North Texas welcomed Western Kentucky to Apogee Stadium and both teams knew the game meant a lot for both programs. For North Texas (3-3, 4-6), a win would keep them in the hunt for a 6-6 season and to become bowl qualified.  WKU has never beaten North Texas and North Texas wanted to keep it that way. North Texas has never lost a Sun Belt Conference game in Apogee Stadium.  It’s been seven years since North Texas won back to back home games. Could the North Texas defense, led by former WKU defensive coordinator and now North Texas Defensive Coordinator Clint Bowen, control one of the Sun Belt’s running back in Bobby Rainey?

In the end it was WKU wanting the game more to blow past North Texas 31-21. Loss in this game was shared by coaches decisions, dropped passes and defensive brain freezes. Surprisingly, special teams, which has been having problems all season long came through with long kick-off and punt returns, controlled WKU’s special teams.

WKU took the kickoff, moved the ball down the field but were stopped by the North Texas defense forcing a 43 yard field goal giving WKU a 3-0 lead.

On North Texas’s first possession, Lance Dunbar was on the bench. North Texas could not move the ball and was forced to punt.

WKU on their next possession was forced to punt the ball back to North Texas.

North Texas then moved the ball down the field with Quarterback Derek Thompson using four receivers, including Derrick Teegarden. A great catch by Brelan Chancellor put the ball on the four yard line. Running Back James Hamilton took the ball in from there and after the Zack Olen extra point, North Texas had a 7-3 lead with 1:49 left in the first quarter.

The North Texas had some great stops on the next WKU series but a North Texas defensive breakdown resulted in WKU getting a touchdown and a 10-7 lead with 10:59 left in the half.

North Texas was able to move the ball out to out the 38 yard line before they were forced to punt.

After trading punts North Texas got the ball back deep in their territory. North Texas was able to move the ball out to the 16 yard then after an offside call North Texas had the ball at their 21 They moved the ball down the field to the WKU’s 20 yard line mainly on the back and hands of Hamilton. From there a pass to Chancellor in the left corner of the endzone gave North Texas a 14-10 lead with 4:50 left in the half.

On the kickoff, the WKU returner was nailed at the 18 but a penalty forced them to start at the ten yard line. The North Texas appeared to be able to stop WKU but once again another defensive breakdown resulted in a touchdown and a WKU 17-14 lead.

On the kickoff, Chancellor got the ball at five and took it out to the 29 yard line but it was moved to the 43 yard because of personal foul on WKU. After a Chancellor pitch and catch went for 12 yards Dunbar came into the game.  However, WKU got the ball back on an interception.

With the aid of Royce Hill, Brian Downing, Will Wright on various plays forced WKU to punt. The ball was downed at the one yard line. Thompson’s sneak took the ball out to about the two yard line before WKU called a timeout with 8 seconds left. Another Thompson sneak ended the half.

The second half got off to a good start for North Texas as Chancellor caught the kick off on the run at the 20 yard line and took it out to the 44 yard line. From there, North Texas was then able to move the ball down the field. It started out with a nice Ivan Delgado catch moving the ball to the 32 yard line of WKU. Dunbar on his first carry was stopped for one yard gain. Tight End Power’s catch moved the ball down to the 21 yard line. On an end around Delgado tried a passing attempt which was knocked down by the defense. Delgado, on the next play, caught the ball at the ten yard line. Chancellor then added three more yards on the next play. WKU rose up to stop Thompson for a yard loss then stop the next play to bring up a 4^th and one at the one. North Texas went for it but Hamilton was stopped short in midair. However, a neutral zone infraction gave the ball back to North Texas for another fourth down attempt. Thompson’s foot was stepped on as he came out from under center causing him to stumble on his hand off to Dunbar who was stopped short of the goal line giving the ball to WKU.

WKU got two first downs before Hilbert Jackson pressured the WKU QB to force a 4 and 4 on the 31 yard line where the Hilltoppers punted to Chancellor who called for a fair catch at the 23 yard line.

North Texas was unable to do anything and forced to punt.  Will Atterberry kicked the ball 73 yards into the endzone giving WKU the ball on 20 yard line.

WKU then moved the ball down the field to score and take a 24-14 lead.

Chancellor took the kickoff from the 15 out to the 29 yard line. Hamilton carried the ball to 37 yard line to end the third quarter. On their fifth third down try of the game, North Texas failed to get the first down and forced to punt.

WKU was held and forced to punt to Chancellor who carried the ball out to the 45 yard line. After two misfires and a penalty North Texas was in a 3^rd and 15 situation. Christopher Bynes dropped his second straight pass in a row forcing a punt.  

North Texas held forcing WKU to punt.

Chancellor hauled in the punt at the ten yard line and moved it out to the 16. It looked as if North Texas was going to move down the field for a score after the series opened with Hamilton moving the ball to the 19 yard line. Bynes catch moved it out to the 28 yard line and a roughing the passer penalty move it out to the 43 yard line. Thompson went for it all but was intercepted at the 23 yard line.

WKU took the ball down the field to take a 31-14 lead.  

A short punt went to Delgado at the 46 yard line. North Texas moved it to the 37 yard line as a result of a Bynes catch. Power got North Texas’ first third down try of the game at the 29 yard line. On the next third down try, it was Power again moving the ball to the eight yard line. A pass to the left corner to Delgado brought out the defensive interference flag giving North Texas the ball at two yard line. North Texas took the ball in for the final score of the game. North Texas falls to WKU 21-31.

Rainey had over 200 yards rushing.