Oklahoma’s offense was dominant over North Texas in the season opener but don’t over look the performance by the defense. OU’s defense was simply bigger, stronger and faster then their counterparts from Denton, TX.
After Oklahoma completed a 69 yard scoring drive on their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead North Texas returned the ensuing kick-off to their own 20 setting up their first offensive possession.
| 3 plays, 7 yards, TOP 0:56 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 20 | 14:20 | D. Meager passed to C. Fitzgerald to the left for 5 yard gain |
| 2nd-5, UNT 25 | 13:45 | Meager incomplete pass to the left |
| 3rd-5, UNT 25 | 13:43 | D. Meager passed to J. Thomas to the left for 2 yard gain |
| 4th-3, UNT 27 | 13:36 | T. Spencer punt. R. Smith returned punt for no gain |
The North Texas spread attack managed only 7 yards on the first possession against Oklahoma’s defense. After punting the ball back to Oklahoma the Sooners would drive 68 yards to take a 14-0 lead. Following Oklahoma’s second kick-off the Mean Greed would set up shop for their second offensive possession on their own 24 yard line.
| 5 plays, 12 yards, TOP 1:57 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 24 | 11:38 | J. Thomas rushed up the middle for 4 yard loss |
| 2nd-14, UNT 21 | 11:10 | D. Meager rushed up the middle for 16 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 37 | 10:57 | D. Meager incomplete pass down the middle |
| 2nd-10, UNT 37 | 10:52 | UNT committed 5 yard penalty |
| 2nd-15, UNT 32 | 10:32 | D. Meager incomplete pass to the right |
| 3rd-15, UNT 32 | 10:26 | D. Meager passed to C. Fitzgerald to the left for 5 yard gain |
| 4th-10, UNT 37 | 10:26 | T. Spencer punt. R. Smith returned punt for 3 yards. OKLA committed 10 yard penalty |
North Texas managed 13 yards on their second possession giving them 20 total offensive yards on their first two possessions. The good news is that the UNT defense would force to Sooners to punt on their third possession of the game holding Oklahoma’s offense to a three and out. After a 7 yard punt return North Texas would start out at their own 48 yard line which was by far their best start of the day. Unfortunately for them they would be heading backwards on this drive. The speed and pressure of Oklahoma’s defense along with the crowd noise would put UNT in a 15 yard hole from the start.
| 3 plays, -26 yards, TOP 1:49 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 48 | 8:06 | UNT committed 10 yard penalty |
| 1st-20, UNT 38 | 8:04 | UNT committed 5 yard penalty |
| 1st-25, UNT 33 | 8:04 | J. Thomas rushed up the middle for 1 yard loss |
| 2nd-26, UNT 32 | 7:31 | Meager,Daniel sacked for loss of 10 yards (Nic Harris). D. Meager fumbled. T. Bailey recovered fumble |
| 4th-10, UNT 22 | 6:36 | T. Spencer punt. R. Smith returned punt for 3 yards. OKLA committed 15 yard penalty |
In all North Texas would lose 26 yards to penalties and backwards plays. After Oklahoma suffered a few mental breakdowns of their own they would move a total of 74 yards for another touchdown and a 21-0 lead. Hartley’s kick-off would be a touchback giving the Mean Green a first and ten from their own 20.
| 4 plays, 20 yards, TOP 1:32 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 20 | 3:49 | D. Meager passed to K. Washington down the middle for 12 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 32 | 3:36 | J. Thomas rushed to the left for 7 yard gain |
| 2nd-3, UNT 39 | 3:13 | D. Meager rushed to the left for 2 yard gain |
| 3rd-1, UNT 41 | 2:41 | D. Meager incomplete pass to the right |
| 4th-1, UNT 41 | 2:25 | T. Spencer punt, no return |
North Texas’s inability to run the ball is becoming more and more evident causing them to struggle with the pass against an aggressive Sooner defense. However, the Sooners were about to drop a gift to UNT in the form of a Jermaine Gresham fumble setting them up within scoring distance at Oklahoma’s 20.
| 4 plays, -9 yards, TOP 0:47 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, OU 20 | 2:09 | J. Thomas rushed to the right for 3 yard gain |
| 2nd-7, OU 17 | 2:03 | D. Meager incomplete pass down the middle |
| 3rd-7, OU 17 | 1:59 | D. Meager sacked for 12 yard loss (John Williams) |
| 4th-19, OU 29 | 1:30 | D. Meager incomplete pass to the left |
John Williams’ sack pushed North Texas out of field goal range forcing the Eagles to go for it on 4th and 19. The attempt failed and the Sooners were carrying a shutout going into the second quarter. Following the failed 4th down conversion Oklahoma completed a 71 yard drive with DeMarco Murray’s 2 yard touchdown run. The drive would take us into the second quarter and give Oklahoma a 28-0 lead.
