The Mean Green football team got its 11th win of the season and clinched a spot in the American Conference Championship game.
DENTON, Texas — It’s official: The University of North Texas football team has made history.
With its 52-25 win over Temple Friday, the eleventh win of the season for the Mean Green football team, UNT secured a spot in the American Conference Championship game for the first time in program history.
The win was a special moment for UNT head coach Eric Morris, who was announced as Oklahoma State University’s next head coach earlier this week.
“It’s pretty sweet,” Morris said, as reported on the school’s website. “Not only for our guys and for our staff, but also for me, emotionally all week – I’ve been a bit of a basket case. This place means so much to me and this team means so much to me. To watch our kids keep fighting and our coaches keep coaching the way they are, it’s been really special.”
UNT QB Drew Mestemaker threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns and had high praise for Morris, according to a post on the American Conference website.
“We kind of knew it wasn’t his end all be all,” Mestemaker said, according to the post on UNT’s website . “We knew his goals. We know the caliber of coach he is, so it really didn’t take anyone back. We all know the season’s clearly not over and we have more games to win.”
Freshman running back Caleb Hawkins also had another game with four rushing touchdowns, according to UNT’s website. Hawkins now leads college football in rushing touchdowns with 23 and has 26 total touchdowns this season.
North Texas will play either 22nd-ranked Tulane or Navy on Friday, Dec. 5 for the conference title and a possible College Football Playoff berth, as the American Conference and Associated Press reports.