In the lead up to the game, MGN wrote that this should be a blow out. We wrote ‘52-3’ given Charlotte’s performance to date, and North Texas’ potency. If you are a post-game box-score watcher you see the result and think “went about as expected”. Yes, and no. North Texas was down 17-7 for a while there.
1. Drew Mestemaker Set Some Records
In the game preview, we thought North Texas could throw the ball at will in this game. That was the case, except that Mestemaker tossed an interception, and also fumbled while scrambling for yards. He had guys wide open all night and the argument could be made that he should have had more. Early, Terrence Lewis dropped the widest open pass ever.
From the game notes:
RS Freshman QB Drew Mestemaker (Austin, Texas) finished 37-of-49 for 608 yards passing and four touchdowns through the air.
Mestemaker’s 608 passing yards was the most by any player in FBS this season, the most in program history and the most in American Conference history, and it was the second 500-yard passing performance in program history (Daniel Meager, 601, at SMU on Sept. 8, 2007).
His 608 passing yards is the most by any FBS player since Mississippi State’s K.J. Costello threw for 623 against LSU on Sept. 26, 2020, and it is the 17th most passing yards in a game in FBS history.
Mestemaker’s 608 passing yards is the most for a freshman in the last 30 years.
Mestemaker now has 2,468 passing yards this season for a new single-season passing yards program record for a freshman, moving him past Giovanni Vizza (2,388 in 2007).
Mestemaker threw for 329 yards in the first half, becoming the first UNT quarterback to pass for 300 yards in a first half since Austin Aune threw for 384 in the first half in a win over FIU on Nov. 5, 2022. The 329 first-half passing yards is the most by any quarterback in FBS in a half this season.
Mestemaker became the 17th player in program history eclipse 2,000 passing yards in a season and is the 21st to post 2,500 passing yards in a career.
Mestemaker had at least three touchdown passes in a game for the fourth time this season.
Mestemaker’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Dorner with 12:25 left in the first quarter was his 18th of the season and 20th of his career and was UNT’s fifth longest passing play of the season.
Mestemaker’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Hawkins with 4:14 left in the second quarter was his 19th of the season and 21st of his career.
Mestemaker’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Hawkins with 12:26 left in the game was his 20th of the season and 22nd of his career.
Mestemaker’s 70-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Young with 9:03 remaining was his 21st of the season and 23rd of his career and was the longest play for UNT this season.
2. The Defense Was Shaky
Charlotte had time to throw, did some max-protect things, and dared North Texas to stop their deep balls. Grayson Loftis threw for 295 yards and two scores, including a couple of long touchdowns. Even the first drive ending in a field goal, he eschewed a short out for a streak down the sideline against David Fisher. It was caught (nice grab) and CLT was in business.
To date, we have not seen North Texas seriously threatened by the pass game. Opponents up to this point have been run-game oriented (heavily) and the concern was in giving up some long runs. We can add some more anecdotes to those concerns after this game. Eric Morris said he was concerned about the explosives and Charlotte hit some big ones.
The defensive line had little or no push, and CLT run game even pushed them back on some runs. There is some concern. Charlotte hasn’t been good this season and the 399 total yards were the most against FBS competition this year.
There is some concern to be had.
To date, NT has thrived off of turnovers. Charlotte did not succumb to the Cassity power this night, and for a little while there this looked like it was shaping up to be a shootout.
3. North Texas Took Care of Business
This had the potential to be any number of types of games. Last week Memphis played down to their opponent and lost on the final possession. Here, North Texas pressed their advantage and blew it open. The second half was five straight scores. The defense forced punts. There was some luck involved, but that’s the game. The defense came up with stops, and the offense scored points. Along the way Drew Mestemaker kicked ass.
4. Navy Is Coming To Town
This was the easy week. Now, mind you I write that to mean that this game had a larger margin for error. We saw that South Florida took full advantage of North Texas’ mistakes. Here, Charlotte got some turnovers but couldn’t put more than 20 on the board.
Navy is better, and even if ESPN gives North Texas a 77% chance of winning, the work happens this week. Navy will be tough, and used to these morning games. Let’s celebrate and be prepared for a tougher game.
What a game. There was panic on twitter, but the coaches and team did not seem to panic down 17-7. There seems to be a trust that the offense can score and trust the defense will make adjustments and get stops. A little adversity on the way to a blow out isn’t a bad thing. Bring on Navy.