on three drives while trailing in the final eight minutes. Nate Brooks (above) and Khairi Muhammad killed two drives with interceptions.
Denton Record-Chronicle file photos, North Texas sports information
Why it mattered: UNT could have relinquished its lead late, but saw its defense come though in a 29-23 victory.
NORTH TEXAS
Heart of Dallas Bowl
From Page 2
KNOW IF YOU GO
Cover story USA’s West Division in the league’s preseason media poll. So what changed the Mean Green’s fortunes? Littrell and his players say an influx of talent and new offensive and defensive systems played a role, but they give most of the credit to a new attitude and atmosphere surrounding the program. That new attitude was established before the season began and was vital in the turning points in a breakout season. “These coaches helped us get there,” UNT linebacker Joshua Wheeler said. “They cleared our minds of any negativity from the outside with the media and people on campus. They came in and flushed all that out. They told us that if we bought in we could ultimately get back to what UNT used to be with going to bowl games and winning them. They put us in position to win.”
Genesis of a journey
UNT’s journey to a bowl began simply enough. Littrell gathered his players before the beginning of fall practice to talk about the upcoming season. Hardly anyone seated in the room had experienced any success in their careers, at least not the kind of success Littrell was aiming for in his first season. The Mean Green beat UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl at the end of the 2013 season behind former coach Dan McCarney and a veteran roster. Most of those players were long gone by the time that meeting was called. Senior wide receiver Kenny Buyers was a key defensive back for the Mean Green in their Heart of Dallas Bowl win, before a back injury forced him to sit out a year and switch positions. Linebacker Fred Scott and defensive end Jarrian Roberts were freshmen. No one knew better than Littrell how important it was to establish high expectations for a program that is short on postseason success. UNT has played in just eight bowls in its history that dates back to 1913 and won three of them. Despite what seemed like long odds, Littrell didn’t shy away from telling his players that he believed that they could accomplish what no one else expected. Littrell told his players he not only expected to play in a bowl game. He expected to win. “When coach told us our goal was to win a bowl game, it put our heads where they needed to be,” linebacker Brandon Garner said. “It set the tone for the season. He said the mission was to win a bowl game. We thought we were capable of it. There was no doubt in my mind. If you have doubt in your mind, you shouldn’t be in the room.”
Creating a connection
Littrell and his coaching staff started to form the connection with his players that has been vital to the Mean Green’s success that day. Littrell retained just one assistant coach from McCarney’s staff in special teams coordina-
Sunday, December 25, 2016
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BOWL HISTORY The following is a look back at North Texas’ bowl history. The Mean Green will face Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Tuesday: 2014 HEART OF DALLAS BOWL North Texas 36, UNLV 14 UNT quarterback Derek Thompson threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP. The Mean Green scored 22 points in the fourth quarter in front of a crowd of 38,380 fans at the Cotton Bowl. Nearly all of those fans cheered on UNT in its first bowl appearance since 2004. 2004 NEW ORLEANS BOWL Southern Miss 31, North Texas 10 Southern Miss held UNT to 234 yards of offense in the Mean Green’s fourth straight New Orleans Bowl appearance. 2003 NEW ORLEANS BOWL Memphis 27, North Texas 17 UNT running back Patrick Cobbs rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns, but the Mean Green could not overcome a 17-3 halftime deficit.
The Dallas Morning News/Sarah Hoffman
North Texas players and fans cheer after the Mean Green beat UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on January 1, 2014, at the Cotton Bowl. UNT will return to the site of its last bowl win on Tuesday when the Mean Green take on Army in this season’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. UNT is making the ninth bowl appearance in program history.
Options available for fans By Jenna Duncan Staff Writer jduncan@dentonrc.com
North Texas fans who have waited until the last minute to plan a trip to the Mean Green’s game against Army in Tuesday’s Heart of Dallas Bowl at the Cotton Bowl still have opportunities to attend. Student tickets are sold out, but seats in the sideline reserved and corner sections are still available online. Both sections are in lower levels of the stadium. Sideline seats are $75 a ticket, while corner seats are $50. Seats in both sections are available at www.meangreensports .com/meangreenbowlgame/ #tickets. UNT Athletics worked with tor Tommy Perry. The rest of UNT’s staff had to start from scratch in getting to know their players all while installing new offensive and defensive systems. UNT moved to a spread system under Littrell after playing in a run-first system under McCarney. The Mean Green also made a switch on defense, moving from a 4-3 to a 3-3-5 system. UNT’s players could sense the team moving in the right direction all the way back during spring practice, thanks to the bond they quickly formed with Littrell and his staff. “The vibe of the team is what makes me confident,” UNT defensive back Ashton Preston said back then. “It’s hard to describe, but you can see the chemistry we have built. There is a new feeling.” That feeling carried over to the season, when UNT improved on both sides of the ball. The Mean Green dropped the number of points they allowed per game in the regular season from 41.2 per game to 32.2 while upping its scoring average from 15.2 to 24.2
Denton County Transit Authority to offer fans options for transportation to the game. “Last time we chartered a bunch of buses of students, but with the timing of this game it just didn’t work out,” UNT spokesman Eric Capper said. The train schedules will be the same as normal Tuesdays. Fans who travel to the game via train will receive 20 percent off the ticket price for the DCTA leg of the trip. They will transfer to a Dallas Area Rapid Transit train in Carrollton at the Trinity Mills station for the final portion of the trip. In the morning, the train takes about an hour and a half with the transfer, and ends at Fair Park station, near the Cotton Bowl. To get to the game as
tailgating begins, leave Denton on the 6:53 a.m. train. After that, trains depart at 7:15 a.m., 7:37 a.m., 7:58 a.m., 8:42 a.m. and 9:26 a.m. that will get fans to the stadium by 11 a.m. After the game, trains heading to Trinity Mills with easy connections back to Denton leave at 2:31 p.m., 3:11 p.m. and 3:31 p.m., and also run about an hour and a half from Fair Park to Downtown Denton Transit Center. For attendees who didn’t purchase advance parking online, cash is required for the Fair Park lots and is $20 a car. For attendees in RVs, it’s $50 to park and requires cash on the day of the event. Tailgating begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Embarcadero
Jeff Woo/DRC
North Texas coach Seth Littrell leads his team on to the turf at Apogee Stadium before a game against Louisiana Tech. UNT’s coaches attribute that improvement in part to work they put in to make sure their players bought in. “The first meeting I had with them, I told them it was our job to earn their trust,” UNT defensive coordinator Mike Ekeler said. “That happens in the fourth quarter and in showing them that we can develop them. That takes time. Our guys trust us now. They know we care about them.”
Developing mental fortitude
Littrell has preached about the importance of handling adversity throughout his first sea-
son at UNT. He believes that a team will encounter tough times in every game. Successful teams find a way to overcome adversity and flip it back on its opponents. The Mean Green have seen plenty of adversity and overcome it enough times to get to a bowl game. UNT trailed by 17 at Rice before rallying for a 42-35 win in double overtime in the fourth week of the season. The Mean Green lost starting quarterback Mason Fine to a shoulder injury in a loss to Western Kentucky and came back the next week to beat Southern Miss.
