Saturday, September 28
Denton, TX
6 p.m.
Tulsa
2-3 , 0-1
20
at
52
North Texas
4-1 , 1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Tulsa
0
3
0
17
20
North Texas
0
24
21
7
52
Photo by: Mario Terrana
Hurricane Drops Conference Opener at North Texas
9/29/2024 12:48:00 AM | Football
Denton, Texas –– North Texas pulled away to beat the University of Tulsa 52-20 in The American opener for both teams inside DATCU Stadium on Saturday night.
Tulsa (2-3, 0-1 The American) held the Mean Green (4-1, 1-0 The American) scoreless for the first 20 minutes of the ballgame, before the hosts rattled off 24 points in the final five minutes of the first half. North Texas scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to extend its streak to 45 straight points, taking a commanding lead.
Tulsa's two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter. Cooper Legas found Jack Wright from 18 yards out with 7:29 remaining. Freshman quarterback Tim Carpenter tossed his first career touchdown, finding Connor Vaughn with six seconds remaining in the ballgame.
Seth Morgan was good on both field goal attempts, a 22-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and a 45-yarder with 12:47 to play, to round out Tulsa's scoring.
The Hurricane amassed 415 yards of offense on Saturday, 186 through the air and 229 on the ground. Kirk Francis finished 13-29 for 101 yards and an interception. Legas passed for 45 yards, Cardell Williams for 32 and Carpenter for eight.
Kamdyn Benjamin was again Tulsa' leading receiver, pulling down seven passes for 68 yards. Freshman Joseph Williams made his first catch of his career reception, finishing with 51 yards on three receptions.
Bill Jackson recorded 77 yards on 16 carries to lead the Hurricane rushing attack. Viron Ellison added 46. Anthony Watkins rushed for 32 and Carpenter carried the ball for 30 yards on his lone drive.
Despite a slow start, the Mean Green threw for 439 yards and rushed for 179, recording 618 yards of total offense, the most by a Hurricane opponent this season. Chandler Morris finished 22-34 and had every yard for the Mean Green, throwing five touchdowns in the process.
For the first time in a Tulsa game this season, neither team scored in the opening quarter. Each team had a punt and Tulsa failed on two fourth down attempts, while North Texas was stopped on its lone try.
As the first quarter ended, Jackson took an 11-yard rush down to the North Texas two, setting the Hurricane up with a golden opportunity entering the second quarter. Instead, Tulsa settled for a Seth Morgan field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
With 5:33 remaining in the half, Angus Davies hit a beauty of a punt that pinned North Texas down at its own one. On second down from its own four, Balir Conwright took a screen pass 96 yards to give North Texas the 7-3 lead
The Mean Green extended its lead on the next drive, moving 40 yards in two minutes and hitting a field goal to go up 10-3.
After a Tulsa three and out, Davies had his punt attempt blocked at the Tulsa 26 and recovered at the one-yard line. A play later, Wyatt Young took a direct snap and rushed up the middle to give North Texas a 17-3 lead with 1:28 on the clock.
Francis threw his second interception of the game after a miscommunication with his receiver, and the Mean Green returned it 27 yards to the Tulsa 41. Morris scrambled for 15 yards and then found Young for a 26-yard touchdown pass and North Texas took a 24-3 lead to the half.
The third quarter was all North Texas as UNT scored on its three possessions in the frame to take a 45-3 lead.
Cardell Williams took over under center for TU's last possession of the half, breaking off a 28-yard run on his first play. He led Tulsa on an 11 play, 48-yard drive that took 3:45 and ended with Morgan's second field goal of the game, this one from 45 yards.
The Mean Green immediately struck back as MaKenzie McGIll II took the first play from scrimmage 75 yards for a touchdown and a 52-6 lead.
Tulsa would score the final two touchdowns of the game. Legas led the Golden Hurricane on a 9-play, 82-yard drive and found Wright for six. Then Carpenter went on a 12-play 71-yard drive that took 3:31 and ended with him connecting with Vaughn for a touchdown and to bring the score to its final, 52-20.
Next week, the Golden Hurricane hosts Army in Tulsa's conference home opener at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
1st Quarter Breakdown
• Each team punted once in the quarter and was stopped on fourth down in enemy territory.
• The Hurricane was 0-2 on fourth down tries, while North Texas was stopped on their lone attempt.
• The game was scoreless after the first quarter, but Tulsa had the ball inside the North Texas five.
2nd Quarter Breakdown
• After the Hurricane failed to score on three tries, Seth Morgan opened the scoring with a 22-yard field goal, capping an 11-play, 58-yard drive that took 3:51.
• After a North Texas punt, Kirk Francis was intercepted for the first time in the ballgame at the North Texas 34.
