We wanted and predicted a blowout. Anything can happen when you play the actual game. There was a moment when Charlotte looked like they would keep pace and make it some kind of interesting. A first-drive FG for North Texas. Charlotte matched that a little later to make it 10-3. Then they pulled out a 75-yard score to make it 17-10. Did we have a shoot out brewing?
No. We did not.
The Mean Green scored for fun in the first half, Jahiem White ran for 105, including a 61-yard touchdown. Tayven Jackson threw for 5 touchdowns, finding Max Reese, Justin Stevenson, Koch, and Tipton and all were wide open. The league’s (arguably) best offense moved the ball easily against the league’s worst defense.
Observations as I fought off an afternoon nap:
1. Jackson/White/Stevenson Is The New Big 3
Tayven had 349 through the air, 122 of that was to Stevenson and they linked up for a couple of scores. Jahiem White easily ran for 105 on just 12 carries and 1 score. We hoped that was going to be the case and it was.
The squad has a bye to get healthy, and rest their bodies ahead of the mean of the American conference season. Jackson will finish the game as the league leader in touchdown passes. (Memphis’ Stokes plays against UAB later this evening, and is at 14. Jackson is at 15).
2. The Defense Looked Tough, Even If Slightly Vulnerable
North Texas is down five secondary players, and a defensive lineman. The vibe in the game chats is always one of concern that the defense will get sliced up. Charlotte did hit on an RPO slant for 75-yards. They did amass 203 yards of offense in the first half. They came in averaging 290. Was North Texas getting sliced up by a bad team? No.
This was very much a repeat of the win over FCS Houston Christian. That Huskies team looked dangerous in the first half but were dominated in the second. Charlotte only had 71 yards in the second half total.
To be fair, the game was over. It was 40-10, and Charlotte went about auditioning for QBs. The 49ers finished with 4.9 yards per play (NT had 8.3)
3. Business Was Handled
There is a particular kind of coaching required for these types of games. Neal Brown had his team prepared, ready for the opponent, and showed no mercy. He used the Thursday night Cowboys (debacle) game as motivation and teaching, to explain the importance of expecting seemingly bad opponents to be capable.
We said this week that North Texas should win going away but only if they took this seriously. They did and they did. No one was hurt (as far as we know). The team gets to get a little healthier with (reportedly) Chase Canada back after the bye. The North Texas weakness is the secondary, and that is getting stronger. The strength is the offense and that is healthy and clicking.
Of course there is always something to deal with and Neal Brown will focus on recruiting, keeping his guys sharp, and preparing the rest of the season.
North Texas moves to 4-2 (2-0). GMG