LITTLE ROCK — UNT defense struggles
This is what it's become for North Texas and its moribund defense: Even the best outing of the season surrenders 45 points.
Mean Green Coach Todd Dodge was thrilled that his defense, ranked last in the Sun Belt, was able to wrangle seven turnovers from conference front-runner Troy last Saturday. But on the other hand, how many times do you see a team force seven turnovers and lose 45-7?
Adding to the mystery is that defense wasn't expected to become the problem that is has. Dodge anticipated a veteran-laden unit when he arrived in Denton over the offseason, and while the coaching staff did introduce a new 4-3 scheme, it wasn't expected to be the big change the offense was experiencing with Dodge's new Spread attack.
The defensive learning curve was set back somewhat by two of North Texas' first four games coming at Oklahoma and Arkansas, games in which the Mean Green gave up 79 and 66 points, respectively.
"To the layman from the outside, to be honest, there's not much difference in the schemes you play," Dodge said. "The switch to 4-3 was good for us. I'm not naive enough to think it wouldn't take some time." MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE Dasher wins the job
Don't mistake the return of Joe Craddock in last week's 24-7 victory over Arkansas State as the sign of a quarterbackcontroversy at Middle Tennessee State.
Craddock got his first work in about a month after sitting out four games with an injury.
He was replaced by freshman Dwight Dasher, who has passed for 960 yards and seven touchdowns with just two interceptions.
That turned out to be enough to win Dasher the job outright.
"Probably both will play, but Dwight's the starter," Middle Tennessee State Coach Rick Stockstill said. "Each week, we've given him more. He's handled it."
One reason Dasher now has the job could be his versatility. Over seven games, Dasher has run for 495 yards, making him the Blue Raiders' leading rusher.
LOUISIANA-MONROE Dawson back to form
Well, that was quick.
It didn't take Louisiana-Monroe running back Calvin Dawson long to regain his stride after being held to 74 yards rushing in the Warhawks' 31-21 loss to North Texas October 13.
Dawson's total broke an 11-game streak of games with at least 100 yards rushing. Butwinless Florida International, with a defense ranked seventh out of eight Sun Belt teams, helped Dawson get back on track with 133 yards last Saturday.
The Warhawks also got a solid performance from quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster, who passed for 257 yards while hitting Darrell McNeal for two touchdowns.
"It's nice to have people you can get the ball to besides Calvin Dawson," Louisiana-Monroe Coach Charlie Weatherbie said.
Extra points
Is it time to predict a second-consecutive Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year award for Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook? Over seven games, the senior has amassed 2,251 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns. ... Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Michael Desormeaux is on pace for over 1,300 yards rushing, Ragin' Cajuns Coach Rickey Bustle said.
By the numbers23.93Yards per punt return by Troy's Leodis McKelvin4Touchdown passes by Florida Atlantic's Rusty Smith last week atLouisiana-Lafayette10Florida International players to record a sack this season
Sports, Pages 24 on 10/25/2007