North Texas Dominates UAB in Convincing Victory: North Texas 53, UAB 24

North Texas Dominates UAB in Convincing Victory: North Texas 53, UAB 24

North Texas secured a resounding victory over UAB, finishing with a final score of 53-24. The Mean Green offense proved too much for the Blazers to handle, fueled by a dominant rushing attack and a precise passing game. North Texas controlled the game from start to finish, showcasing their offensive prowess and a solid defensive effort.

Key Individual Performances

**Drew Mestemaker** led the North Texas offense, throwing for 298 yards and two touchdowns on an efficient 18-of-25 passing performance. His ability to connect with receivers downfield was crucial in stretching the UAB defense. His top target, **Wyatt Young**, had a stellar performance, hauling in 8 receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown, consistently making plays and moving the chains for North Texas. **Cameron Dorner** also made a significant contribution with 73 receiving yards and a touchdown.

On the ground, **Caleb Hawkins** was the workhorse for North Texas, rushing for an impressive 189 yards and five touchdowns on 27 carries. His ability to find the endzone was a major factor in North Texas's offensive success.

For UAB, **Jalen Kitna** threw for 281 yards and a touchdown, completing 26 of his 45 pass attempts. However, the Blazers struggled to generate consistent offense. **BJ Hawkins Jr.** was Kitna's primary target, recording 127 receiving yards and a touchdown. On the ground, **Jevon Jackson** led the Blazers with 159 rushing yards.

Defensively, **Evan Jackson**, **Quinton Hammonds**, and **Trey Fields** led North Texas with 9 and 7 tackles respectively. For UAB, **Denver Warren**, **Devin Hightower**, and **Eddy Toussom** each contributed six tackles.

Turning Points

Early in the second quarter, North Texas's offense showed its explosiveness when **Drew Mestemaker** connected with **Wyatt Young** on a 61-yard pass, setting up the Mean Green deep in UAB territory. Later in the second quarter, **Caleb Hawkins** and the North Texas rushing attack started to take over. UAB's momentum was hampered by negative plays, including a sack of **Jalen Kitna** for an 8-yard loss. A missed field goal by UAB's **K.Nguma** for 46 yards, and North Texas was able to capitalize on these mistakes.

In the third quarter, UAB's **Jevon Jackson** broke free for a 58-yard run, which proved to be one of the Blazers' few highlights. However, North Texas's defense tightened up, limiting UAB's scoring opportunities. Another key moment was in the fourth quarter when **Jalen Kitna** was sacked for a 10-yard loss, stalling a UAB drive and further shifting momentum towards North Texas.

Looking Ahead

North Texas's dominant performance against UAB demonstrates their offensive potential. They will look to build on this success in their upcoming games. UAB, on the other hand, will need to address its defensive struggles and find ways to generate more consistent offense to improve their performance in the future.