Following a 14 yard kick-off return North Texas would try again to get their offense going, this time starting from their own 16.
| 6 plays, 23 yards, TOP 2:33 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 16 | 11:33 | D. Meager passed to B. Jackson to the right for 5 yard gain |
| 2nd-5, UNT 21 | 11:00 | D. Meager passed to B. Jackson down the middle for 11 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 32 | 10:40 | D. Meager passed to C. Fitzgerald to the left for 13 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 45 | 10:33 | J. Thomas rushed up the middle for no gain |
| 2nd-10, UNT 45 | 10:03 | D. Meager sacked for 6 yard loss (Auston English) |
| 3rd-16, UNT 39 | 9:16 | D. Meager incomplete pass to the right |
| 4th-16, UNT 39 | 9:09 | T. Spencer punt, no return |
Frustration is starting to build on the North Texas bench because their offense can’t find a weakness in the Oklahoma defense and therefore doesn’t have the ability to move the ball consistently. Across the field the buzz is growing about how good the Oklahoma offense could actually be this year. Sam Bradford is about to set the Sooner Nation on fire with a 64 yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Kelly which would put the Sooners up 35-0.
Once again Hartley’s kick-off would go for a touchback and the UNT offense a three and out.
| 3 plays, 7 yards, TOP 1:44 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 20 | 7:49 | D. Meager passed to M. Mosely to the left for 1 yard loss |
| 2nd-11, UNT 19 | 7:36 | D. Meager rushed up the middle for 7 yard loss |
| 3rd-18, UNT 12 | 7:04 | D. Meager passed to B. Stickler down the middle for 14 yard gain |
| 4th-4, UNT 26 | 6:30 | T. Spencer punt. D. Franks returned punt for 8 yards |
The Sooners are scoring just about as frequently as the Mean Green are punting. On their next possession Oklahoma went 69 yards to pay dirt putting them up 42-0.
A penalty on the kick-off return put UNT on their own 7 yard line to start their next drive. It would only last 5 plays.
| 4 plays, 8 yards, TOP 1:18 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 7 | 2:57 | D. Meager passed to C. Fitzgerald to the left for 12 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 19 | 2:42 | UNT committed 14 yard penalty |
| 2nd-24, UNT 5 | 2:39 | D. Meager passed to B. Jackson to the right for 15 yard gain |
| 3rd-9, UNT 20 | 2:12 | D. Meager passed to M. Mosely to the left for 6 yard loss |
| 4th-15, UNT 14 | 1:55 | T. Spencer punt. R. Smith returned punt for 25 yards |
Reggie Smith’s 25 yard punt return help set up Oklahoma’s 3 play scoring drive that would advance the score to 49-0 before the half. Following the kick-off North Texas would just run out the clock and take it to the locker room.
| 3 plays, 13 yards, TOP 0:54 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT16 | 0:54 | M. Mosely rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain |
| 2nd-7, UNT19 | 0:30 | D. Meager passed to C. Fitzgerald to the left for 7 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 26 | 0:23 | D. Meager rushed to the right for 3 yard gain |
To start the 2nd half North Texas returned the kick-off to the 12 yard line setting up their first drive of the second half and just when you thought things couldn’t get worse…
| 3 plays, 6 yards, TOP 0:46 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 12 | 14:54 | D. Meager incomplete pass down the middle |
| 2nd-10, UNT 12 | 14:40 | D. Meager passed to B. Jackson down the middle for 7 yard gain |
| 3rd-3, UNT 19 | 14:40 | L. Holmes intercepted D. Meager for 6 yards |
| 6 plays, 27 yards, TOP 2:18 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 12 | 13:38 | M. Mosely rushed to the right for 11 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 22 | 13:24 | D. Meager passed to B. Jackson to the right for 6 yard gain |
| 2nd-4, UNT 28 | 12:40 | D. Meager rushed to the right for 9 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 37 | 12:25 | D. Meager rushed to the right for 1 yard gain |
| 2nd-9, UNT 38 | 11:54 | D. Meager incomplete pass to the right |
| 3rd-9, UNT 38 | 11:41 | D. Meager incomplete pass to the right |
| 4th-9, UNT 38 | 11:32 | T. Spencer punt. R. Smith returned punt for 5 yards |
Bob Stoops would start calling off the dogs at this point. Sam Bradford would be relieved by Joey Halzle on Oklahoma’s next possession and defensive starters would start taking the rest of the night off as well. Jermaine Gresham’s illegal block in the back would put the Sooners back 15 yards and Halzle’s third down pass to Adron Tennell would come up a yard short resulting in the Sooners punting. New UNT quarterback Giovanni Vizza would have to start his first possession from his own 8 yard line then a false start penalty on first down would push them back to the 4 but it would end in North Texas getting on the board thanks mostly to an OU fumble and penalty.