Building, and is allowed in the parking lots as well. At the official tailgate at the building, co-hosted by UNT Alumni Association, the Mean Green Club and UNT' s Division of Student Affairs, there will be free coffee, donuts and breakfast tacos. Mimosas, beer and bloody marys will be available for purchase. There will also be entertainment, including a performance by Raised Right Men and face painting. The party continues until 10:30 a.m. Parking lots 2A and 2B will give fans easiest access to the Embarcadero Building. JENNA DUNCAN can be reached at 940-566-6889 and via Twitter at @JennaFDuncan. A three-game losing skid made that win over Southern Miss even more impressive. The Mean Green fell to Texas-San Antonio, Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky in consecutive games to fall to 4-6 before beating the Golden Eagles. “There are things that happen in the course of the season that bring you closer together,” quarterback Alec Morris said. “It would have been easy to pack it in after losing three straight. Those situations make or break you. We responded really well as a team.” Morris played a key role in UNT’s response to that slide. He stepped in for Fine and guided the Mean Green to a 29-23 win over Southern Miss on Nov. 19. That win turned out to be the one that sent the Mean Green to just their ninth bowl game in program history. UNT had its backs to the wall in the fourth quarter after the Golden Eagles went up 23-20. The Mean Green didn’t panic and drove for a game-winning touchdown behind Morris and running back Willy Ivery. UNT’s regular season didn’t end the way the Mean Green
2002 NEW ORLEANS BOWL North Texas 24, Cincinnati 19 UNT running back Kevin Galbreath rushed for 130 yards to earn MVP honors and five different Mean Green players intercepted a pass. 2001 NEW ORLEANS BOWL Colorado State 45, North Texas 20 UNT fell to the Rams in the Mean Green’s first bowl appearance in 42 years. Kevin Galbreath rushed for 108 yards and Scott Hall threw two touchdown passes for the Mean Green. 1959 SUN BOWL New Mexico State 28, North Texas 8 UNT lost six of seven fumbles and scored its only points on a 51-yard punt return from Billy Christle. 1948 SALAD BOWL Nevada 13, North Texas 6 UNT won its second consecutive Lone Star Conference title, but couldn’t pull out a bowl win. UNT scored its lone points on a Bill Cromer 4-yard run. 1946 OPTIMIST BOWL North Texas 14, Pacific 13 Louis Reinzi caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Billy Dinkle on fourth down with nine seconds left and Dinkle kicked the extra point to give UNT its first bowl win.
wanted. UTEP hammered the Mean Green 52-24, but that loss did little to diminish what UNT has accomplished so far in Littrell’s debut season. There are several reasons UNT is where it is this week, on the verge of a historic bowl appearance. Some of the credit goes to the new offensive and defensive systems Littrell and his staff installed, but there is more to the story of UNT’s season. Ask UNT’s coaches and players and they say the environment Littrell and his staff established at that initial team meeting and the way they guided the Mean Green through some tough times played a key role in a breakout season. “We are happy with how far we have come,” senior offensive lineman Trey Keenan said. “Coach Littrell came in last year, had those meetings and saw a bunch of funny-faced guys he’d never met. To grow to where we are now is great. We went through so much with the wins and hardships together.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
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NORTH TEXAS
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Heart of Dallas Bowl
UNT TEAM STATISTICS TEAM STATS
UNT ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 1 Turner Smiley WR 6-0 189 Jr. 2 Eric Jenkins CB 5-10 180 Jr. 2 O'Keeron Rutherford WR 6-5 190 So. 4 Khairi Muhammad DB 5-11 170 Fr. 4 Anthony Wyche RB 5-11 195 So. 5 Alec Morris QB 6-3 233 Sr. 5 Mylam Peters LB 6-5 240 Jr. 6 Mason Fine QB 5-11 170 Fr. 6 Darius Turner DB 6-1 205 Jr. 7 Connor Means RB 6-4 215 So. 7 Jareid Combs DE 6-3 258 Sr. 8 Rico Bussey Jr. WR 6-2 175 Fr. 9 Nate Brooks DB 6-0 170 So. 10 Mitch Cason QB 6-2 183 Fr. 10 Calvin Minor LB 6-3 213 Jr. 11 Thaddeous Thompson WR 6-2 202 Sr. 13 Kway Hill DB 5-11 195 Fr. 13 Quinetin Jackson WR 6-3 205 Jr. 14 Cedric Fernandes DB 5-10 176 So. 15 Caleb Chumley TE 6-5 240 Fr. 15 T.J. Tauaalo DT 6-2 287 So. 16 Chad Davis DB 5-10 181 Sr. 17 Cortney Finney LB 5-11 220 Sr. 18 Devin O'Hara QB 6-5 211 Jr. 18 Joshua Wheeler LB 6-3 240 Jr. 19 John Schilleci DB 6-0 201 Sr. 19 Quinn Shanbour QB 6-0 191 Jr. 20 Spencer Edwards WR 6-0 170 Fr. 21 James Gray DB 6-0 190 Sr. 22 E.J. Ejiya LB 6-3 220 Jr. 23 Kishawn McClain DB 5-11 201 Jr. 24 Taylor Robinson DB 5-11 191 Fr. 25 Andrew Tucker RB 6-0 203 Jr. 26 Jeffery Wilson RB 6-0 195 Jr. 27 Ashton Preston DB 5-10 183 So. 27 Kam Duhon WR 5-11 170 Fr. 29 Willy Ivery RB 5-9 185 Jr. 30 Trevor Moore K 5-11 194 Jr. 30 Jarrian Roberts DE 6-2 252 Sr. 31 Kenny Buyers WR 5-11 185 Sr. 32 Fred Scott LB 5-11 233 Sr. 32 Michael Lawrence WR 5-10 165 Fr. 34 Elijah McIntyre WR 6-0 184 Fr. 34 Bryce English DT 5-11 332 Fr. 36 Dee Baulkman DB 5-11 200 Jr. 37 Brandon Garner LB 5-11 225 So. 37 Connor Davis WR 5-10 193 Sr. 38 Andrew Jones DB 6-1 173 So. 39 Braydon Watson WR 5-11 175 Fr. 39 Jameel Moore DB 5-10 160 Fr. 40 Trever Merrell RB 5-10 195 Fr. 42 Corey Mann LB 6-0 195 Fr. 43 Zack Bishop LB 6-2 225 Jr. 44 Sid Moore DT 6-1 261 Jr. 44 Cannon Maki FB 5-11 230 So. 44 Nick Smith RB 5-10 175 Fr. 45 Nnamdi Umeakuana DB 6-1 205 Jr. 46 Christian Hosley RB 5-9 175 So. 47 Dakota Michaels WR 6-1 185 Fr. 49 Roderick Young DT 6-1 287 So. 50 LaDarius Hamilton DE/LB 6-3 240 Fr. 51 Jake Davis DS 6-0 210 So. 53 T.J. Henson OL 6-4 315 Jr. 53 William LeMasters LB 6-2 213 Fr. 54 Creighton Barr OL 6-3 302 So. 56 Malik Dilonga DE 6-4 264 Sr. 57 Bernie Santos OL 6-3 326 Fr. 57 Shane Gerths LB 6-1 205 Fr. 58 Wylie Reinhardt OL 6-4 261 Jr. 59 Trey Keenan OL 6-5 272 Sr. 59 Hayden Harrison LB 6-2 220 Fr. 60 Doro Omerhi OL 6-4 290 Fr. 62 Jerod Fritsch OL 6-5 255 So. 64 Sam Rice OL 6-4 297 Sr. 67 Chris Miles OL 6-4 299 So. 68 Chett Munden OL 6-5 305 Fr. 70 R.D. Wegmann OL 6-3 265 Fr. 71 Jordan Murray OL 6-9 360 So. 73 Garrett Gunter OL 6-4 293 Sr. 74 Chandler Anthony OL 6-7 280 Fr. 77 Elex Woodworth OL 6-4 284 Fr. 78 Jalen Thomas OL 6-5 295 Jr. 80 Will Boyd WR 6-3 185 Fr. 81 Daniel Khan WR 5-11 180 So. 82 Deion Hair-Griffin WR 5-10 165 Fr. 83 Tyler Wilson WR 5-11 170 Fr. 84 Dennis Smith WR 5-9 170 Fr. 84 Eric Keena P 6-2 175 Sr. 85 Garrett Barton WR 5-11 185 Jr. 86 Kevin Dillman DE 6-4 249 Fr. 87 Kelvin Smith TE 6-2 252 Fr. 88 Jason Pirtle WR 6-2 195 Fr. 90 Tillman Johnson DE 6-1 248 Jr. 91 Kel Straubmueller DS 5-11 195 So. 92 Terrance Johnson DL 6-4 257 So. 92 Trey Enterline DS 6-3 225 Sr. 93 Julius Combes DT 6-1 313 Fr. 93 Blake Patterson K 6-2 195 Fr. 94 JoJo Ozougwu DE 6-3 205 Fr. 94 Sam Aguilera P/K 6-5 200 Fr. 96 Tim Ursery DS 6-2 238 Fr. 97 Demonte Hood DT 6-0 303 Sr. 98 A.J. Tolbert DE 6-0 235 Jr. 99 Andy Flusche DE 6-3 259 Jr. Coaches Seth Littrell – Head coach Graham Harrell – Offensive coordinator Mike Ekeler – Defensive coordinator/linebackers Tommy Mainord – Associate HC/pass game coordinator/inside wide receivers Troy Reffett – Assistant HC/co-defensive coordinator Joel Filani – Wide receivers Tommy Perry – Running backs/special teams Nate Brown – Cornerbacks Brad Davis – Run game coordinator/offensive line Derrick LeBlanc – Defensive line
