The Mean Green avenge their 2016 bowl defeat against Army! Final score: 52-49 UNT. #GMG #NewDenton pic.twitter.com/DE6gyNgHvU
— #NewDenton (@MeanGreenFB) November 19, 2017
Well, defense was optional tonight. A lot of people predicted a low scoring game but tonight was anything but that.
That first half felt like it was all North Texas, yet it was pretty even. North Texas opened up the game driving down the field and scoring a quick touchdown, they made it look easy, Army’s defense had no answer for QB Fine.
But, Ahmad Bradshaw and his Black Knight offense wouldn’t be deterred, quickly driving back down the field and capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown. After the first drive, Bradshaw was 60 yards away from breaking the single-season rushing record that was set by FB Collin Mooney.
North Texas answered Army’s score with a beautiful pass from Mason Fine to Turner Smiley, the Mean Green had momentum.
North Texas got a stop and then Army got a stop, UNT went to punt and everything seemed normal. Mike Reynolds had a nice return, bringing the ball out to the 30. But wait, the refs said the ball wasn’t set and there was a re-kick. On the re-kick, Reynolds fumbled the ball and the Mean Green got the ball at the Army seven. But after some research some Army fans found that the re-kick shouldn’t have happened.
Referee (white hat, bottom left) calls for the play clock to run signaling offense’s ability to snap the ball. UNT Long Snapper snaps at sound of whistle (not uncommon tactic for some teams to catch others off guard). Should not have been called back. pic.twitter.com/H6zMwsaopN
— Barstool Army (@ArmyBarstool) November 19, 2017
North Texas would punch it in to go up 21-7. Army got the ball and a steady dose of Ahmad Bradshaw and Darnell Woolfolk would lead the Black Knights to a touchdown. On the PAT snap, the holder bobbled it and the kick didn’t even get off, so the score was 21-13.
On the ensuing kickoff, North Texas ran the kick back all the way to the Army 32 and quickly scored another touchdown.
But Army would not go away and Ahmad Bradshaw would set the record for most rushing yards in a season.
Ahmad Bradshaw has now passed Collin Mooney as Army’s Single Season Rushing Leader. Congrats @RealAli17 !
— Alex Funderburke (@AlexFunderburke) November 19, 2017
The Black Knights would punch it in the end zone to make it 28-20, now the defense needed to get a stop. After letting the Mean Green drive for a little bit, Max Regan picked off Fine and Army ran the clock out to go into halftime.
At the break pic.twitter.com/W73YNY1IJz
— Army WP Football (@ArmyWP_Football) November 19, 2017
Army came out in the second half and quickly tied the game up after a Fred Cooper Jr touchdown run and an Ahmad Bradshaw two point conversion.
In the crazy back and forth-ness of this game, North Texas tied the game right back on an eight-yard touchdown pass.
The Mean Green respond with an 8 yard TD pass from @Masonfine09 to @Michael_Law10 to regain the lead 35-28. #GMG #NewDenton #BeatArmy pic.twitter.com/VR5wHMBtEp
— #NewDenton (@MeanGreenFB) November 19, 2017
After two punts, Army got the ball back trying to tie it back up, Ahmad Bradshaw busted the defesne open for a 23 yard run and then the combonation of Woolfolk and Davidson tied the game back up at 35-35.
The next two drives were touchdowns for each team and it was tied at 42-42 late in the forth. Mason Fine connected on a beautiful third down pass to Turner Smiley for a 68 yard touchdown with just over three minutes left in the game.
.@TurnerSmiley1 catches his second bomb from @Masonfine09 for 78 yards with 3:13 left in the game. Mean Green up 49-42. #GMG#NewDenton#BeatArmypic.twitter.com/wt96kaPftK
— #NewDenton (@MeanGreenFB) November 19, 2017
But Ahmad Bradshaw had one more chance to lead his team in order tie the game up. The drive started off perfectly with a Darnell Woolfolk 33 yard run, then on a critical third down, Bradshaw hit slotback John Trainor for a 24-yard completion. On the very nect play, Andy Davidson punched it in the end zone to tie it at 49 with 1:23 left in the game.
Mason Fine didn’t want over time, so he led his offense down the field and got them into field goal range where Trevor Moore knocked in a 39 yard field goal for the win.
IT’S GOOD!!! @Tmoore_4 makes a 39 yard FG with 5 seconds left in the game! #GMG#NewDenton#BeatArmypic.twitter.com/lxtrKfjKD5
— #NewDenton (@MeanGreenFB) November 19, 2017
Something that shouldn’t go unnoticed is Ahmad Bradshaw’s performence. He had 244 yards and was vertually perfect the entire night, making all the right reads and tearing the Mean Green defense apart. This guy is a winner and might just be the greatest triple option QB Army has ever had.
Next up for North Texas is a road matchup against Rice. Army will have the next few weeks off before the big game, America’s Game, the battle for the CiC, Army/Navy.
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