• Tulsa forced another punt and then Angus Davies pinned North Texas down at its own one with a 43-yard punt with 5:24 remaining in the half.
• On the second play of the drive, Chandler Morris threw a screen pass to Blair Conwright, who took it 96 yards to give North Texas a 7-3 lead.
• TU went three and out and North Texas marched right down the field, aided by a 33-yard completion on the second play from scrimmage … the drive stalled and UNT went up 10-3 on a 27-yard field goal from Kali Nguma, finishing the 40-yard drive in six plays and 2:00 minutes.
• An Angus Davies punt was blocked at the Tulsa 26 and recovered at the one-yard line … one play later, Wyatt Young received a direct snap and took it up the middle to give UNT a 17-3 lead with 1:28 remaining in the half.
• Francis was intercepted for the second time in the quarter and was returned from the UNT 32 27 yards down to the Tulsa 41.
• With 21 seconds left in the half, the Mean Green scored in two plays, a 15-yard QB scramble and a 26-yard pass from Morris to Wyatt Young.
• North Texas scored 24 unanswered in the final five minutes of the quarter to take a 24-3 lead to the lockers.
• Tulsa outgained North Texas 228-225 in the opening half but turned it over twice.
• North Texas was held to 0-for-6 on third downs in the first half, Tulsa 3-for-12
3rd Quarter Breakdown
• North Texas scored all 21 points in the third quarter, giving the Mean Green 45 straight points in the ballgame.
• A penalty on the kickoff gave UNT the ball at its own 36, and the Mean Green took it right down the field, 64 yards in eight plays and taking 2:49 of the clock … Morris found DT Sheffield on another screen pass that was taken 27 yards for a touchdown.
• The Mean Green scored again on its next possession, navigating 80 yards 1:38 and four plays … Morris connected on passes of 30, 19, 17 yards on the drive, finishing with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Carnes.
• Cardell Williams entered the game and picked up 28 yards on a QB keeper to get into UNT territory … the drive stalled and Tulsa punted, and again Davies pinned North Texas down at its own 1-yard line.
• UNT put together its second 99-yard drive of the game, this time taking 4:58 off the clock and running 11 plays … Morris found Kiefer Sibley for a nine-yard touchdown for his third passing touchdown of the quarter.
4th Quarter Breakdown
• In a drive that spanned the final two quarters, Seth Morgan connected on a 45-yard field to cap an 11-play, 48-yard drive in 3:45.
• North Texas went ahead 52-6 on a 75-yard rush from Makenzie McGill on the first play of the drive.
• Cooper Legas found Jack Wright for an 18-yard touchdown with 7:29 remaining, capping an 82-yard drive that took 4:57 off the clock in nine plays.
• Connor Vaughn caught a Tim Carpenter pass with six seconds remaining for the final touchdown of the game, wrapping up a 12-play, 71-yard drive.
SCORING SUMMARY
Tulsa (2-3, 0-1 The American) held the Mean Green (4-1, 1-0 The American) scoreless for the first 20 minutes of the ballgame, before the hosts rattled off 24 points in the final five minutes of the first half. North Texas scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to extend its streak to 45 straight points, taking a commanding lead.
Tulsa's two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter. Cooper Legas found Jack Wright from 18 yards out with 7:29 remaining. Freshman quarterback Tim Carpenter tossed his first career touchdown, finding Connor Vaughn with six seconds remaining in the ballgame.
Seth Morgan was good on both field goal attempts, a 22-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and a 45-yarder with 12:47 to play, to round out Tulsa's scoring.
The Hurricane amassed 415 yards of offense on Saturday, 186 through the air and 229 on the ground. Kirk Francis finished 13-29 for 101 yards and an interception. Legas passed for 45 yards, Cardell Williams for 32 and Carpenter for eight.
Kamdyn Benjamin was again Tulsa' leading receiver, pulling down seven passes for 68 yards. Freshman Joseph Williams made his first catch of his career reception, finishing with 51 yards on three receptions.
Bill Jackson recorded 77 yards on 16 carries to lead the Hurricane rushing attack. Viron Ellison added 46. Anthony Watkins rushed for 32 and Carpenter carried the ball for 30 yards on his lone drive.
Despite a slow start, the Mean Green threw for 439 yards and rushed for 179, recording 618 yards of total offense, the most by a Hurricane opponent this season. Chandler Morris finished 22-34 and had every yard for the Mean Green, throwing five touchdowns in the process.
For the first time in a Tulsa game this season, neither team scored in the opening quarter. Each team had a punt and Tulsa failed on two fourth down attempts, while North Texas was stopped on its lone try.
