Some writers thought the game between North Texas and FAU would be a pillow fight. If it was, in the end North Texas had the bigger pillow.

For much of the first half both teams had about the same size pillows. It was punt versus punt. Things started to change when North Texas recovered an Owl fumbled punt at the FAU four yard line.

North Texas failed on three tries to get the ball into the endzone. First year North Texas Head Football Coach Dan McCarney then said to his offense he trusted them in this pillow fight and went for it on fourth down.

In spite of his foot injury, quarterback Derek Thompson took the ball and barely clearing the goal line gave North Texas a 7-0 lead after the extra point. Momentum seemed to be on the side of the Eagles.

It appeared FAU started to change momentum when they were pinned back at their own two yard line. They moved the ball to inside the North Texas thirty yard line where they were stopped on third down. They went for it on fourth and one but a wide open receiver dropped the ball turning the ball over to North Texas.

With a little over three minutes left in the first half, North Texas moved the ball down the field including converting several third and long situations. However, FAU bowed up to stop North Texas to force a 43 yard field goal into the stiff wind by Zach Olen but he missed the mark.

So at the half, North Texas was up 7-0 and looking at their first win over FAU at home.

While Dunbar, for the most part, was held in check during the first half, he opened it up in the second half. The first play of the third quarter he moved to second place on the North Texas all-time rushing list surpassing Jamario Thomas’ 3,496 yards after a 12 yard run.  

North Texas was concerned about the third quarter because they have been outscored 48-3 to open the second half and they have not be able to recover from it. Things started to look different as North Texas moved the ball into field goal territory. A not so perfect snap to Will Atterberry could have blown the attempt. However, Atterberry got the ball down for Zach Olen who nailed the 53 yard attempt to put North Texas up 10-0. It was a site to see for the coaches because they were concerned about Olen who was unable to practice a few days this week because of a helmet to thigh contact from last week’s game.

Brad Graham intercepted a FAU pass and returned it 14 yards to the FAU 34 with 11:18 left. Dunbar was able to carry the ball into the endzone from the two yard line to give North Texas a 17-0 lead. It was the first touchdown all season North Texas has scored in the third quarte.

On the kickoff, FAU almost returned the ball for a score but Olen stopped the returner at North Texas 30 yard line. It looked like the Owls were ready to challenge North Texas.

Royce Hill has had several chances to get several more interceptions over the past few games. He missed an opportunity or two during this game to snag the ball. The coaches must have gotten Hill some stick-um because he finally tipped the ball to himself and then race 85 yards for a touchdown giving North Texas a 24-0 lead after the Olen extra point. 

Steven Ford was not to be outdone by Hill so he stepped in front the FAU receiver for another pick and a twenty yard touchdown to push North Texas to a 31-0 lead. 

The Owls ended the shutout at the 4:19 mark in the third quarter when they kicked a field goal to make it a 31-3 game.  

North Texas coaches were not to get outcoached in this game. On the ensuing kickoff they had the hands team in expecting an onside kick. FAU kicked the ball into the endzone, better to be safe then sorry. 

With 10:47 left in the game, McCarney had a lot of new players in the game on defense which gave FAU the opportunity to put the ball into the endzone to close the gap to 31-10.

On the next possession, North Texas turned the ball over and FAU put the ball back into the endzone to make it a 31-17 game at the 8:15 mark

North Texas was expecting an onside kick which was recovered by Dunbar at the 26 yard line. From there the game was put into the hands of the offensive line, the running game and the shoulders of Dunbar.  Running the ball nine times by Dunbar, North Texas moved to the Owl 24 yard line before FAU rose to the occasion to stop North Texas. Going for it on fourth down, Thompson’s pass in the endzone was dropped by the receiver giving the ball back to FAU.

The Owls moved the ball down field to the North Texas 24 yard line. At that point, the North Texas defense had had enough forcing FAU into a fourth down and 16 at North Texas 30 yard line with 42 seconds left in the game. Brandon McCoy had enough of being pushed around during the series so he sacked the FAU quarterback to give North Texas the victory.

It was a history making game for North Texas. It was the first win by North Texas over FAU in Denton. It was the first conference win by McCarney. Dunbar became the career scoring leader after scoring his 32 career touchdown, he moved into second place on the North Texas rushing list. The win was the first back to back wins in Apogee Stadium and first time for North Texas before the Todd Dodge era.  

Dunbar is the leading rusher and receiver and that has not since happened since Erric Pegram donned the North Texas uniform.

The win basically drops FAU out of contention for the Sun Belt Conference title. North Texas is still in the hunt and next week North Texas will be battling the University of Louisiana-Lafayette for a share of first place in the Sun Belt Conference title race.