Tomas Gonzalez/DRC
North Texas quarterback Alec Morris scrambles for a first down during a win over Southern Miss at Apogee Stadium. Morris helped guide UNT as it adjusted to a new offensive system this season.
UNT adjusting to offensive system By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
Seth Littrell faced a huge challenge when it came to installing his spread offense heading into his first season at North Texas. What UNT’s new coach never anticipated were the host of bad breaks the Mean Green encountered along the way that made the process all the more daunting during a bumpy ride to the Heart of Dallas Bowl. UNT lost star running back Jeffery Wilson for two games due to injury late in the season, switched quarterbacks twice and dismissed key wide receiver Terian Goree after 10 games for a violation of team rules. And that doesn’t take into account the fact UNT played in a pro-style system that emphasized the power running game just a year ago. The Mean Green overcame those obstacles and earned the right to face Army in just their second bowl game since the 2004 season. Littrell grudgingly acknowledged what UNT has accomplished following his first regular season while maintaining the Mean Green are nowhere near where they need to be — at least not yet. “We have been inconsistent offensively,” Littrell said. “There have been games where we have done some really good things and games we would like to have back. It’s as much on the coaches as the players. We have to grow together.” UNT’s growth so far under Littrell has been impressive. The Mean Green averaged 24.2 points per game on their way to a 5-7 finish in the regular season, up from 15.2 points per game a year ago
UNT’S SURGE North Texas has improved offensively in its first season under new coach Seth Littrell despite battling injuries to key players. The following is a look at UNT’s progress by the numbers:
9.0
The number of points UNT has increased its scoring average over last season. The Mean Green are scoring 24.2 points per game this year, up from 15.2 last season.
38.1
The increase in the number of passing yards UNT is averaging per game. The Mean Green are throwing for 199.5 yards per game this season, up from 161.4 a year ago.
when UNT finished 1-11. One of the Mean Green’s biggest wins of the year came when Wilson rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-18 win over Army. That win and a late-season victory over Southern Miss were turning points in a breakout season. UNT endured some lows along with those highs, including a 45-7 loss at Western Kentucky. “We have clicked at times,” wide receiver Kenny Buyers said. “We have gone through games and quarters here and there where we have looked really good and had other games where we have had too many three-and-outs and gotten behind the chains.” UNT’s biggest challenge heading into the season was finding a quarterback. UNT landed Alec Morris as a graduate transfer from Alabama and also signed Mason Fine from Locust Grove, Oklahoma, where he was the two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year. Littrell maintained from the
get-go that UNT would need both to make it through the season, a prediction that turned out to be on the money. UNT started out with Morris under center for its season-opener against SMU before immediately switching course and turning to Fine the next week. Fine lasted nine games as UNT’s starter before suffering a shoulder injury in a loss to Western Kentucky on Nov. 12 that could keep him out of the Mean Green’s bowl game. And that was just for starters when it comes to the obstacles UNT faced. Wilson’s two-game hiatus came after he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery following a loss to Louisiana Tech on Nov. 5. UNT still managed to improve offensively over last season and get to a bowl game. Morris guided UNT on a late touchdown drive in a win over Southern Miss in Week 11 to give the Mean Green their fifth win of the year. “We knew what was at stake,” Morris said after guiding UNT to the win. “At this point in the season, it’s not just about this game and that drive. It’s about everything going forward. We had to have that game and knew the gravity of the situation.” When UNT needed a touchdown most, its offense came through. That might have been the biggest sign of progress from UNT’s offense so far in a season the Mean Green hope is just the beginning of their improvement. “We are a long way from where we want to be, but we have done some good things,” Buyers said. “It was a good first step.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
UNT 291 24.2 221 87 110 24 1,640 2,082 442 399 4.1 136.7 23 2,394 234-409-11 5.9 10.2 199.5 12 4,034 808 5.0 336.2 42-811 18-163 14-221 22-8 91-835 69.6 70-43.1 38.6 27:49 58/169 34% 7/19 37% 26-184 38 8-12 (30-37) 81% (25-37) 68%
Scoring Points Per Game First downs Rushing Passing Penalty Rushing yardage Yards gained rushing Yards lost rushing Rushing attempts Average per rush Average per game TDs rushing Passing yardage Comp-Att-Int Average per pass Average per catch Average per game TDs passing Total offense Total plays Average per play Average per game Kick returns: No.-yards Punt returns: No.-yards Int. returns: No.-yards Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Average per game Punts-average per punt Net punt average Time of possession/game 3rd-down conversions 3rd-down pct. 4th-down conversions 4th-down pct. Sacks by-yards Touchdowns scored Field goals-attempts Red-zone scores Red-zone touchdowns