As the first quarter ended, Jackson took an 11-yard rush down to the North Texas two, setting the Hurricane up with a golden opportunity entering the second quarter. Instead, Tulsa settled for a Seth Morgan field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
With 5:33 remaining in the half, Angus Davies hit a beauty of a punt that pinned North Texas down at its own one. On second down from its own four, Balir Conwright took a screen pass 96 yards to give North Texas the 7-3 lead
The Mean Green extended its lead on the next drive, moving 40 yards in two minutes and hitting a field goal to go up 10-3.
After a Tulsa three and out, Davies had his punt attempt blocked at the Tulsa 26 and recovered at the one-yard line. A play later, Wyatt Young took a direct snap and rushed up the middle to give North Texas a 17-3 lead with 1:28 on the clock.
Francis threw his second interception of the game after a miscommunication with his receiver, and the Mean Green returned it 27 yards to the Tulsa 41. Morris scrambled for 15 yards and then found Young for a 26-yard touchdown pass and North Texas took a 24-3 lead to the half.
The third quarter was all North Texas as UNT scored on its three possessions in the frame to take a 45-3 lead.
Cardell Williams took over under center for TU's last possession of the half, breaking off a 28-yard run on his first play. He led Tulsa on an 11 play, 48-yard drive that took 3:45 and ended with Morgan's second field goal of the game, this one from 45 yards.
The Mean Green immediately struck back as MaKenzie McGIll II took the first play from scrimmage 75 yards for a touchdown and a 52-6 lead.
Tulsa would score the final two touchdowns of the game. Legas led the Golden Hurricane on a 9-play, 82-yard drive and found Wright for six. Then Carpenter went on a 12-play 71-yard drive that took 3:31 and ended with him connecting with Vaughn for a touchdown and to bring the score to its final, 52-20.
Next week, the Golden Hurricane hosts Army in Tulsa's conference home opener at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
1st Quarter Breakdown
• Each team punted once in the quarter and was stopped on fourth down in enemy territory.
• The Hurricane was 0-2 on fourth down tries, while North Texas was stopped on their lone attempt.
• The game was scoreless after the first quarter, but Tulsa had the ball inside the North Texas five.
2nd Quarter Breakdown
• After the Hurricane failed to score on three tries, Seth Morgan opened the scoring with a 22-yard field goal, capping an 11-play, 58-yard drive that took 3:51.
• After a North Texas punt, Kirk Francis was intercepted for the first time in the ballgame at the North Texas 34.
• Tulsa forced another punt and then Angus Davies pinned North Texas down at its own one with a 43-yard punt with 5:24 remaining in the half.
• On the second play of the drive, Chandler Morris threw a screen pass to Blair Conwright, who took it 96 yards to give North Texas a 7-3 lead.
• TU went three and out and North Texas marched right down the field, aided by a 33-yard completion on the second play from scrimmage … the drive stalled and UNT went up 10-3 on a 27-yard field goal from Kali Nguma, finishing the 40-yard drive in six plays and 2:00 minutes.
• An Angus Davies punt was blocked at the Tulsa 26 and recovered at the one-yard line … one play later, Wyatt Young received a direct snap and took it up the middle to give UNT a 17-3 lead with 1:28 remaining in the half.
• Francis was intercepted for the second time in the quarter and was returned from the UNT 32 27 yards down to the Tulsa 41.
• With 21 seconds left in the half, the Mean Green scored in two plays, a 15-yard QB scramble and a 26-yard pass from Morris to Wyatt Young.
• North Texas scored 24 unanswered in the final five minutes of the quarter to take a 24-3 lead to the lockers.
• Tulsa outgained North Texas 228-225 in the opening half but turned it over twice.
• North Texas was held to 0-for-6 on third downs in the first half, Tulsa 3-for-12
3rd Quarter Breakdown
• North Texas scored all 21 points in the third quarter, giving the Mean Green 45 straight points in the ballgame.
• A penalty on the kickoff gave UNT the ball at its own 36, and the Mean Green took it right down the field, 64 yards in eight plays and taking 2:49 of the clock … Morris found DT Sheffield on another screen pass that was taken 27 yards for a touchdown.
• The Mean Green scored again on its next possession, navigating 80 yards 1:38 and four plays … Morris connected on passes of 30, 19, 17 yards on the drive, finishing with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Carnes.
• Cardell Williams entered the game and picked up 28 yards on a QB keeper to get into UNT territory … the drive stalled and Tulsa punted, and again Davies pinned North Texas down at its own 1-yard line.
• UNT put together its second 99-yard drive of the game, this time taking 4:58 off the clock and running 11 plays … Morris found Kiefer Sibley for a nine-yard touchdown for his third passing touchdown of the quarter.