UNT committed 5 yard penalty| 11 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:41 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 8 | 9:10 | UNT committed 4 yard penalty |
| 1st-14, UNT 4 | 8:50 | G. Vizza rushed to the right for 2 yard gain |
| 2nd-12, UNT 6 | 8:50 | G. Vizza rushed to the left for no gain |
| 3rd-12, UNT 6 | 7:40 | G. Vizza incomplete pass to the left |
| 4th-12, UNT 6 | 7:35 | T. Spencer punt. D. Franks returned punt for no gain. D. Franks fumbled. E. Roman recovered fumble |
| 1st-10, UNT 41 | 7:25 | G. Vizza incomplete pass to the right |
| 2nd-10, UNT 41 | 7:19 | G. Vizza incomplete pass to the right |
| 3rd-10, UNT 41 | 7:13 | G. Vizza passed to B. Jackson down the middle for 28 yard gain |
| 1st-10, OKLA 31 | 6:50 | G. Vizza passed to B. Jackson down the middle for 13 yard gain. OKLA committed 9 yard penalty |
| 1st-9, OKLA 9 | 6:50 | G. Vizza rushed to the left for 2 yard gain |
| 2nd-7, OKLA 7 | 5:41 | G. Vizza incomplete pass to the left |
| 3rd-7, OKLA 7 | 5:38 | |
| 3rd-12, OKLA 12 | 5:18 | G. Vizza incomplete pass to the right |
| 4th-12, OKLA 12 | 5:12 | T. Moreland kicked a 29-yard field goal |
Oklahoma’s next drive would end in another punt resulting in UNT starting from their own 11. Why the Vizza to quarterback switch appears to be a good move for North Texas Nic Harris is about to make him pay for a mistake.
| 3 plays, 1 yard, TOP 1:22 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT11 | 1:52 | M. Mosely rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain |
| 2nd-10, UNT 11 | 1:52 | M. Mosely rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain |
| 3rd-9, UNT 12 | 1:09 | N. Harris intercepted G. Vizza for 25 yard touchdown |
Following Harris’ touchdown the UNT offense would take the field again. Starting at their own 20 Vizza was going to lead the Mean Green to pay dirt for the only time in the game.
| 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:29 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT20 | 0:59 | G. Vizza rushed to the right for 9 yard gain |
| 2nd-1, UNT 29 | 0:30 | M. Mosely rushed to the right for 1 yard loss |
| 3rd-2, UNT 28 | 0:30 | G. Vizza rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain |
| Start of the 4th Quarter | ||
| 1st-10, UNT 31 | 15:00 | G. Vizza rushed up the middle for no gain |
| 2nd-10, UNT 31 | 14:38 | G. Vizza passed to C. Fitzgerald to the left for 69 yard touchdown. T. Moreland made PAT |
Leading 63-10 Oklahoma tried to run some time and clock but they ended up running up the score. With their fourth and fifth string running backs carrying the load Oklahoma only needed four plays to score again and make the score 70-10. Following a kick-off return to the 21 Vizza was about to make another mistake that would cost UNT more points.
| 2 plays, 14 yards, TOP 0:36 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 21 | 12:57 | G. Vizza passed to C. Fitzgerald down the middle for 14 yard gain |
| 1st-10, UNT 35 | 12:33 | L. Robinson intercepted G. Vizza for 21 yards |
Oklahoma would run some more clock and score another touchdown to stretch the lead to 77-10. On the drive, that began at the UNT 18 Jacob Gutierrez would become the 6th Sooner to score a touchdown on the night. You would think that North Texas would be finished giving away points but after running the kickoff back to their own 14 UNT was going to surrender one more time to the Oklahoma defense.
| 2 plays, -14 yards, TOP 1:05 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT 14 | 10:39 | D. Cox rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain |
| 2nd-9, UNT 15 | 10:00 | UNT committed 5 yard penalty |
| 2nd-14, UNT 10 | 9:38 | G. Vizza sacked for 10 yard loss.(Alan Davis) Safety |
Oklahoma would run nearly five minutes off the clock following the safety giving UNT one last opportunity to do something. Waiving the white flag of surrender they chose to run the ball up the middle on three consecutive plays.
| 3 plays, 7 yards, TOP 2:15 | ||
| Down/Dist, Yrd. Line | Time | Play Result |
| 1st-10, UNT19 | 3:45 | C. Montgomery rushed up the middle for 2 yard gain |
| 2nd-8, UNT 22 | 3:45 | C. Montgomery rushed up the middle for 2 yard gain |
| 3rd-6, UNT 24 | 3:45 | C. Montgomery rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain |
| 4th-3, UNT 27 | 1:38 | T. Spencer punt. D. Franks returned punt for no gain |
Oklahoma would simply just kneel out the clock following the final UNT punt and the Sooners would leave the field with a 79-10 season opening victory with the defense contributing 16 points.