Opp 386 32.2 262 127 101 34 2,634 2,958 324 514 5.1 219.5 25 2,550 180-350-14 7.3 14.2 212.5 20 5,184 864 6.0 432.0 21-490 26-256 11-161 18-7 88-768 64.0 48-40.7 35.6 32:11 81/176 46% 9/23 39% 42-288 49 14-20 (40-47) 85% (29-47) 62%
Rushing
Player Jeffery Wilson Willy Ivery Andrew Tucker Mason Fine Anthony Wyche Eric Keena
Att 149 89 18 94 20 2
Yards 855 490 140 118 66 27
Avg 5.7 5.5 7.8 1.3 3.3 13.5
TD 13 6 2 2 0 0
Passing
Player Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yards TDs Avg/G Mason Fine 155-261-5 59.4 1,572 6 157.2 Alec Morris 79-147-6 53.7 822 6 137.0 Player Thaddeous Thompson Terian Goree Kenny Buyers Turner Smiley Willy Ivery Jeffery Wilson Willie Robinson Tyler Wilson Kelvin Smith Rico Bussey O’Keeon Rutherford Player Turner Smiley Anthony Wyche Player Nate Brooks Eric Jenkins Kishawn McClain Player Tyler Wilson
Player Kishawn McClain Cortney Finney James Gray Nate Brooks Brandon Garner Fred Scott E.J. Ejiya Calvin Minor Ashton Preston Joshua Wheeler Roderick Young Jareid Combs Dee Baulkman Chad Davis T.J. Tauaalo
No. 40 36 31 25 25 23 18 8 7 6 5
Yards 524 328 314 310 173 201 222 65 79 40 51
Avg 13.1 9.1 10.1 12.4 6.9 8.7 12.3 8.1 11.3 6.7 10.2
TD 2 2 1 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 0
Punt returns No. 11 5
Yards 97 39
Interceptions No. 4 3 3
Yards 54 86 18
Kick returns
No. 28
Player Jeffery Wilson Trevor Moore Willy Ivery Andrew Tucker Mason Fine Kelvin Smith Turner Smiley Eric Jenkins Terian Goree Thaddeous Thompson Player Eric Keena
Receiving
Yards 607
Scoring TD 13 0 8 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
FGs 0-0 8-12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Avg 8.8 7.8 Avg 13.5 28.7 6.0
Avg 21.7 PAT 0 37-37 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Punting
No. 69
Yards 3,020
Tackles
Solo 62 36 30 34 28 28 24 9 24 20 11 16 17 19 17
Avg/G 43.7 32.8 26.2 31.0 15.7 20.1 22.2 5.9 8.8 8.0 6.4
Assisted 24 34 27 18 18 16 16 31 15 14 22 17 12 6 5
TD 0 2 0 TD 0
Points 78 61 48 21 12 12 12 12 12 12 Avg. 43.8 Total 86 70 57 52 46 44 40 40 39 34 33 33 29 25 22
NORTH TEXAS
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Sunday, December 25, 2016
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Keenan finds home at UNT Argyle grad started out at Texas Tech By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
Trey Keenan still harbors fond memories from the last time he played in a bowl game. The former Argyle standout was in his second season at Texas Tech and played a little on special teams in the Red Raiders’ win over Arizona State in the 2013 Holiday Bowl. Keenan Keenan has thought back on that game and a Texas Bowl win over Minnesota from his redshirt freshman year over the last few days as he prepares for his final bowl appearance — this time with North Texas. Keenan is expected to start at right tackle for the Mean Green when they face Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Tuesday at the Cotton Bowl. He transferred from Tech to UNT and sat out last season so that he could play his final season with the Mean Green. “It’s awesome,” Keenan said of finishing his career in a bowl. “I got to play in them early in my career, but to have a major role in this one makes it special. The group of guys we have and the adversity we have gone through makes this a great pinnacle to end on.” UNT finished 1-11 while Keenan sat out as a redshirt in 2015 and changed coaches in the offseason. The Mean Green’s first season under new coach Seth Littrell hasn’t always been smooth, but UNT did just enough while winning five games in the regular season to earn a bowl berth. There are a host of reasons UNT has reached that point, including the contributions of a host of newcomers. Keenan is among the players who have made a difference in their first season playing for the Mean Green. Keenan has started every game at right tackle. Wide receiver Thaddeous Thompson is the only other starter on UNT’s offense who has started all 12 games at the same position. “Trey helped this team out big time,” linebacker Joshua Wheeler said. “He made me bet-
ter as a pass rusher. Coming from Texas Tech, you knew he knew a few things. He helped me improve my technique. He has helped our offense.” Keenan played in a spread passing attack at Tech that is similar to the system UNT runs. Littrell said Keenan’s experience at Tech has helped him during his lone season playing at UNT. The Mean Green have seen the one-year deal with Keenan pay off due to the consistency and leadership he has provided. “He is one of those guys who was in there every single week,” Littrell said. “He was consistent and got better.” UNT is averaging 24.2 points per game this season, up from 15.2 points per game a year ago. The Mean Green’s offensive line has played a key role in that improvement. The group faced the challenge of moving to a spread passing attack after playing in a pro-style offense that emphasized the power running game in previous seasons. Keenan helped make that transition successful. Starting guard T.J. Henson credited Keenan and fellow senior Sam Rice for setting the tone for UNT’s offensive line. He also credited Keenan for filling a void in the Mean Green’s lineup. “We didn’t have anyone to fill that tackle position and play well like he did,” Henson said. “There is no doubt we looked to Trey this year on the offensive line. He is a big-time leader.” Keenan has enjoyed UNT’s run to a bowl game this season more than he did his previous two postseason trips at Tech. “We won both of those games, which was an awesome experience, but I didn’t get to start on either of those teams and watched the guys who did,” Keenan said. “It puts it all in perspective, being a senior and being in that starting role.” Keenan didn’t know if he would have another opportunity to play at the major college level when he left Tech, let alone start. Getting that opportunity at UNT, just miles up the road from his hometown, has been rewarding. “This is more than I could have ever asked for when I transferred,” Keenan said. “I was so excited to play another season at a Division I program. Going to a bowl game is icing on top.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
Tomas Gonzalez/DRC
North Texas offensive lineman Trey Keenan, left, celebrates with Jeffery Wilson after the running back scored a touchdown in a game against Louisiana Tech at Apogee Stadium.
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
North Texas linebacker E.J. Ejiya tackles Florida running back Mark Thompson (24) during the Gators’ win over the Mean Green earlier this season in Gainesville, Fla. Ejiya is one of several late-arriving transfers who have made an impact for UNT.