4th Quarter Breakdown
• In a drive that spanned the final two quarters, Seth Morgan connected on a 45-yard field to cap an 11-play, 48-yard drive in 3:45.
• North Texas went ahead 52-6 on a 75-yard rush from Makenzie McGill on the first play of the drive.
• Cooper Legas found Jack Wright for an 18-yard touchdown with 7:29 remaining, capping an 82-yard drive that took 4:57 off the clock in nine plays.
• Connor Vaughn caught a Tim Carpenter pass with six seconds remaining for the final touchdown of the game, wrapping up a 12-play, 71-yard drive.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Team | QTR | Time | Scoring Play | Score |
| Tulsa | 2 | 14:12 | Seth Morgan 22-yard field goal | 3-0 |
| UNT | 2 | 4:47 | Blair Conwright 96 pass from Chandler Morris (Nguma kick) | 3-7 |
| UNT | 2 | 1:56 | Kali Nguma 27-yard field goal | 3-10 |
| UNT | 2 | 1:28 | Wyatt Young 1 rush (Nguma kick) | 3-17 |
| UNT | 2 | 0:06 | Wyatt Young 26 pass from Chandler Morris (Nguma kick) | 3-24 |
| UNT | 3 | 12:05 | DT Sheffield 27 pass from Chandler Morris (Nguma kick) | 3-31 |
| UNT | 3 | 8:31 | Dalton Carnes 14 pass from Chandler Morris (Nguma kick) | 3-38 |
| UNT | 3 | 1:32 | Kiefer Sibley 9 pass from Chandler Morris (Ngums kick) | 3-45 |
| Tulsa | 4 | 12:47 | Seth Morgan 45-yard field goal | 6-45 |
| UNT | 4 | 12:35 | Makenzie McGIll II 75 rush | 6-52 |
| Tulsa | 4 | 7:29 | Jack Wright 18 pass from Cooper Legas (Morgan kick) | 13-52 |
| Tulsa | 4 | 0:06 | Connor Vaughn 5 pass from Tim Carpenter (O'Neal kick) | 20-52 |
Team Stats
TLS
UNT
Total Yards
415
618
Pass Yards
186
439
Rushing Yards
229
179
Penalty Yards
45
130
1st Downs
27
21
3rd Downs
8
3
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
36:35
23:25
2nd Quarter
TLS 3, UNT 0
TLS - Morgan,Seth 22 yd field goal 11 plays, 58 yards, TOP 03:51
TLS 3, UNT 7
UNT - Conwright,Blair 96 yd pass from Morris,Chandler (Nguma,Kali kick) 2 plays, 99 yards, TOP 00:37
TLS 3, UNT 10
UNT - Nguma,Kali 27 yd field goal 6 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:00
TLS 3, UNT 17
UNT - Young,Wyatt 1 yd run (Nguma,Kali kick), 1 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:05
TLS 3, UNT 24
UNT - Young,Wyatt 26 yd pass from Morris,Chandler (Nguma,Kali kick) 2 plays, 41 yards, TOP 00:15
3rd Quarter
TLS 3, UNT 31
UNT - Sheffield,DT 27 yd pass from Morris,Chandler (Nguma,Kali kick) 8 plays, 64 yards, TOP 02:49
TLS 3, UNT 38
UNT - Carnes,Dalton 14 yd pass from Morris,Chandler (Nguma,Kali kick) 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:32
TLS 3, UNT 45
UNT - Sibley,Kiefer 9 yd pass from Morris,Chandler (Nguma,Kali kick) 11 plays, 99 yards, TOP 04:58
4th Quarter
TLS 6, UNT 45
TLS - Morgan,Seth 45 yd field goal 11 plays, 48 yards, TOP 03:45
TLS 6, UNT 52
UNT - McGill II,Makenzie 75 yd run (Nguma,Kali kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:12
TLS 13, UNT 52
TLS - Wright,Jack 18 yd pass from Legas,Cooper (Morgan,Seth kick) 9 plays, 82 yards, TOP 04:57
TLS 20, UNT 52
TLS - Vaughn,Connor 5 yd pass from Carpenter,Tim (O'Neal,Troop kick) 12 plays, 71 yards, TOP 03:31
Game Leaders
CMP
13
TD
0
YDS
101
INT
2
CMP
2
TD
1
YDS
45
INT
0
CMP
3
TD
0
YDS
32
INT
0
CMP
2
TD
1
YDS
8
INT
0
Players Mentioned
Wide Receiver
/ FootballQB
/ Football
Punter
/ Football
Quarterback
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Running Back
/ FootballQB
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PK
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Tight End
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Running Back
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Quarterback
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WR
/ Football
WR
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