The game started off slowly for the Houston Cougars. North Texas, electrified by the home crowd in the inaugural game of Apogee Stadium, put up a challenge to the Cougars. Whether it was the crowd, a fired up Mean Green team, a lackadaisical Coog team or a combination, North Texas ran tough for a half.
North Texas took the opening kick off 55 yards and lined up for what looked like an inspires start. The euphoria didn't last long as Houston's D.J. Hayden intercepted a pass from quarterback Derek Thompson. The Coogs returned the favor a few plays later. The Mean Green defense sacked and stripped the ball from UH star quarterback Case Keenum. UNT wasted no time in converting the turnover into a 7-0 lead and keeping the crowd pumped.
The Cougars looked like the were going to blow the game wide open after scoring on three successive drives and taking a 17-7 lead into the 2nd quarter. North Texas opened the 2nd quarter with the ball. They drove the ball efficiently and moved to 17-14. The Cougar defense struggled to solve the Mean Green defense. The drive took 13 plays, 79 yards and 6:59 off the clock.
Keenum and the offense did the defense no favors by only holding onto the ball for five plays and under two minutes. The Coogs failed on a 4th and 4 conversion and continued to let UNT hang around. UNT took advantage of the stalled drive. The Coog defense though held and UNT settled for a FG and a 17 all tie.
Houston squeezed out a field goal for a 20-17 halftime lead.
Then the Cougars decided to play some football. The Coogs scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half. The score went from 20-17 to 41-17 in a flash. It was the knock out blow to the Mean Green and the enthusiastic crowd. The few thousand Cougar fans in the stands and the thousands others at home could breath a sign of relief.
In the end, it was Cougar speed, size and talent that just overpowered and struggling team. Emotions only sustained the Mean Green for a half. Sometimes emotion and heart enough. But on this night, once the Coogs went to work, it was all over for UNT.
For the night, the Cougar offense rumbled for 127 yards rushing and 563 yards passing. Keenum finished 26 of 41 for a whopping 458 yards and five TDs. WR Patrick Edwards scorched the UNT secondary for 187 yards on 8 catches and a TD. Edward earned C-USA Player of the Week for his efforts. WR Justin Johnson contributed 87 yards and two TDs.
For the nitty gritty details of the game see Houston vs. North Texas Game Book.
North Texas took the opening kick off 55 yards and lined up for what looked like an inspires start. The euphoria didn't last long as Houston's D.J. Hayden intercepted a pass from quarterback Derek Thompson. The Coogs returned the favor a few plays later. The Mean Green defense sacked and stripped the ball from UH star quarterback Case Keenum. UNT wasted no time in converting the turnover into a 7-0 lead and keeping the crowd pumped.
The Cougars looked like the were going to blow the game wide open after scoring on three successive drives and taking a 17-7 lead into the 2nd quarter. North Texas opened the 2nd quarter with the ball. They drove the ball efficiently and moved to 17-14. The Cougar defense struggled to solve the Mean Green defense. The drive took 13 plays, 79 yards and 6:59 off the clock.
Keenum and the offense did the defense no favors by only holding onto the ball for five plays and under two minutes. The Coogs failed on a 4th and 4 conversion and continued to let UNT hang around. UNT took advantage of the stalled drive. The Coog defense though held and UNT settled for a FG and a 17 all tie.
Houston squeezed out a field goal for a 20-17 halftime lead.
Then the Cougars decided to play some football. The Coogs scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the second half. The score went from 20-17 to 41-17 in a flash. It was the knock out blow to the Mean Green and the enthusiastic crowd. The few thousand Cougar fans in the stands and the thousands others at home could breath a sign of relief.
In the end, it was Cougar speed, size and talent that just overpowered and struggling team. Emotions only sustained the Mean Green for a half. Sometimes emotion and heart enough. But on this night, once the Coogs went to work, it was all over for UNT.
For the night, the Cougar offense rumbled for 127 yards rushing and 563 yards passing. Keenum finished 26 of 41 for a whopping 458 yards and five TDs. WR Patrick Edwards scorched the UNT secondary for 187 yards on 8 catches and a TD. Edward earned C-USA Player of the Week for his efforts. WR Justin Johnson contributed 87 yards and two TDs.
For the nitty gritty details of the game see Houston vs. North Texas Game Book.
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