Transfers playing key roles By Brett Vito
TRANSFERS
Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
Eric Jenkins only had a matter of days to prepare for North Texas’ season-opener against SMU by the time he joined the team. The former Los Angeles Valley College cornerback didn’t get to campus until Aug. 6, less than a month before UNT played its first game under coach Seth Littrell and a new coaching staff. Those coaches rolled the dice by signing a host of high-risk, highreward players UNT added to its roster long after spring practice had wrapped up. Some met NCAA qualifying standards. Others didn’t. What is of little doubt now, as UNT prepares to face Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Tuesday, is the risk was well worth the reward. Jenkins was just one of several late-arriving transfers who helped lead the Mean Green to just their second bowl berth since 2004. “I’m surprised at how quickly we adapted and played at a high level,” Jenkins said. “We listened to the coaches and were able to learn at a quick pace. That is where junior college guys struggle coming up to Division I, learning plays and getting used to the pace.” By the end of a 5-7 regular season, UNT had several latearriving junior college players contributing, especially on defense. Linebacker E.J. Ejiya is tied for seventh among UNT players with 40 tackles despite not arriving from North Dakota College of Science until after spring practice. Dee Baulkman of Arizona Western College was cleared to practice in August and has posted 29 tackles while starting three games at safety. Demonte Hood joined the team in August after starting his career at Kansas State and is a key part of UNT’s defensive line rotation. Jenkins was the biggest hit of
Jeff Woo/DRC
North Texas cornerback back Eric Jenkins celebrates with the fans at Apogee Stadium after intercepting a pass earlier this season. Jenkins transferred to UNT from Los Angeles Valley College and has three interceptions on the year. all. He iced a win over Marshall with a 52-yard interception return and came back a week later to intercept two more passes and force a fumble in a win over Army. The junior returned his first interception 34 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. “There is no doubt we are happy with the way they contributed,” UNT defensive coordinator Mike Ekeler said. “A lot of those guys were working right up to the season to get qualified.” Ekeler and the rest of UNT’s coaches felt like they needed to explore every avenue available to fill holes in a roster that included only 68 scholarship players, well short of the NCAA limit of 85. Not all of the players UNT gambled on to fill the holes in its roster paid off. Highly regarded defensive end Raveon Hoston,
linebacker William Johnson and offensive lineman Cody Hayes all failed to meet NCAA qualifying standards and didn’t play a snap for UNT. The payoff UNT realized with players like Jenkins and Ejiya made up for its misses. “The junior college guys helped us,” senior offensive lineman Trey Keenan said. “It was crazy to see their development. They hardly knew the defense for the SMU game and went on to play major roles.” Jenkins thought all along that it would be a matter of time before he and the other transfers UNT added late settled in and started to contribute. “It’s going to take time,” Jenkins said. “You don’t come in and know everything right away. It doesn’t work like that. You have to get to know the coaches, the players and the plays.” Linebacker Joshua Wheeler got a head start when com-
North Texas has several transfers who joined the team following spring practice. The following is a look at those players and how they have contributed this season. Eric Jenkins, cornerback The Los Angeles Valley College transfer has intercepted three passes and returned two for touchdowns in wins over Army and Marshall. He has broken up 10 passes and posted 16 tackles on the season. Jenkins was an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection. E.J. Ejiya, linebacker The North Dakota State College of Science product is tied for seventh among UNT players with 40 tackles. He has 3.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Dee Baulkman, safety The Arizona Western College transfer has started three games and has 2.5 sacks to go along with 29 tackles. He has 5.5 tackles for loss and also forced a fumble. Demonte Hood, defensive tackle The Kansas State transfer has been a rock in the middle of UNT’s defensive front and has 10 tackles, including 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage.
pared to some of UNT’s junior college additions when he joined the Mean Green at the semester break and took advantage of that time. He was a major contributor right away and helped usher the transfers who arrived in Denton during the summer through the adjustment process. Wheeler credited the drive he and UNT’s other transfers possess for helping them make an impact in the Mean Green’s breakout season. “Going through junior college is really tough,” Wheeler said. “You work at JUCO to get to this point. “The coaches gave us opportunities.” Wheeler and a host of other late-arriving transfers capitalized while helping lead UNT to the Heart of Dallas Bowl. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
6
ARMY
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Heart of Dallas Bowl
ARMY TEAM STATISTICS TEAM STATS
ARMY ROSTER No. 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 13 13 14 14 16 16 17 17 17 18 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 23 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 36 37 38 39 40 42 43 44 45 45 46 47 47 48 49 50 50 51 52 52 53 54 55 56 57 57 58 59 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 76 77 78 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 96 98 99 99
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Marcus Hyatt DB 5-10 180 Gibby Gibson DB 6-1 213 Jordan Asberry RB 5-9 191 Max Regan DB 6-2 197 Kelvin Hopkins Jr. QB 5-10 194 Joe Walker RB 6-0 204 John Trainor RB 5-11 190 Chris Carter QB 5-11 183 Jaylon McClinton DB 5-10 192 Christian Drake RB 5-10 177 Luke Langdon QB 5-10 170 Xavier Moss DB 6-2 204 Kjetil Cline RB 6-0 190 Gervon Simon DB 5-11 203 Andrew King LB 6-0 246 Korie Frausto QB 6-0 175 Cole Macek RB 5-11 220 Jalen Sharp DB 6-1 182 Shafer Swann WR 6-2 175 Rashaad Bolton DB 5-11 222 Malik McGue QB 5-8 174 Ahmad Bradshaw QB 5-11 198 Steven Johnson DB 6-0 191 Zach Potter P 5-10 180 Jake Ellington LB 6-3 218 Blake Wilson K 5-9 145 James Nachtigal LB 6-0 230 Rhyan England DB 5-10 190 Alex Aukerman LB 6-1 242 Tyler Campbell RB 5-11 184 Mitchell Howard K 6-1 192 Paul Andrew Rhoden RB 6-0 213 Elijah Riley DB 6-0 208 Richard Hanson DB 5-10 177 Malik Crossdale RB 5-10 216 Brandon Jackson DB 6-0 178 Mike Reynolds DB 5-10 185 Elijah St. Hilaire RB 5-9 196 Antonino Battaglia DB 6-1 203 Kell Walker RB 5-9 195 Darnell Woolfolk RB 5-9 225 Matthew Kaufmann DB 5-9 195 Ryan Velez RB 5-11 195 Scott Washle LB 6-1 240 Donavan Lynch LB 6-0 205 Cameron Jones DB 6-0 194 Jeremy Timpf LB 6-1 230 Andy Davidson RB 6-2 220 Calen Holt LB 6-0 220 Connor Slomka RB 6-0 223 Jarrod Jones LB 5-10 210 Tyler L'Hommedieu LB 6-0 214 Dan McFadden WR 6-2 179 Trey Neville TE 6-4 240 Samuel Johnson LB 6-2 241 Dalton Mendenhall TE 6-2 235 Clay Barton LS 5-10 185 Jacob Covington LB 6-2 247 Alex Herndon OL 6-2 240 Bayle Wolf LB 6-0 217 Nick Miller OL 6-1 260 Ryan Grady III LB 6-2 203 Kyle Wilkins OL 6-3 285 Jeff Panara OL 6-3 253 Josh Rea OL 6-0 284 Matt Sannella LB 6-1 250 Kenneth Brinson LB 6-2 233 Ethan Palelei OL 6-0 275 Jordan Smith DL 6-3 264 Andrew McLean DL 6-4 282 Mike Johnson OL 6-3 262 John Voit DL 6-3 258 Justin Gilbert OL 6-5 295 Rick Kurz OL 6-2 271 Jake Baumert OL 6-3 301 Mike Owens OL 6-4 260 Bryce Holland OL 6-2 285 Joshua Boylan OL 6-2 280 Joseph Hansbury OL 6-3 274 Mike Houghton OL 6-4 288 Tyler Young OL 6-2 280 Colby Enegren OL 6-2 279 Jaxson Deaton OL 6-4 300 Austin Schuffert OL 6-2 270 Jack Sides OL 6-2 271 Tim Gant OL 6-3 278 Joe Tustin OL 6-2 307 Raymond Wright DL 6-3 279 Brett Toth OL 6-6 276 Glen Coates WR 6-0 191 Jeff Ejekam WR 6-2 204 Edgar Poe WR 6-4 216 Luke Peterman WR 6-4 205 Jermaine Adams WR 6-1 216 Quinten Parker TE 6-1 241 Christian Poe WR 6-3 190 Joe Corless, Jr. TE 6-2 217 Scott Flanick LS 6-2 235 Eddy Ruzga DL 6-3 249 Wunmi Oyetuga DL 6-4 269 Matt Allgor DL 6-2 238 Rod Stoddard II DL 5-11 282 Emmanuel Aka DL 6-2 230 Avery Walas K 5-9 155 J.D. Mote P 6-5 215 Cordarrell Davis DL 6-0 240 Nick Schrage K 6-0 174 Coaches Jeff Monken — Head coach Jay Bateman — Defensive coordinator Brent Davis — Offensive coordinator/offensive line Bob Bodine — Offensive line/tight ends ShaDon Brown — Cornerbacks Kevin Corless — Inside linebackers Daryl Dixon — Outside linebackers Ketih Gaither — Wide receivers John Loose — Safeties Sean Saturino — Special teams coordinator Mike Viti — Fullbacks Mitch Ware — Quarterbacks Tucker Waugh — Running backs Chad Wilt — Defensive line
