DENTON, Texas (AP) — Reggie Pegram scored two touchdowns, and a pivotal burst of 17 unanswered points late in the second quarter lifted North Texas over Middle Tennessee 34-7 on Saturday night.
The teams traded turnovers in the early going and were tied 7-7 until the Mean Green (3-3, 1-1 Conference USA) put the game out of reach. Brandin Byrd’s 1-yard run capped a 12-play drive putting North Texas ahead for good, and one play later Laraimie Lee returned an interception 20 yards as the Mean Green scored twice in just 15 seconds. Brelan Chancellor’s 55-yard punt return set up a 21-yard Zach Paul field goal for a 24-7 halftime lead.
Middle Tennessee (3-4, 1-2) amassed only 66 yards passing and 139 on the ground.
Byrd matched that with 139 yards for North Texas. Pegram added 88. Mean Green’s season-high 303 yards rushing ended a drought of 41 yards over the previous two games.
