FB North Texas Falls in Overtime in Thriller Heart of Dallas Bowl Game Against Army

2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl - Army versus North Texas

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2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl - Army versus North Texas
North Texas Takes on Army in the 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl on December 27th at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas
Army 38
North Texas 31
OT/Final

North Texas finished its turnaround season 5-8 after a loss in a rematch bowl game on Tuesday, December 27th against the Army Black Knights. In the end misfires and mental mistakes, which seemed to haunt this team at key moments in some games late into the season, caught up to North Texas in overtime as they tried to convert on crucial 4th down to keep the series going for the Mean Green to tie Army in the first overtime period. Those misfires and mental mistakes in the game seemed to reflect how things have sometime gone for the Mean Green in this bounceback season.

Offense

Transfer QB Alec Morris played his best game of the season at 26-38-1 for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns. Morris also had three rushes for 14 yards. Most of those yards were from a scamper for a first down that kept a drive alive that eventually resulted in a Mean Green touchdown with 10 seconds left in the first half to make the game 24-21 Army. Morris was key in staging a second half comeback to eventually tie the game late in the fourth quarter on a 37-yard field goal by Trevor Moore.

Jeffery Wilson, who struggled with an injury that kept him sidelined late into the season, also played well picking up 81 yards on 20 attempts with one rushing touchdown and 46 yards on 6 receptions with a touchdown giving him 127 all-purpose yards for the game. No one should question Wilson’s toughness as he left his breakfast on the field late in the first half. The series eventually led to a Mean Green touchdown thanks to him making some key pass blocks in the backfield.

https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/813853582919397376

Defense

Big plays were what doomed the Mean Green Defense. In total, the defense allowed several long plays — Ahmad Bradshaw (65 yds – touchdown), D. Woolfolk (25 yds), Tyler Campbell (70 yds – touchdown), and Kell Walker (26 yds). On average, the Army rush attack gained 6.5 yards on 74 carries. Take out those four big plays and the average drops to 4.2 yards per carry.

The Defense managed some big stops however that allowed the Mean Green to stay in the game and eventually tie up the contest before the end of the 4th quarter. All in all, the Defense gave up an eye popping 483 rushing yards, a season high.

Special Teams

Special teams did well in the game as they prevented the Army Black Knights from converting any of their 2-Point conversion; Army was 0-3. Early in the 3rd quarter the punting unit successfully ran a fake punt that was converted to a first down to keep a drive alive. North Texas also recovered a muffed punt which led to a Mean Green touchdown late in the third quarter.

The Future

After bringing in a new coach, you get the feeling that things are looking up for the future of Football for the Mean Green fandom. In 2015 the team finished 1-11 and in 2016 the win production increased 500% to 5-8. You saw some Freshman making some plays. North Texas will need those young players to continue to grow in their roles and hopefully produce even more yards, tackles, blocks, points,etc. next season.

The QB position is a bit of a question mark for the 2017 season. Mason Fine and Mitch Cason will return as a Sophomores and Devin O’Hara and Quinn Shanbour will return as Seniors. I believe the coaching staff is also recruiting at least one QB, either as a high school recruit or as a Junior College transfer. It’s not certain who will be the starter next year. In fact, it’s possible that player may not even be on the roster right now. Mason Fine should be a favorite to be the starter for next season though given his numerous starts in the 10 games he played in 2016.

Media Links

L.A. Times – Heart of Dallas Bowl proves small games can still be a big deal

Denton Record Chronicle – UNT fans bring energy, passion to Heart of Dallas Bowl

Denton Record Chronicle – Notebook: Ailing Wilson gives UNT spark

Denton Record Chronicle – Football: Record-setting run game too much for Mean Green

Denton Record Chronicle – Football: Morris shines in UNT finale

Denton Record Chronicle – Football: UNT’s season ends with overtime loss to Army in Heart of Dallas Bowl

Fort Worth Star Telegram – Photo Montage

Fort Worth Star Telegram – North Texas looks toward bright future after overtime loss to Army

Fort Worth Star Telegram – Army defeats North Texas 38-31 in OT in Heart of Dallas Bowl

Bleacher Report – North Texas QB Alec Morris Misses Snap After RB Jeffrey Wilson Vomits on Field

Personal Multimedia

Some other pictures I captured before the game got underway:

Mean Green Marching Band Enters the Pre-Game Pep-Rally
2016 Heart of Dallas Helicopter Flyover

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