Yr. So. So. So. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. So. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. So. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. So. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. Fr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. Jr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. So. So. So. So. Sr. So. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. So. So.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw throws a pass during the Black Knights’ 21-17 win over Navy in Baltimore on Dec. 10. Army will face North Texas on Tuesday in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Army hopes to finish stellar year with win By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
Army has spent the last few weeks reaching one milestone after another during one of its best seasons in recent memory. The Black Knights snapped a 14-game losing streak to rival Navy earlier this month and will end another long drought on Tuesday when they face North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The game will mark Army’s first postseason appearance since a win over SMU in the Armed Forces Bowl back in 2010, long before any of the current members of the team arrived at West Point. Army has played in just five bowls since 1984. “It means a lot to Army to get to a bowl,” wide receiver Edgar Poe said. “Not many teams in Army history have gone to bowls. It shows that we are headed in the right direction.” The Black Knights finished just 2-10 a year ago before breaking through this season, thanks to a series of key wins. Army knocked off Wake Forest and Morgan State late in the season before posting its biggest win of all by toppling Navy 21-17 in its regular season finale on Dec. 10. Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw scored the game-winning touchdown on a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter. The win was as big as they come for Army, which had not beaten Navy since 2001. “The win over Navy absolutely gives us momentum,” Bradshaw said. “It was a big moment for our program.” A win over UNT would only add to a historic season for the Black Knights, who believe they have improved since falling to the
ARMY’S RISE Army has dramatically improved this season and is headed to its first bowl game since a win over SMU in the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl. The following is a look at the Black Knights by the numbers:
5
Army is 7-5 this season, an improvement of five wins over its total from last season, when the Black Knights finished 2-10.
327.8
The number of rushing yards Army is averaging per game, a total that ranks second at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
Mean Green earlier this season. UNT beat Army 35-18 in West Point on Oct. 22. Army fumbled seven times and saw UNT recover the ball three times. The Black Knights also suffered four interceptions during their loss to the Mean Green. UNT forced Army to throw the ball more than the Black Knights typically would as a triple-option team by running out to a 21-10 lead early in the third quarter. “We self-destructed the last time,” Army coach Jeff Monken said of the Black Knight’s first game against UNT. Army’s coaches and players believe they have improved since that game. The Black Knights won their last two games to become bowl-eligible, a run that included their impressive win over Navy. The Midshipmen were ranked No. 25 nationally when they took on Army. The Black Knights rushed the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore after the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Army is hoping the momentum it gained late in the season will have an impact on its rematch with UNT. Both teams will be more familiar with each other after meeting earlier this year. UNT coach Seth Littrell said he doesn’t believe the fact the teams have already played once will have an impact on the rematch. Army’s coaches and players feel the same way. “We have an idea of what they are going to do and they are going to have an idea of what we are going to do,” Poe said. “Hopefully this time we can correct our mistakes.” Army has been doing just that as it has gone along in its historic season. The Black Knights have posted some of their most impressive performances of the season since their loss to UNT. Army won three of its last five games and also beat Wake Forest in that span. That success has made the Black Knights hungry heading into the Heart of Dallas Bowl. “Getting to a bowl game has the same meaning for us as it does any other team,” Monken said. “It’s a measure of success. We have had such little success as a program. Getting to a bowl is a big step for us.” The season has been full of big steps forward for Army, which is hoping for one more with a win over UNT that would further cement a place in history for this season’s Black Knights. “Getting to a bowl is an amazing feeling,” Poe said. “We are excited.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
Army 351 29.2 262 212 36 14 3,932 4,181 249 715 5.5 327.7 40 914 119-52-11 7.6 17.5 76.1 7 4,846 834 5.8 403.8 27-471 19-149 15-95 30-13 58-508 42.3 35-35.1 34.2 34:28 72-155 46.5% 18-33 54.5% 24-151 48 6-12 (38-47) 80.5% (34-47) 72.3%
Scoring Points Per Game First downs Rushing Passing Penalty Rushing yardage Yards gained rushing Yards lost rushing Rushing attempts Average per rush Average per game TDs rushing Passing yardage Att-Comp-Int Average per pass Average per catch Average per game TDs passing Total offense Total plays Average per play Average per game Kick returns: No.-yards Punt returns: No.-yards Int. Returns: No.-yards Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Average per game Punts-average per punt Net punt average Time of possession 3rd-down conversions 3rd-down pct. 4th-down conversions 4th-down pct. Sacks by-yards Touchdowns scored Field goals-attempts Red-zone scores Red-zone touchdowns Player Andy Davidson Ahmad Bradshaw Darnell Woolfolk Jordan Asberry Kell Walker Chris Carter Cole Macek Tyler Campbell Malik MaGue Joe Walker
Att 178 166 87 50 49 43 35 30 20 6
Rushing
Yards 905 695 481 385 329 263 254 238 128 88
OPP 227 18.9 169 80 80 9 1,480 1,742 262 379 3.9 123.3 16 1,899 298-164-15 6.3 11.5 158.2 11 3,379 677 5.0 281.6 46-863 4-32 11-73 11-5 73-573 47.8 59-36.8 36.3 25:32 55-146 37.7% 7-16 43.8% 10-68 29 9-13 (26-29) 89.6% (18-29) 62.0%
Avg 5.1 4.2 5.5 7.7 6.7 6.1 7.3 7.9 6.4 14.7
TD 11 7 7 4 2 2 3 1 1 0
Passing
Player Cmp-Att-Int Pct. Yards TDAvg/G Ahmad Bradshaw 38-88-9 43.1 650 4 59.1 Chris Carter 9-23-1 39.1 176 2 19.6
Receiving
Player No. Edgar Poe 15 Christian Poe 10 Jeff Ejekam 9 Jordan Asberry 5 Player Malik McGue Edgar Poe
No. 11 6
Player Rhyan England Marcus Hyatt Jeremy Timpf Xavier Moss
No. 2 2 2 2
Yards 321 133 110 100
TD 3 0 1 1
Punt returns Yards 107 31
Yards 34 26 12 9
Avg. 17.0 13.0 6.0 4.5
Kick returns
No. 13 10
Player Andy Davidson Ahmad Bradshaw Darnell Woolfolk Blake Wilson Jordan Ashberry Mitchell Howard Cole Macek Edgar Poe Joe Walker Chris Carter Kell Walker
TD 11 7 7 0 5 0 3 3 2 2 2
No. 13 12
Player Jeremy Timpf Andrew King Xavier Moss Alex Aukerman Rhyan England Kenneth Brinson Elijah Riley Marcus Hyatt Jaylon McClinton John Voit Gibby Gibson
Solo 50 55 32 29 25 24 31 19 13 18 9
Yards 227 187
Scoring FGs 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
TD 0 0 0 0
Avg. 17.5 18.7
TD 0 0
PAT 2 2 0 21 0 16 0 0 0 0 0
Points 68 46 42 33 30 22 18 18 12 12 12
Punting
Yards 474 426
Tackles
Avg/G 35.7 12.0 9.2 8.3
Avg. 9.7 5.2
Interceptions
Player Elijah St. Hilaire Tyler Campbell
Player J.D. Mote Nick Schrage
Avg 21.4 13.3 12.2 20.0
Assisted 47 38 23 22 25 21 12 10 12 7 8
Avg. 36.5 35.5 Total 97 93 55 51 50 45 43 29 25 25 17
NORTH TEXAS
Heart of Dallas Bowl
David Pyke/North Texas Sports Information
North Texas co-defensive coordinator Troy Reffett coaches the Mean Green from the sideline during a scrimmage at Apogee Stadium last spring.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
7
David Minton/DRC
North Texas defensive coordinator Mike Ekeler yells to his players from the sideline at Apogee Stadium during a loss to SMU on Sept. 3
Ekeler, Reffett form perfect partnership By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
Mike Ekeler and Troy Reffett couldn’t be much different in terms of their personalities and coaching philosophies. Ekeler is the energetic one, often running on to the field for flying chest bumps with his players as they come off the field following defensive stands. Reffett is a little more reserved, but still just as intense. Ekeler’s background is with 4-3 defenses, while Reffett has spent his career coaching teams that play in a three-man front. Those differences are part of what have made the pair an effective tandem for North Texas in their first season as the Mean Green’s co-defensive coordinators. Head coach Seth Littrell hired Ekeler and Reffett to run UNT’s defense together in his debut season. The payoff has been substantial. The Mean Green’s defense improved dra-
KEY RETURNERS North Texas has several key players scheduled to return in 2017 to help build on a bowl appearance. The following is a look at four:
Mason Fine, quarterback The freshman has started nine games this season and has thrown for 1,572 yards and six touchdowns.
