DENTON, TEXAS — The North Texas Mean Green faced a tough 45-37 defeat against Tulane, marking their first matchup at home in Denton and extending Tulane’s series advantage to 3-0 all-time. Despite the loss, several standout performances and notable milestones emerged from the game, showcasing both the challenges and growth of this young Mean Green team.
Offensive Highlights
UNT’s offense continued to show promise, eclipsing 500 total yards for the 13th time in 20 games under head coach Eric Morris. A significant highlight was the 19-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter, which consumed 7:20 of the clock, making it the longest scoring drive of the season in terms of both plays and time.
Quarterback Chandler Morris put on an impressive display, completing 38 of 57 passes for a season-high 449 yards, along with three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown. This performance marked his eighth start for UNT and the 17th of his collegiate career. With 449 passing yards, Morris broke the program record for career games with over 400 yards, surpassing the mark set by Mason Fine. This game also marked his fifth consecutive outing with over 300 passing yards, breaking Fine’s previous record of four straight.
Morris now boasts 2,873 passing yards this season, putting him in eighth place on the single-season list for UNT and 14th on the all-time career list.
Receiving Records
Morris’ top targets included junior WR DT Sheffield and senior WR Damon Ward Jr. Sheffield achieved a career-high nine catches for 125 yards, becoming the first UNT player since Jaelon Darden in 2020 to record three consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Ward Jr. contributed significantly as well, with six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his career total to 1,575 receiving yards, placing him 18th on the program’s all-time list.
Defensive Efforts
On the defensive side, senior LB Jaylen Smith had a standout performance with 10 tackles and an interception, marking a new career high in tackles. Freshman DB Quinton Hammonds also recorded 10 tackles, while redshirt freshman DB Brian Nelson II added nine tackles. These performances indicate a developing defensive unit, even in the face of challenges.
However, UNT’s defense struggled to capitalize on opportunities, with two turnovers leading to Tulane touchdowns. This season, UNT has now recorded 12 turnovers, which have resulted in opponents scoring eight touchdowns and a field goal.