Jeffery Wilson, running back The junior had arthroscopic knee surgery and missed two games, but still rushed for 855 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Kishawn McClain, safety The junior leads the Mean Green with 86 tackles to go along with three interceptions. He was a second-team All-Conference USA selection.
Brandon Garner, linebacker The sophomore has 46 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He started four straight games in the middle of the season when Fred Scott was out due to injury.
matically and helped pave the way to a bowl game. UNT will face Army on Tuesday in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, the Mean Green’s first bowl bid since 2013 and just its second since 2004. “They are special together and complement each other very well,” Littrell said. “They are not similar in terms of their background. It’s not always the perfect marriage when that happens, but their personalities help. They have no egos and coach their kids hard. I can’t say enough about them.” The results have been impressive. UNT is allowing 32.2 points a game, which doesn’t sound inspiring until one considers the circumstances. The Mean Green allowed 41.2 points per game last season, completely changed systems in the offseason and worked a series of transfers into the lineup. “It’s a good situation with the two defensive coordinators,”
linebacker Brandon Garner said. “They are always on the same page. They tell us what to do, and we do it. They complement each other. Coach Ekeler is the excited and rowdy one. Coach Ref is the calm and collected one. They balance each other out.” Ekeler puts it simply. “I am more glass half full,” Ekeler said. “He is more there is nothing in the glass.” Despite those differences, Ekeler and Reffett quickly built a defense that is trending the right direction heading into the bowl season. The first step was settling on a system both felt comfortable with that would take advantage of UNT’s strengths. They quickly chose a 3-3-5 scheme that emphasizes speed and athleticism over size and brute strength on the defensive line. “We settled on the odd front because of what we had and what will give teams the most
UNT ON RISE North Texas’ defense has improved dramatically this season under coordinators Mike Ekeler and Troy Reffett. Here is a look at the the Mean Green from a statistical perspective:
9.0
The number of points UNT has improved over last season in scoring defense. The Mean Green are allowing 32.2 points per game, down from 41.2 last season.
14
Passes UNT has intercepted, up from four in 2015. Seven different Mean Green players have intercepted a pass this year.
26
The number of sacks UNT has recorded this season, up from 19 a year ago.
problems,” Ekeler said. “We also don’t have the depth to rotate 10 defensive linemen. Defensive linemen are the hottest commodity in college football.”
Once UNT had its system in place, Ekeler and Reffett had to fit the players they inherited into it and recruit others to fill the holes that remained. Ekeler played a key role in helping UNT add a series of key junior college players who made an immediate impact, including cornerback Eric Jenkins and linebacker E.J. Ejiya. Jenkins returned interceptions for touchdowns in wins over Marshall and Army, while Ejiya has racked up 40 tackles. UNT’s returning players also found homes in a new system. Linebacker Cortney Finney is in the midst of his best season. The senior has posted 70 tackles, up from 42 in his first season with the Mean Green after transferring from Trinity Valley Community College. “The kids bought into the system and worked to understand it,” Reffett said. “This system gives them more opportunities to blitz, be aggressive and not have to read and react to an
offense. They have played well, believed and found a way to win five games.” UNT has become a more confident team along the way, thanks to a series big plays. Garner and defensive end Jareid Combs combined to stuff Rice running back Darik Dillard on fourth-and-1 to seal a double-overtime win over the Owls in the fourth week of the season. Khairi Muhammad intercepted a pass from Keon Howard in the closing moments of UNT’s win over Southern Miss that iced the Mean Green’s win over the Golden Eagles. UNT’s players attribute their success largely to their new coordinators and the way they have fit so well together. “It has worked out,” safety Kishawn McClain said. “They both have great knowledge and work well together. You can’t beat that.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
UNT believes program is built to last this time By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
North Texas finds itself in an unfamiliar spot at the end of Seth Littrell’s first season as the Mean Green’s coach. UNT is headed to the Heart of Dallas Bowl, just its second postseason appearance in the last 12 years. The Mean Green have rarely had the opportunity to build momentum as a program by stringing together successful seasons. Littrell, his coaches and players are confident this time will be different. UNT is 5-7 as it prepares to take on Army on Tuesday at the Cotton Bowl after finishing a disappointing 1-11 a year ago. “It brings momentum,” Littrell said of UNT’s turnaround
season. “We got a jumpstart on our culture and foundation. We need to continue to improve.” Wheeler That goal is one that has eluded UNT since a four-year run as Sun Belt Conference champions from 200104 under former coach Darrell Dickey. UNT finished 5-7 and played in the New Orleans Bowl in the first year of that run. The Mean Green went on to record three straight winning seasons, a run highlighted by a win over Cincinnati in the 2002 New Orleans Bowl. UNT hasn’t played in bowl games in consecutive seasons since. The Mean Green beat
UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl after the 2013 season, but failed to reach the postseason in either of the next two years. UNT’s players believe the program is built to last this time around. Quarterback Mason Fine started nine games as a freshman. Jeffery Wilson has rushed for 855 yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 games, while safety Kishawn McClain leads the team with 86 tackles. Both Wilson and McClain are juniors and will be back to help guide the Mean Green in the 2017 season. UNT will lose a few key players, including safety James Gray and wide receiver Thaddeous Thompson to graduation, but the majority of its headliners will return. “We definitely should be bet-
ter next year,” junior cornerback Eric Jenkins said. “We had a lot of new guys come in this year and didn’t have a lot time with each other. When we have a spring and a summer to work together, we will be a lot better.” Extra practice time under Littrell and his staff should help matters. UNT installed a new spread offense and a 3-3-5 defense that differed from what the Mean Green ran in previous seasons. The Mean Green will have more time to fine tune both their offense and defense in the offseason. “This season is a starting point,” UNT co-defensive coordinator Troy Reffett said. “We are light years away from where we need to be. Any adjustments we made, it was the first time the players had seen it. Now they
will have seen it before.” UNT believes the same is true on offense. Littrell says the Mean Green are not nearly as consistent as they will be in the future. UNT took a key step in Littrell’s first season. The Mean Green are confident that their bowl berth this year is just another move in the right direction for a program that is built for sustained success. “Our whole team will be better next year,” linebacker Joshua Wheeler said. “We are starting to bond really well as a family and a team. Going to this bowl game gives us something to feed off of. It will carry over to next year.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
8
NORTH TEXAS
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Heart of Dallas return special for UNT
DRC file photo
Former North Texas coach Dan McCarney lifts up the Heart of Dallas Bowl trophy as his players gather around after the Mean Green knocked off UNLV in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl on New Year’s Day at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Mean Green will return to the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Tuesday, when they face Army in just the ninth bowl game in program history.
2014 HEART OF DALLAS BOWL REVIEW North Texas posted one of the biggest wins in program history at the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day in 2014, when the Mean Green beat UNLV 36-14. The following is a look back at the third bowl win in program history:
Mean Green fans turned out in ’14 By Brett Vito Staff Writer bvito@dentonrc.com
DRC file photos
Derek Thompson’s fantastic finish Derek Thompson, above, shook off a knee injury to throw for 256 yards and two touchdowns while leading North Texas to the third bowl win in program history. Thompson was named the game’s MVP.
A huge UNT turnout North Texas fans turned out in mass for the Mean Green’s first bowl game since the 2004 season. The official attendance was 38,380 fans, and nearly all of them cheered on UNT. Several hundred rushed the field at the game went final.
Brelan Chancellor’s big day Brelan Chancellor finished his North Texas career on a high note with a standout performance in the Mean Green’s win over UNLV. The wide receiver scored two rushing touchdowns and finished with 181 all-purpose yards.
Memories still linger for many North Texas fans and fomer players from the Mean Green’s first appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. UNT’s 36-14 win over UNLV on New Year’s Day following the 2013 season was historic for a host of reasons. The win was just the Mean Green’s third in a bowl game in program history. The victory also marked the culmination of a host of key players’ careers, and it came in front of one of the largest gatherings of UNT fans in recent program history. UNT is headed back to the Cotton Bowl, the site of that memorable game, on Tuesday in its second appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The Mean Green are hoping for a repeat — on the field and in the stands — when they take on Army. “We are excited to stay at home and be at the Heart of Dallas Bowl,” UNT coach Seth Littrell said. Littrell isn’t the only one, especially after what transpired the last time time around. The official attendance for
UNT’s last appearance in the Heart of Dallas Bowl was 38,380. Nearly all of those fans were clad in green. Former UNT coach Dan McCarney capped the day standing on a makeshift stage on the turf, speaking to the fans who had stormed the field as his players quickly gathered around him. Senior quarerback Derek Thompson held the MVP trophy, while several other key seniors celebrated, including Brelan Chancellor. The former UNT wide receiver scored two touchdowns and piled up 181 allpurpose yards. “These 22 seniors will be remembered forever,” McCarney said. “Bowl champions, bowl champions, bowl champions.” New UNT athletic director Wren Baker is hoping for a similar outcome, starting with another big fan turnout. “We have 38,000 students and over over a quarter million alums in the metro area,” Baker said. “We need to fill up the Cotton Bowl. This is a special time.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
COTTON BOWL GREAT GAMES The Cotton Bowl has hosted dozens of historic games. The Cowboys played at the stadium in the 1960s. The Cotton Bowl Classic bowl game was played there until 2010, while the Texas-Oklahoma game remains a staple.
The Dallas Morning News file photos
1970: Texas 21, Notre Dame 17 Quarterback James Street and coach Darrell Royal, above, led Texas to a 21-17 win over Notre Dame and quarterack Joe Theismann in the 1970 Cotton Bowl. Running back Billy Dale scored with 1:08 left, giving Texas the national title.
1979: Notre Dame 35, Houston 34 Notre Dame quarterback Joe Montana overcame the flu and rallied the Irish from a 34-12 deficit. He rushed for a touchdown and then hit Kris Haines for the game-winner as time expired.
1937: TCU 16, Marquette 6 The first Cotton Bowl Classic game featured Sammy Baugh of TCU. Baugh hit L.D. Meyer for a 55-yard scoring strike to put TCU up for good at 10-6. Meyer scored all of TCU’ points on two TDs, a field goal and an extra point.
Heart of Dallas Bowl
YEAR IN REVIEW
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Heart of Dallas Bowl
UNT thrives in Littrell’s debut season 2016 highlights
■ A win over Army: North Texas was an 18-point underdog heading into its game at Army on Oct. 22 at West Point and pulled off the upset. Running back Jeffery Wilson rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns, while cornerback Eric Jenkins returned an interception 34 yards for another touchdown in the Mean Green’s 35-18 win. ■ Pulling out a win over Rice: The Mean Green’s first win over a team that competes on the Football Bowl Subdivision level under coach Seth Littrell was a memorable one. UNT came back from 17 points down to beat Rice 42-35 in double overtime at Rice Stadium. Willy Ivery scored on a 4-yard run in the second overtime and Jaried Combs combined with Brandon Garner to stuff Rice running back Darik Dillard on a fourth-and-1 to end the game. ■ A season-saving victory over Southern Miss: UNT needed to win one of its final two regular season games to keep its bowl hopes alive and came through by toppling Southern Miss 29-23 at Apogee Stadium. UNT trailed 23-20 when quarterback Alec Morris and Willy very led the Mean Green on a six-play, 65-yard drive to win the game. Ivery scored on an 11-yard run to win the game. Littrell’s first win at UNT: The Mean Green picked up their first win under Littrell when they rolled past Bethune-Cookman 41-20 at Apogee Stadium in UNT’s second game of the season. Freshman quarterback Mason Fine threw for 108 yards in the first start of his career.
Jeff Woo/DRC Jeff Woo/DRC
North Texas coach Seth Littrell, left, and his wife, Becca Littrell, right, celebrate following the Mean Green’s win over Marshall at Apogee Stadium.
North Texas running back Jeffery Wilson carries the ball in a loss to Louisiana Tech at Apogee Stadium.
Tomas Gonzalez/DRC
North Texas freshman quarterback Mason Fine (6)scrambles out of the pocket as Louisiana Tech safety Xavier Woods closes in. UNT lost to the Bulldogs and endured a three-game slide before bouncing back to claim a bowl berth for just the second time in the last 12 seasons. Fine played a key role in the Mean Green’s run to a bowl by throwing for 1,572 yards and six touchdowns.
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North Texas cornerback Eric Jenkins celebrates with fans at Apogee Stadium after clinching a win over Marshall with a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown.
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David Minton/DRC
North Texas safety Kishawn McClain (23) tackles Louisiana Tech quarterback Ryan Higgins at Apogee Stadium. McClain led UNT with 86 tackles in the regular season.
North Texas players take the field before their season-opener against SMU at Apogee Stadium. The Mean Green fell to their long-time rival 34-21.